Well it’s almost Thanksgiving…
“Creating a grateful family culture is a challenge in our entitled, indulgent age. – practicing gratitude and being grateful are keys to a happier life. So, as we celebrate Thanksgiving, I am once again focusing my efforts to promote gratitude in my family. After all, if we constantly dwell on what’s going wrong in our lives and in the world (and stay focused on what we don’t have), we are left feeling anxious, empty, and depressed. But when we take time to count our blessings, we shift our mindsets and become happier, more grateful people.”..Sunshine Parenting
So here are some tips that just might help…
Creating Traditions!!!!
Go Back to Grandma’s…
Baking!!
Baking with the grand kids is kind of a given but to me it isn’t just for the time spent or even teaching them to bake…it’s creating Traditions that your grand children can pass to theirs!
Once a family has started a tradition there is a good chance it won’t stop because of how close the family has become. Some traditions are passed on from generation to generation. …
Making Tamales
This is something my sisters and I are really trying to make a yearly tradition. Up to now its been hit and miss. Because our Grandmother was Hispanic, she’s left some recipes that I am dying to try. My sisters, my cousin and I will be making our Holiday batch that we can use through out the Holiday Season. See the Theme…
Crafting…It’s more about teaching really!
Whether it’s food or something to use on your Thanksgiving Table …these kiddos love it!!
A new Tradition!
Gratitude Jar or Board
(OK, so I Never did this with my boys…I wish I would have. I think its a great way to start a new Tradition on Thanksgiving)
This can be an ongoing family gratitude practice, perhaps kicked off at Thanksgiving and ending on New Year’s Eve. For the jar, people jot down things they are grateful for and put the notes inside. On a specified day (end of the year is good!), empty the jar and read the notes so the whole family can reflect on individual and group blessings.
The Tradition of Time
What does that mean…well for our family time is everything! As my grandkids get older it gets harder and harder to get all four together but one Tradition we started years ago has stuck…So Far!
The week before Christmas we take all four grandkids for several days and we have a blast doing the same thing every year. Singing Christmas Carols, Ice Skating in Old Town then hitting out favorite Ice Cream Parlor…Traditions
Sometimes the simplest things have the biggest impact!!
Don’t think the little things you do each year don’t matter! The kids remember and it becomes part of what they love about the Holiday Season!
Click link here: Check out Christmas Caroling with Papa )
Giving to Others
Perhaps the best way to promote gratitude in our children and ourselves is reaching out and serving others who are less fortunate.
Our family strongly believes in giving back. In Temecula Valley. Here are just three our family supports!
Hopes Community Closet…Rose Again Foundation…Wounded Warriors Project
( I will provide links and the end of this post for you to check out!)
There are so many opportunities this time of year (and all year long, for that matter) to participate in collection and delivery of food, toys for children, winter coats, and more. There are so many needy people, and reaching out to help others not only makes us more kind and compassionate, but also more appreciative of what we have.
Traditions……
Baking and sharing recipes handed down, Creating a craft to use each year or an Attitude for Gratitude…and maybe most important of all…Giving Back!
Our Family Wishes you and yours the very Best of Thanksgivings…
Build your Home on the strong foundation
Matthew (7:24–25)
Special Thanks to the following:
https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=rose%20again%20foundation
www.woundedwarriorproject.com
https://www.bonappetit.com/story/make-these-tamales-entire-family
