I am a freelance writer and columnist living in Sulllivan County.  My husband and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary last year and are raising our two man-cubs with both old-fashioned and modern parenting styles.  Another member of our family is our one-year old, yellow Lab, Maddy.  I look forward to sharing a slice of our family life and family related news with the Hudson Valley Parent community! 

I have two nephews, age 5 and 7, who live approximately 45 minutes away and our families get together about once a month on average.  Well, sometimes, this simply isn’t enough and so my older nephew, Dayton, said to my sister, “Can’t we have a party, just because?”  So begins a new family tradition, “The Just-Because Party.”  Disguised as a barbecue, it seemed like a holiday or birthday celebration might be in format and food, no gifts are exchanged and the event may be held on any weeknight as well as the weekend.  Stop putting it off, call the family and do not wait for a special occasion.  If you want to borrow the name, Dayton is quite happy to share and know the tradition is spreading.  Get together with your family, just because!