| For those of us parenting in the United States, this is | | | | don't. Plenty of food to put in those tummies? There |
| the time of year we celebrate Thanksgiving. As a | | | | are families who don't know where their next meal is |
| mother, Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays | | | | coming from. Is your body working at all? You are |
| because it gives me the opportunity to purposely | | | | fabulously rich! |
| teach about gratitude. I'll give you an honest parenting | | | | Appreciating our blessings starts with acknowledging |
| tip here; developing an attitude of gratitude in your | | | | them...seeing them for what they truly are; the gifts you |
| children is one of the most amazing things you can do. | | | | have in this life, right here, right now. That's good stuff! |
| Here's why. | | | | As a parent, don't make the mistake of always waiting |
| -- Gratitude reminds us who we are. | | | | for the big stuff in your family life. It's that toothless grin, |
| We're not better than anyone else, and we're not | | | | giving by your infant only to you...it's the joy on their |
| worse either. Our kids desperately need to learn that | | | | face when your child successfully learns what you're |
| message. The child who grows up honestly believing | | | | trying to teach them, whether it's how to ride a bike, to |
| he is the center of the universe (and they all start out | | | | fish, to twirl on the dance floor, or to do pre-calculus. |
| that way) is one unhappy kid. | | | | Which takes us to the next idea in this parenting tip |
| -- Thankfulness means considering others. | | | | about gratitude. |
| When I recognize the efforts and service each of my | | | | -- Joy comes from thankfulness. |
| family members bring to the rest of us, I am motivated | | | | We all say we want our children to be happy, but |
| to serve also. That's another reason why it's so | | | | often we don't clarify what that might look like. Most |
| important to teach our kids their part in our families; not | | | | parents see quite quickly that 'more stuff' is not the |
| just so they'll learn how to do chores (important all by | | | | road to happiness. It simply doesn't work! In fact, it |
| itself), but so that they can take their legitimate, needed | | | | usually has the opposite effect and produces whiny, |
| place in the family structure. | | | | spoiled kids who are experts at ruining the calm of the |
| Each of us in a family has a vital role to play. | | | | entire family. |
| Someone else may be able to do our tasks, to be | | | | If you can see this truism, but don't know what the |
| sure, but *no one* can do them the way we can. We | | | | next parenting step is, then give this idea of intentional |
| are each unique and it's that unique service that makes | | | | thankfulness an honest try. When gratitude is |
| our family the special one it is. | | | | *practiced*, when we teach our kids that everything |
| Kids who understand that what they bring to their | | | | they have is a gift and their job is to be good |
| family is needed and valued blossom right before our | | | | stewards of it, something amazing happens in our |
| parenting eyes! And they start to understand that | | | | families. Whiny-ness leaves and contentedness moves |
| other family members bring unique gifts to the family, | | | | in. Selfishness lessens its grip as thinking of others is |
| too. Cooperation and respectfulness start to make | | | | encouraged and praised. |
| sense as tangible tools that bring us all blessings when | | | | You'll be amazed at what you personally learn to be |
| we first offer them to others. | | | | grateful for, too. Nothing can compare to your child's |
| All from the seed of thankfulness. | | | | joy as she tells you what a great sister she has, or |
| -- Gratitude means recognizing and appreciating our | | | | how she watched one child help another at school |
| blessings. | | | | today. Thankfulness enables your child to see the |
| It's way too easy to get caught up in consumerism in | | | | good in life. And that produces a life of abundant joy. |
| our fast-paced society. But honestly, at some point in | | | | See what I mean? That's why I believe this parenting |
| that accumulation process, you gotta ask, "what's the | | | | tip of teaching gratitude to our children ranks as one of |
| point?". If you want your kids to move past the "me! | | | | the best ones of all time. So as you prepare to |
| me!" stage in life, then a solid parenting tip to explore is | | | | celebrate Thanksgiving this year, consider all the tiny, |
| to start talking with your children, no matter what their | | | | yet powerful ways you and your children can increase |
| age, about the blessings in their lives. | | | | your habit of being thankful. Your new custom will |
| Got a roof over your head? Talk about the folks who | | | | serve you extraordinarily well all year long. |