Tradition: a noun meaning to “hand down statements, beliefs, information, etc. from generation to generation, especially by word of mouth or by practice.”

Traditions are so important to not only families but individuals as well, especially during the holiday season. For some of our clients, establishing new Christmas traditions that support their recovery feels like starting from scratch. However, just like our Executive Director Lisa Tipton said – “It just takes one person to start a tradition …”

This week we hosted our annual Client Christmas Party for women in our program, and the central theme was tradition. Members of our senior staff shared their family traditions which include building gingerbread houses, giving their children new pajamas, playing games, and reading the Christmas story. Even as adults, the children of our staff members hold these Christmas traditions dear and ensure that the younger kids in the family are just as excited to take part each year. The hope was that by sharing our stories, we could inspire clients to create their own unique traditions for their families.

Robin Ledford, Families Free’s Clinical Director, MSW, LADAC, addressed the need for meetings during the holiday season, and she shared that Christmas can be special by experiencing the day sober for the first time. For our clients, continuing the tradition of sobriety during Christmas and embracing the fact that their holiday might look different from others is essential in building a practice in peace.

In addition to this time of reflection, our clients and staff enjoyed a delicious meal together, and then our clients built gingerbread houses of their very own. Through the generosity of our community, donations of gifts and necessities, bibles, gingerbread house kits, and new pajamas were then wrapped by our clients and are now ready to be enjoyed by their children this Christmas.

We are so grateful to our community for helping us strengthen the families of our clients, through fostering resiliency and encouraging positive relationships within their family. #LoveRestores