New research reveals that those choosing to have children later in life, or simply not at all, feel like big life moments are being missed by friends and family due to them being perceived as less-traditional.
The survey¹, which was commissioned by greetings card and celebration experts cardfactory, found that one in three (31%) DINK couples (double income, no kid households) feel that their friends and family only celebrate traditional milestones, such as getting married and having a baby.
When asked which less-traditional life moments they’d like their loved ones to celebrate with them, job promotions were the top choice (57%), while buying a dream home (53%) and achieving a personal goal (48%) such as running a marathon, closely followed.
Top ten non-traditional milestones DINKs want you to celebrate with them:
- Job promotion (57%)
- Buying your dream home (53%)
- Achieving a personal goal (48%)
- Career change (40%)
- Starting your own business (38%)
- Overcoming health struggles (37%)
- Overcoming mental health struggles (27%)
- Getting a new pet (22%)
- Leaving a negative relationship (21%)
- Taking a bucket list trip (20%)
To help those who wish their loved ones would celebrate their less-traditional life’s moments more, cardfactory has teamed up with psychologist and relationship advisor, Barbara Santini, to share seven top tips for getting friends and family excited about the milestones important to you.
- Normalise the significance
“Begin by sharing why this particular milestone means so much to you,” advises Santini.
“Whether it’s your dog’s birthday or achieving a personal milestone, giving context allows others to connect emotionally. People won’t always remember what you said, but they’ll always remember how you made them feel, so making them feel the joy and significance behind your special occasion will help get them excited to celebrate with you.”
- Send invitations with a twist
“If you’re inviting friends and family to celebrate with you, make your invites fun and share more about why that milestone is important to you.
“As an additional little touch, you could even include a fun fact about such celebrations globally. This could encourage them to think outside of more traditional celebrations moving forward.”
- Educate with enthusiasm
“It’s not always common for people to celebrate, say, a career change or the anniversary of moving to a new city, but enthusiasm can be contagious.
“Share the benefits of acknowledging and celebrating non-traditional milestones with the people around you, such as boosting morale, fostering gratitude, or simply the joy of celebrating with loved ones.”
- Ask open ended questions
“If you’re unsure how to approach the conversation, encourage an open dialogue about it first.
“Asking questions like, ‘have you ever celebrated something out of the ordinary?’ can encourage your loved ones to share personal stories, making the conversation relatable and less intimidating.”
- Incorporate traditional elements into your celebrations
“Blend the unfamiliar with the familiar to ease people into the new. For example, perhaps you could cut a cake, share a toast. or play a game as part of your modern celebration. Integrating elements that everyone recognises can make the non-traditional feel more approachable.”
- Practice empathy
“Not everyone’s comfort levels are the same so if someone seems taken aback or unsure, just be patient. While it can be frustrating, we’re asking our friends and family to understand our needs, so it’s important to extend that same grace to them.”#
- Create a keepsake
“Offering a small memento or token from the celebration can make it memorable for attendees. Whether it’s a personalised card to say thank you for their support, a photo, or a small gift, this acts as a reminder of the joy of celebrating every moment in life, no matter how unconventional.
Amy Greenshields, gifting expert at cardfactory comments: “Being more mindful of modern-day, less-traditional life moments means we’re able to maintain healthy and fulfilling relationships with our loved ones, no matter if we’re on different life paths.
“The purpose of any celebration is coming together to cherish life’s moments and no two lives are the same, so it’s important that we focus on the togetherness it brings as opposed to what brought you together.”
To browse cardfactory’s selection of cards and gifts or to find out more about its click and collect service, please visit cardfactory.
