I am realizing just how important breaking certain first family traditions are before you are in a new relationship and not during. My SO has always done holidays even (travel for holidays) together whilst divorce and with extended family.  Well in the coming week BM and the kids are going to their home country for an annual trip they take around this time. My SO with the exception of last year due to covid has always done these trips with them. 

I want to take my kids on a vacation this summer because usually when my kids are off school in summer they are with their dad. However, this time my work schedule and visitation is working out with the school term start. Now initially (as in earlier this year when we talked about it) we were going to do a big vacation with my SO, his kids, my kids and me.

My SO travels a lot for work but because of the covid he has been home more and I guess him being home more has really cemented our relationship and the ones with are respective kids even more. I took my kids out of school last year and we homeschooled while we both worked from home. My SO kids were already being homeschooled pre-covid so he took a more active role in the kids homeschooling. My SO even started teaching my kids some Russian. It was just a great bonding time. It was a lot of work but honestly I really enjoyed it.

My SO, his family nor BM never celebrate Shabbat. But since they were worried about some of their relatives experiencing a major conflict; they actually kept Shabbat. I went along as well as and some other family friends were there and everyone was nice. It was actually the best interaction I actually had with his family. I don't know if it was because they were a little emotional and worried but they were easy to be around.