Registration ends May 27 for Do Well Be Well with Diabetes, a four-part class for managing type 2 diabetes.  Sponsored by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the City of McKinney Senior Recreation Center, the class will feature speakers from Sodexo Tenet Centennial Medical Center Frisco and Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Allen. Class will be held Tuesdays, June 7, 14, 21 and 28, 9:30 am – 11:30 am, at the McKinney Senior Recreation Center, 1400 South College Street, McKinney  75069.  Registration fee for the four classes is $13 per person.  For registration information, contact the McKinney Senior Recreation Center at 972.547.7491.  Payment can be made by mailing a check or  credit card over the phone.  For course information, contact Carrie Brazeal at 972.424.1460, Ext. 4233.

Registration ends April 15 for Do Well Be Well with Diabetes, a four-part class for managing type 2 diabetes.  Sponsored by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, the class will feature speakers from Baylor Scott and White Plano, Methodist Richardson Medical Center and Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Allen.  Class will be held Thursdays, April 21 and 28 and May 5 and 12, 9:30 -11:30 a.m., at the Texas A&M Research and Extension Center, Building E, 17360 Coit Road, Dallas. There is free parking in front of the building. Registration fee for the four classes is $15 per person or $25 per couple. For registration information, contact Carrie Brazeal at 972.424.1460, Ext.4233 or email c-brazeal@tamu.edu.

How are your holiday preparations going?  Even though Thanksgiving was just two weeks ago, most of us are in the midst of preparing for the upcoming holidays. Do you feel that you will run out of time with all the things that you think need to be done?   Hopefully you can evaluate and downsize your to-do list and focus on the most important matters, including family traditions.   

The holidays are the time of year that we tend to think of family traditions.  What special traditions do you have in your family?  According to the University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s “The Growing Years,”   traditions give family members a sense of belonging.  They help us know who we are and where we come from.  This feeling of security and comfort is important to both adults and children.  Family traditions also help build and strengthen the bond with your family, especially children.  Whether elaborate or simple, a shared tradition becomes special family time.  And family time is very important. Lives have become increasingly complex and fast paced.  In “Celebrating as Families” by the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, the author states that our complicated lives have left many people feeling stressed, depressed and isolated.  Some experts have suggested that traditions are the keys to bringing continuity to our lives and connecting us to our past and present.  Families who celebrate together are healthier and better able to meet the challenges of everyday living. 

What are your favorite family traditions?   In our family, one of our traditions is decorating our Christmas tree the weekend following Thanksgiving.  We wait until all family members can be present.  As our kids have gotten older, this has become a little tricky but it’s important that everyone be present.  Another tradition is purchasing dated Christmas ornaments.  Everyone picks out an ornament that symbolizes something important that has happened during the year.  We have ornaments that signify first day of school, Boy Scout camp outs, softball tournaments, acquiring drivers’ license, high school graduation, first apartment - the list goes on.  Both kids know their ornaments and insist on hanging them on the tree themselves…and they are now young adults!  Hanging stockings, putting up decorations inside and out, preparing and eating special foods, driving to look at outdoor holiday decorations, eating hamburgers on Christmas Eve and attending special religious services are just a few other Brazeal family traditions. Try to list your family traditions, even the simple ones.  You will probably be surprised at how many traditions you have and how much you might miss them if, for some reason, they were not celebrated. 

No matter what your traditions, make sure that they are still valued by family members.  Sometimes, for whatever reason, traditions may no longer have the same meaning.  For example, some families enjoy baking, decorating and giving cookies as gifts.  As children grow older, time schedules may not allow this.  So, instead of making homemade cookies to decorate, modify your tradition by purchasing cookie dough to bake or ready-to-eat plain deli cookies.  You still will be spending time with your family when you are decorating the cookies. In time, however, this tradition may become more of a chore than the enjoyable event that it is designed to be.  If so, give yourself permission to develop a new family tradition to take its place. How do you know if a tradition is no longer enjoyable?  Ask your family members which activities mean the most to them.   

But what do you do about traditions when you are in a new family situation?  In the case of remarriages, new traditions need to be established.  Ohio State University Extension’s “Family Tapestries” series discusses this topic.  If new marriages are to succeed, couples must realize that remarriage is different from a first marriage.  Of the many topics that need to be discussed, establishing new family traditions is a priority.  When two families come together, it’s hard not to feel that one way of doing something is right and any other way is wrong.  Families need to compare notes about traditions and recognize that each person’s preferences are just different, not better or worse.  Starting new traditions or combining traditions from both households to meet everyone’s needs can enrich and strengthen the new family. 

Family traditions.  They are as unique as your family and bring special meaning to the holiday season.  As this holiday season unfolds, make sure that you are celebrating the traditions that are most important to your family.  Establish new traditions if needed. Enjoy the tradition, but, more importantly, enjoy your time together as a family.  That’s what makes the holidays and traditions special.  

Carrie T. Brazeal is the Family and Consumer Sciences Agent for Texas A&M  AgriLife Extension Service - Collin County. She may be reached at c-brazeal@tamu.edu or 972-424-1460, Ext. 4233

Registration ends Sept 25 for the Dinner Tonight:  A Taste of Fresh and Fast cooking school that will be held Tuesday, September 29, 6:30 -8:30 p.m., at the Collin College Preston Ridge Conference Center, 9700 Wade Blvd., Frisco.  Demonstrations of two easy and nutritious menus based on the Mediterranean eating plan will be presented and sampled.   Chef Darren McGrady will return as our Royal Host to share palace experiences about his time as the royal family’s personal chef and will demonstrate a recipe from his cookbook.  Sponsored by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano, Junior League of Collin County, Market Street, Frisco ISD and Collin College.  Registration is $25  and includes a cookbook with recipes for 12 menus plus gift bag.  Doors open and raffle ticket sales at 5:45 p.m.  Outstanding door prizes.  Register online at www.TexasHealth.org/Dinner-Tonight  or call 1.877.9355.   For additional information,  email Carrie Brazeal at c-brazeal@tamu.edu or 972.424.1460, Ext. 4233.

Registration ends April 24 for Do Well Be Well with Diabetes, a four-part class for managing type 2 diabetes.  Sponsored by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, the class will feature a speaker from Baylor Medical Center at McKinney.  Class will be held May 1, 8, 15, and 22, 9:30 -11:30 a.m., at the McKinney Senior Recreation Center, 1400 S. College, McKinney. Registration fee for the four classes is $15 per person or $25 per couple. For registration information, contact Carrie Brazeal at 972.424.1460, Ext.4233 or email  c-brazeal@tamu.edu.