Standing Tall: A Tradition Worth Passing On
Every year, when my granddaughter’s birthday comes around, we celebrate with one of my favorite traditions—a day of shopping followed by lunch together.
On the surface, it may look like we’re simply buying clothes.
But that’s never really been what these days are about.
As we walked through the Galleria, laughing, trying on outfits, and talking about life, I found myself thinking about another woman who loved me in exactly the same way.
My grandmother.
She took me shopping often when I was growing up, and we always ended our day sharing lunch together. At the time, I thought the gift was the new outfit.
Now I know the real gift was her time.
Those afternoons became a safe place where I could ask questions, learn about life, and simply enjoy being with someone who loved me unconditionally.
This year felt especially meaningful because my granddaughter is fourteen and already 5’10”.
I smiled when I realized that I was 5’9” at her age.
Growing up as one of the tallest girls in the room isn’t always easy. You notice the stares. You sometimes wish you could blend in. I understand those feelings because I lived them too.
Maybe that’s one of the reasons we connect so well.
We don’t just shop for clothes.
We talk about confidence.
About embracing who you are.
About learning that standing tall is about much more than your height.
People often tell us we look alike. Whether that’s true or not, I hope what she inherits from me isn’t just a resemblance.
I hope she inherits confidence.
Kindness.
Curiosity.
And the understanding that the women who came before her believed she was worth spending time with.
As we carried our shopping bags back to the car after lunch, I realized something that made me smile.
I wasn’t just remembering a tradition.
I was continuing one.
The clothes will eventually be outgrown.
The conversations won’t.
The lunches won’t.
The tradition won’t.
And one day, perhaps she’ll find herself walking beside her own granddaughter, sharing a meal after a day of shopping, remembering that once upon a time, her grandmother did the very same for her.
That may be the greatest gift of all.
—
The Shuck Edit
Because the best things we pass on aren’t found in shopping bags—they’re found in the time we spend together.
I’d love to hear about your own family traditions. Share them with me over on Instagram @TheShuckEdit - I read every comment.❤️