In today’s world of strife and conflict it is important for individuals to feel emotionally safe and secure.  Family Traditions are practices or beliefs that are passed from generation to generation that help families to create a sense of connection and closeness as well as emotional safety, security and stability.  The Laurel County Family and Consumer Sciences Agent taught Creating and Maintaining Family Traditions in eight counties to Wilderness Trail Area Extension Homemakers.  Thirty-two Extension Homemaker Leaders attended the trainings and then in turn taught the lesson to several hundred members in the District.  As a direct result of this lesson:

• 86% increased their understanding that family traditions provides a source of identity

• 75% increased their understanding that family traditions help strengthen family bonds

• 82% increased their understanding that family traditions offer comfort and security

• 82% increased their understanding that family traditions connect generations

• 86% increased their understanding that family traditions can pass on customs, celebrations, cultural and religious heritage

• 75% increased their understanding that family traditions can create lasting memories

• 75% increased their understanding that family traditions are connected with strong families

• 94% learned the characteristics that make families strong

• 84% will maintain or work to create new family traditions

• 91% will encourage their family to participate in family traditions

Some of the important things that participants learned were the importance of traditions, how to promote bonding, understanding and accepting change, how to be flexible, and how traditions help strengthen families.  A few of the things the participants plan to do are to be more consistent with their traditions, accept change, be more flexible, and consider starting some new traditions.

In a 6-month follow-up survey 100% of the respondents said that as a direct result of this program they have maintained a family tradition; 73% created a new family tradition and 91% have encouraged family to participate in their family traditions.  One participant stated, "Family traditions are very important to me in that they help to maintain a closeness in the family."  Another participant stated that she, her sisters, and other family members wrote stories which they published in their annual Family History Book.