I come from a middle-income family, so my childhood wasn’t filled with expensive holidays or extravagant gifts. However, I truly believe I had the happiest childhood, and I often tell my mum how lucky I am to have grown up the way I did. I never felt like we were missing anything because we had something much more valuable—beautiful family traditions.
1. Eat Dinner Together Whenever You Can
These days, we all seem to live on our phones, which often takes away valuable family time. When I was growing up, we always tried to sit down together for dinner at least three or four times a week. Not in front of the TV, but around the same table, simply enjoying each other’s company. Those conversations helped us share our experiences and brought us closer as a family
2. Bake Something Together
One of my earliest and happiest childhood memories is gathering in the kitchen with my brother to help our grandmother bake pies, pastries and even homemade dumplings. Looking back, I realise we weren’t just making food—we were creating memories. I have carried this tradition into my own life and still love baking cookies. Here is one picture of my home-baked chocolate-chip cookies.
3. Celebrate Ordinary Days
Don’t wait for birthdays or holidays to create special memories together. Some of my happiest childhood memories weren’t made during big celebrations—they happened on quiet evenings at home. Candles, tea and a few sweets were all we needed.
Read my article ‘Why Baltic Homes Always Feel So Cozy‘ for inspiration on creating a warm and welcoming home.
4. Go for Evening Walks
Walking isn’t just good for your health—it is also a wonderful family tradition. Spending time in nature, putting your phones away and simply talking is one of the easiest ways to reconnect. During my childhood, we spent countless hours in our gardens, not only working but also enjoying picnics together. Those moments are some of my favorite memories.
5. Pick Flowers for the Table
Flowers are a wonderful way to create family traditions. Not only do they make your home feel cosy, but they also give everyone something to enjoy together. Challenge each family member to pick different flowers each week, and it will soon become a tradition everyone looks forward to.
6. Read Books Instead of Scrolling
Scrolling has become such a normal part of everyday life that it often disconnects us from the people around us, including our own family. Reading together or simply discussing books is a wonderful way to reconnect. Challenge yourselves to read one book each month, then organize a family book evening where everyone shares their favorite parts.
7. Cook From Family Recipes
This is one tradition that has stayed in my family for generations. It is a beautiful way to stay connected to your roots while spending quality time together over delicious homemade food.
Here is an image of me and my grandmother in the kitchen from my childhood, it is one of my sweetest memories.
Read my Recipes page for family meal ideas inspired by the cookbooks my grandmother left me
8. Keep One Day Each Week Simple
This may sound like simple advice, but in today’s busy world, it is surprisingly difficult to slow down. My grandparents always used to say, ‘God created Sundays for rest and preparation for the week ahead.’ I still follow this advice by taking time for a family breakfast and enjoying an unhurried day together.
9. Tell Family Stories
After losing my grandmother a year ago, I often wonder whether I have enough of her stories to one day share with my own children. I think I do. Since I was little, we would often sit together with tea and biscuits while she told me stories from her life. Those conversations became some of my happiest memories, and I hope I carry them with me forever.
10. Make Your Home Feel Welcoming
Your surroundings tell a story too. When your home feels warm and welcoming, your family naturally wants to spend more time there. Fresh flowers, candles and family photographs all help create that feeling, and none of it has to cost a fortune.
Read my article ‘7 Money Saving Habits I Learned From My Grandparents’ for more ideas on creating a cosy home on a budget.
Perhaps traditions don’t have to be grand to become unforgettable. Looking back, I don’t remember expensive gifts or perfect homes. I remember how my family made ordinary days feel special. Those are the traditions I hope to carry into my own home one day.
If there is one lesson my childhood taught me, it’s that the happiest memories are rarely the expensive ones. They are created through love, time and the little traditions we choose to repeat together.
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