St. Patrick’s Day wasn’t a big deal in my family when I grew up. It definitely was for other neighborhood families, but not mine. This year I resolved to change course–start some leprechaun traditions. Up until this year I didn’t do much to celebrate other than dress the kids up in green. For days (if not weeks), I determined today would be different. I explained to my children that on March 17th, leprechauns the size of their thumbnails come out in droves to visit homes. A lie? Yes. But I rationalized the lie as being hardly any different than Santa Claus.
I set off early to Hallmark. Cliche? Perhaps. I darted to the St. Patty’s section. I loaded my arms with a bunch of inexpensive, somewhat tacky, but guaranteed to amuse, treats…clover pens, glow stick glasses, gummy bears, to name a few…and a little stuffed leprechaun toy. I returned home.
While cleaning the house, I shrieked, “Oh, my gosh!” The kids came running. I told them I thought I saw something scurry across the floor. A leprechaun perhaps? While the kids hunted under appliances with flashlights for a mysterious leprechaun, I set off to work. I put the stuffed leprechaun toy out for the kids to discover. Their eyes bugged out with delight. They couldn’t believe it. Leprechaun magic.
Later in the day, the leprechaun mysteriously moved around the house. Tricky, leprechauns, eh? Each time the kids discovered the leprechaun, they found a treat. At the end of the day, after cutting out construction paper clovers, we celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with a green cake and green milk. While getting ready for bed, the kids discovered the glow in the dark glasses on their pillows, along with a “goodbye, see you next year” note from a leprechaun.
I’m certain my kids will talk about this day for many days to come. The excitement on their faces today was priceless–something I will think about for many days and years to come. Now, how’s that for breaking tradition?
Do you have a St. Patrick’s Day family tradition to share?
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Tags: baby earth, baby-wise, baby-wise.com, babyearth, babywise, blog.baby-wise.com, children, hallmark, hallmark holiday, holiday traditions, little leprechauns, st. patrick's day, st. patty's day, things to do with children
April 18th, 2008 at 6:51 am
hi, I’m pregnant, tired and emotional, but thought that this was such a lovely idea - so touching that you went to the effort of making the day special and that it worked so spectacularly! making kids happy brings a tear to my eye, I’m embarrassed to say. Hope I’ll think of some equally fun traditions for my first baby.
April 18th, 2008 at 11:55 am
Hi Robyn, Thanks for reading the baby-Wise blog and for taking the time to post your reaction. Enjoy making meaningful, fun traditions with your baby-to-be over the years. Best of luck with your pregnancy, Julie
P.S. Come back and visit again soon!