With the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it is hard to find time for the simple things. When I was growing up there were home cooked meals every night and when I walked in the door my mother was always there. Times are not as simple anymore.
In many homes both parents are working sometimes two jobs not just one, to make ends meet. This year make a pledge to go back to the old times. Include your children and teens in all the preparations. Let go and create a mess, enjoy that mess this year. Time goes by so quickly and before you know it your children will be grown.
Old Fashioned Thanksgiving Suggestions/Tips:
- Sit down and plan the menu with your family together.
- Go to supermarket and get all the supplies you need. (I know taking younger ones to supermarkets is a challenge). Make it fun! Let them help find the supplies, check things off your list, push the wagon.
- Bake everything together. Your kitchen will get messy, but for today welcome that mess, clean it together.
- Thanksgiving morning shut off ALL electronics. Find a basket or something similar and have everyone put their phones and tablets in it for the day- including mom and dad’s.
- If Thanksgiving is at your house decorate together, create that fun welcome environment.
- Let the children open the door and welcome guests. Learning how to greet adults is an essential social skill.
- Do not spend the holiday worrying about those black Friday sales, concentrate on your family and appreciate the moments you have together.
- Have everyone in the family make a list of things they are grateful for and write them down on a piece of paper. Put them in a basket decorated by the children. At the end of the meal go around the table and read what everyone has written. Cherish the words you hear, for today just think of all that you have in front of you.
- Reminisce about days gone by and share funny stories during dinner. Be sure to include children in the discussion. Let them share their memories of times they had a lot of fun or were grateful for something.
A song I recently heard titled “You’re Gonna Miss This” inspired me to think of how fast life goes, how quickly children grow and how you wish time away. For this Thanksgiving, don’t miss anything, appreciate every moment, laugh until your stomach hurts, pray for those who aren’t as fortunate to have the meal you just ate and most importantly just LOVE your family and time together.
Cindy Springsteen is a published poetry writer and children’s author. Her first children’s book “Waffles and Pancakes A Lesson in Friendship” was released in April 2012. In September 2012 book two “Waffles and Pancakes A Lesson in Bullying was released, which recently won Best Children’s Book of 2013. Each book has a moral which help to teach valuable lessons with cute loveable characters. She has been writing since she was in her teens. You can find her on Twitter. She spent many years researching and writing about parenting teenagers for various publications, along with her own Website. You can also follow her on Facebook.
Books:
Waffles and Pancakes A Lesson in Friendship.
Waffles and Pancakes A Lesson in Bullying.