Tools for Transformation Tuesday: Pancake Sunday

This weekend we packed up the Mini and headed to Charlottesville to attend a wedding and visit some dear friends. It was great to reconnect with loved ones we don't see nearly often enough and celebrate one of life's most momentous occasions.

Before heading out of town we were fortunate to be included in "Pancake Sunday," a weekly tradition for our gracious host family. Many people have mealtime routines or special weekend treats, but this was more than a meal: it was an event. Pancake Sunday involved songs and dances, pajamas until noon, and seemingly endless variations of the fluffy breakfast fare: bananacakes, fruitcakes, and candycakes to name a few.

Pancake Sunday included the whole family - even the dog, who played a critical role as "tester" of the first cake off the griddle and helped keep the floor beneath the high chairs and booster seats a pancake-free zone. The timing of the event, which takes place on Saturday as often as Sunday, wasn't nearly as significant as the people, the laughs, and the love.

As my baby girl becomes ever more aware of the world around her and the experiences and people in her life, I look forward to finding our own special rituals that help provide rhythm to the weeks and create opportunities for sweet memories.

What routine event can you transform into a celebration? How can you create memories for yourself and your loved ones?

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