From Separation to Celebration
Parental separation is often not easy. It can be sad for children to experience the break-up of their familiar family unit. We also know that when you are out in rough seas, you stand a better chance of surviving if you can swim your way onto a life raft. A blended family can be that life raft. It offers children the feelings of security they need as they navigate the ups and downs that can come with being part of two families.
Read on to discover how I helped Freya, Liam, George and Aoife celebrate their blended family. (You know confidentiality is important to me. Names are changed to respect this).
Making choices that fit who you are
The family chose to celebrate at home. It is convenient, a safe and familiar space for the children and easier for them to feel relaxed and at ease.
The weather was with us on the day so it was lovely to be in their garden. It was an absolute joy and pleasure to be surrounded by beautiful plants and flowers.
Rituals that reflect who you are as a family
The Ceremony had elements the family love. Liam is a landscape gardener so we included the ritual of planting seeds. And because the Ceremony took place at their home all the equipment was on hand.
Freya is an interior designer and creative soul. She jumped at the idea of creating a family flag using coloured ribbons. They love travelling and saw the flag as a way of celebrating world nations.
Making a Family Flag
We chose the following colours for the family flag:
Freya chose blue. This colour represented the gifts of patience and tranquility that she has in spades!!
Liam chose the green as I might have expected from a gardener. He brings the gift of nurture to the family.
Aoife liked the pink ribbon. This is a lovely colour to represent unity which means the same as being together.
George loved the yellow ribbon. It represented the little ray of sunshine he brings to everything.
How to personalise the Ceremony with an acrostic poem
The Flag
If your names were put into one big bag,
And you cast a spell to create a flag,
You would pull out the cloth bit by bit,
And this is what you would find on it.
F is for Freya, so generous and kind
L is for Liam who loves gardening to unwind
A is for Aoife the apple of dad’s eye
G is for George, who makes mum beam with pride.
Together you make a fabulous FLAG.
United by love, your hearts feel so glad
That you’re taking this step as a new family,
Extending the branches on your family tree.
Ways to include family and friends in the Ceremony
We all need a little help at times, and parenting is no different. Freya and Liam chose the support of three friends to be their Parent Pals. Other Celebrants refer to Guide Parents, Parents Buddies etc. Their role is to offer support at times when parents are running on an empty tank.
A memorable moment for me was witnessing the pinkie promises made by each Parent Pal to the children. They bent down to the children’s level and hooked little fingers to make their pinkie promises. It was so loving and meaningful.
Making connections that count
As a Celebrant it is important for me to make connections that count. It is joyful when a couple who have their Wedding Ceremony with me choose me for another special event. I want to be there to celebrate all of life’s milestones. If you are planning a Ceremony to celebrate as a family read more about what I offer