A Cherished Tradition Among Us

I don't think there's a family without its tradition or ritual. They are practised regularly and deliberately, which often carries symbolic or emotional significance. These traditions or rituals strengthen the bond, especially when they are done yearly.

It may be a gathering, retreat, family meeting, or simply a general tradition where a particular date is picked every year just to come together and celebrate, thereby creating a new form of togetherness, mostly when they are reconnecting after months of staying away from each other. This moment is always cherished and stored like a memory.

A tradition I will not forget but always cherish is that of my siblings and me. I don't know what to call it, but here is a name that best fits: check-in session. I used this because it's a moment we gather together once a year to reflect, share life updates and strengthen our bond. This is always a retrospective moment for us.

Before we started this years back, we didn't know much about our personal lives, especially in terms of relationships. As ladies, we ought to know what's going on around us, but since no one was willing to open up, we didn't bother, but we still kept the siblings' bond going, not until we thought and realised we aren't getting any younger, but older. Besides, we should come together to know what's going on, especially with our marital status.

It all began with the three of us - my big sister, my immediate younger sister and myself. Once we come home for Christmas and New Year, we would lock ourselves in our rooms on one of such days before everyone returns to their destination. Then, we would talk about the latest in our lives, the men that has approached us, why we didn't continue with the relationship and then, after that, we move on to talk about our achievements during the year and what issues we are going through. The aim was never to keep quiet but to open up to each other if there's anything going on.

The last time we came together physically was two years ago, if I am not wrong, and that was before my sisters travelled out of the country to further their master's. That didn't stop us from communicating online - thanks to technology, as we aren't limited in that aspect. It's always great talking via WhatsApp videos to continue the tradition, then find ways to keep connecting with ourselves and, most importantly, staying connected to Christ, who has been helping us so far.

Later, we added our other two younger siblings because we also thought they had come of age to discuss their issues with us, since they both are in the University. We didn't want them to be left out, and since it's a siblings-to-siblings thing, why not involve them?

This tradition has been ongoing for some years now, and it has made us stronger. Our aunts are always proud of us because of how we come together to share updates about ourselves, which they didn't have the opportunity to do among themselves. We actually thought about this idea so we could make a difference while maintaining the unity and love we have always shared since we were young.

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