As much as I look forward to a traditional family Thanksgiving meal, it can be hard to really embrace the “Thanks” part of the holiday. Diane Turner Maller’s article on page 10 gives simple and realistic advice on small ways to cultivate an “attitude of gratitude” within your family year-round. One of her recommendations is to be of service.
Volunteering with your kids is such a meaningful and tangible way of showing them they can make a difference in this world. And in turn, it can make them more grateful for the things – big and small – they have to be thankful for. Last year, my family experienced this firsthand when a local charity was soliciting volunteers on Christmas morning to prepare meals and gifts to distribute to the homeless in our area.
The 8:30 a.m. event start time gave me pause, however. I have two teenagers who value their sleep, to put it mildly. The thrill of rising at the crack of dawn to excitedly open their Christmas gifts had worn off, and they now prefer a lazily-paced morning instead. Undeterred, I emailed the organization and signed us up. Then I held my breath as I broke the news to the family.
I received some push back with the timing, but overall, was impressed that my family (mostly) supported the plan. I wouldn’t say they were thrilled, but they rose early without too much complaint and we headed to the church that was hosting the event. My kids’ eyes got wide (as did mine, I admit) when we saw the massive amount of volunteers who had also gotten up early to be of service. Dozens of people were already busy wrapping donations and preparing food. It made my heart proud to see my kids slap on a name tag and eagerly jump in to help.
The experience was such a positive and inspiring way to start our day, and an annual tradition I’d like to foster. I probably wouldn’t have considered signing up for this volunteer opportunity when my kids were younger, but as they are getting older and more mature, our family traditions are also evolving.
Another holiday twist I’m adding to the mix this year is signing us up for a Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot. These community events have grown in popularity and abundance, and we’ve put together a list of local races for your reference on pages 32-34.
Again, my teenagers will not be smiling about an early morning wake-up, especially one that also involves running, but that’s the plan. The registration fee goes toward a good cause, and we can eat those marshmallow-laced sweet potatoes and have an extra piece of pumpkin pie later in the day guilt free. (That’s part of my family marketing pitch at least!)
Wish me luck as I break the news…and from our FAMILY to yours, Happy Thanksgiving!
Debbie Williams
Managing Editor
Washington FAMILY Magazine
