Single Mom Says Her Preteen Son Asked for More Family Traditions on Ordinary Days Instead of Just Holidays, So She Is Looking for Ideas Beyond Donut Fridays

“My preteen son just asked for us to have more family traditions on a regular day rather than holidays.” That line sits across the top of an eight second TikTok from Jennifer Beard, who posts as @mamabeardteacher. She looks into the camera from a sunny room, tucks her hair behind her ear, and lets the text do the asking.

The rest of the on screen question names what she has already thought of and asks for more: “Other than ‘donut Fridays’ or ‘pancake Saturdays,’ what are your small family traditions?” Her caption adds the reason she wants to get it right: “He won’t be little for much longer,” followed by “Help me make magic!” and a #singlemomlife tag.

What Pediatricians Suggest Building Into a Regular Week

The American Academy of Pediatrics, on its parenting site HealthyChildren.org, lays out the everyday slots where routines and rituals fit. At dinner, it recommends family members eat together “without the distraction of electronic devices or television” when possible, says everyone should be encouraged to take part in the conversation, and suggests conversation starter card decks to help.

For bedtime, the AAP describes wind down rituals that “can include storytelling, reading aloud, conversation, and songs.” For weekends, its examples are grocery shopping together, visiting museums or zoos, doing chores as a family, and going on hikes or bike rides. It also says older kids and teens can help clean up after dinner and take on chores.

Turning a Preteen’s Request Into Traditions That Last

Ask him what he pictured. When a child asks for traditions, find out whether he imagines a meal, a show, a walk or a game. Write down his answers before adding your own.

Attach each tradition to a day and a time that already exists. Donut Fridays work because Friday comes every week. Pick slots you already have, such as the drive home on Wednesdays, Sunday dinner or the last ten minutes before lights out, so nothing new has to be scheduled.

Use the AAP’s list as a starting menu. A no phones dinner with a conversation card pulled from a jar, a reading aloud night, a standing grocery run where he picks one new food, or a monthly hike or bike ride all fit inside a normal week and cost little or nothing.

Give him ownership of one ritual. Let him choose the Saturday breakfast menu, run the playlist while you clean up, or plan the route for a weekend ride. The tradition he designs is the one he will defend.

Start with two, not ten. Keep them for a month before adding more, and put them on a shared calendar or a note on the fridge so the week has visible markers he can count on.