Family rituals: “The day before my birthday we bake 100 muffins”

When I was sick as a child, there was a noodle and chicken pot from Aldi. Now at 33, it still has to be that one. I know, totally bananas, but homemade chicken soup (my ex-partner tried it) is no substitute. It’s kind of a comforting childhood memory even if it’s just a can of soup and cheers me up.

There were two rituals with my grandparents that I have never experienced anywhere else and which I still have to smile about:

• On the one hand, there was a small herbal schnapps for everyone every working day at 10:30 a.m. Grandpa was a self-employed master craftsman and the workshop was on the same property as the house. He was in the kitchen on time, Grandma had everything ready.
• And on the other hand, there was coffee and cake or rolls every evening at 10 p.m. When I was old enough, I always had to make coffee. Right after that we went to bed.

During my first pregnancy, I bought freshly squeezed OJ after every check-up. I’ll do that during this pregnancy too and our moth will be there this time and will drink with me. I’m really happy to share this with her.

For a while my daughter and I had an appointment and they were selling chicken and chips right next to it. So it became normal that we would take it with us once a month and have a picnic on the floor (the idea originally came up because she used to drop so many things, but she loved it so much that we still do it that way have to do when there’s chicken).

My husband and my older daughter like to make noodles together and she is always allowed to cut her noodles out of the noodle dough with cookie cutters.

Every evening we sit by our daughter’s bed and reflect on the day. Tell us the things that went badly and then the things that were good or just made us happy. Even when she’s staying at Grandma’s, she calls home for it.

My daughter’s birthday is the day after mine. The day before my birthday we bake 100 muffins for her class and my faculty. When the children are asleep, I sit in the living room with a chocolate bath and a number of baking decorations and decorate them. Then there’s Miss Fisher, I love Lucy, Hercule Poirot etc. all night long. I always have to make sure that I’m done by four o’clock at the latest so that the chocolate dries in time.

Every year I make an advent calendar for my colleagues. It is opened alternately over 24 days and it has become a tradition. When I was on maternity leave, my colleagues were really concerned that I would forget them. Of course, I drove to the office very pregnant and hung up the Advent bags in a cloak and dagger operation. They were so happy! So I can never get out of this number.

My grandparents had their “blue hour” EVERY evening, always between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. they sat together in the living room and talked. My grandpa died years ago, but my grandma is still doing her twilight hour. It’s called that because it takes place at dusk, which makes everything look bluish. She no longer speaks to him, but reads all the letters they wrote to each other during the war or reminisces. They were married for over 60 years and were in love to the end.

If dad is gone overnight, we have a “girls’ night” with a plate of snacks and a footbath in front of the TV.

Once a year we go to family camping. My three siblings with their families, my parents (now only my mother because my dad passed away) and a couple with a family, which we see as our siblings. A long weekend with tents and all the trimmings. I love it! At Christmas we all move in with one of us and spend the Christmas days there together. Mega bustle, but super beautiful and funny.

My husband usually goes to the weekly market with his two children on Saturdays. There is traditionally a waffle for breakfast.

When the potatoes are ready in the garden, our daughter can invite her friends over and we dig up potatoes together. The biggest (and of course all others) win a prize. Then there is potato sack race, potato run, fire with stick bread and of course french fries etc..

At the beginning of each new school year, my mum gave me a small school cone with nice little things. I am now continuing this tradition for my four children. Everyone gets their school cone for the new (kindergarten) year.

My mother-in-law used to make a themed cake for my husband’s birthday and we’ve carried on that tradition. Everyone gets a special cake for their birthday.

The same four cups, four cutting boards and four knives of our own always come with us on vacation.

At some point we introduced my husband to read to us. When a book is finished we always take a break from reading and play a board game together before bed. Our children are now eight, five and ten years old.

My husband and I ALWAYS have breakfast together, even if one of us could stay in bed longer. Quietly with a newspaper and coffee. During the week there is muesli with fruit, at the weekend fresh bread rolls and everything that goes with it.

There is a child wish day twice a year, on which the child can choose the programme.

I have nice pajamas that I only take with me on vacation and wear there.