“It’s not enough to have lived. We should be determined to live for something. May I suggest that it be creating joy for others, sharing what we have for the betterment of personkind, bringing hope to the lost and love to the lonely.” 

Leo F. Buscaglia
1924-1998

Photo taken by Tia Serre

With Thanksgiving just a couple of days away, I wanted my three- and five-year-old to have a general sense of what the holiday is all about. But for young children, what does it really mean to be thankful? — Besides blurting out a well-scripted “thank you” when they’ve just been given something that they really, really wanted. 

I couldn’t come up with any brilliant ideas, so I pilfered one from The Simple Mom (http://www.thesimplemom.wordpress.com), who creates a Thanksgiving Tree with her family every year. She draws a bare tree on a piece of paper, and then, over the course of a couple of weeks or so, family members write down the things or people that they’re thankful for on multi-colored leaves and tape them to the tree. Although she recommends beginning the project in mid-November, I decided to cram it all in at once. Just my style — fast and furious.

In the end, I think that my kids got something out of it. The activity at least gave us time to sit down together and talk a little about what we value in our lives — our stuffed animals, our friends, our school. 

But I am now left with a nagging question in my mind. Just how can a kid who has never really wanted for anything, except maybe a box of Spongebob Squarepants cereal, really understand gratitude? The only answer that I can come up with is that, at some point, kids should be exposed to those who have less. They should participate with their parents in some kind of service-related activity. 

Yep – that’s us, parents. We need to be reminded, as well, that we are indeed blessed … and that our blessings bring with them certain responsibilities. Although we can easily (and understandably) become consumed with caring for our own little families, we have to remember that there are others out there who need us too.

There is a story that is circulating around the news this week (http://www.komonews.com/news/problemsolvers/34241094.htmla) about an eleven-year-old boy whose dying wish was to feed the homeless. With only two weeks to live, he inspired thousands to give to others less fortunate than themselves. 

What a lesson we can learn from this little boy. If he was able to accomplish this miracle from the confinement of his bed in less than two weeks, what can each able-bodied person do in his or her lifetime? Or better yet – what are we willing to do? This Thanksgiving, I am asking myself this question … as I reflect back on a rather privileged life. 

Perhaps the most important bi-product of gratitude is the desire to share our good fortune with others. 

Let’s stop and give thanks for each of the leaves on our respective Thanksgiving trees. And then, with our kids in tow — let’s take a cue from a little boy with perspective well beyond his years, and start giving back.

The holiday season has officially arrived. The local radio station is playing 24-hour Christmas music from now until New Years. My kids are becoming at home in the storage room, pulling out their favorite decorations and dispersing them around the house. And the pile of shopping catalogs on the kitchen counter grows exponentially each day. 

These glossy little magazines have become as much a part of the prelude to Christmas as the twinkle lights that we string on the bushes or the wreath hung on the door. If left out in the open, these toy-filled magazines become my kids’ reading material of choice. They sneak them into their rooms, and only a glow from their flashlights can be seen through the bedcovers as they peruse the pages after lights-out. 

The Christmas Wish List is as etched into the holiday experience as Santa, himself. But this year, in particular, families will struggle with the tug between tightening purse strings and the consumer expectations that permeate the holidays. What is a parent to do when the pressure’s on and the pocketbook is lighter than usual?

Here are a few tips for toning down the “gimme” aspect of Christmas, in favor of traditions that will far outlast the latest fad in gadgetry:

Hide the Catalogs (or throw them away) 

Flip through them, perhaps, for that first “Yea! Christmas is here!” rush – and then put them away. In their place, go to the library and check out a few great holiday picture books for the kids and some inspirational reading for yourself. I read Leo Buscaglia’s book, Seven Stories of Christmas Love, every year. Pick up Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol or a holiday craft guide. It doesn’t matter. The point is to fill your home with good, wholesome reading material that helps you focus on the magic of the season.

Turn on the VCR

When you were a kid, you had to patiently wait to see your local television network’s special presentation of Frosty the Snowman. Not anymore! Now, you can just pop in your own copy or grab one at the video store whenever you like. So instead of subjecting the family to the thousands of toy commercials that litter the screen, it’s time to break out the VCR or DVD player. Pop some popcorn. Make it a family movie-night. Or not. Just take advantage of all of the great, pure holiday entertainment out there — without the distracting advertisements.

Make Memories

If you spend less time shopping this holiday season, then you’ll have more time for having experiences together as a family. Get outside, and make some memories. Whether you hit up the local sledding hill or get the neighborhood kids together for a game of touch-football, the point is to shift the household energy away from “things” and towards “people.” What better way to do that than by spending quality time together as a family and a community?

String Popcorn (or do something else crafty)

Turn on the Christmas music, rally the kids together, and make something. Baking Christmas cookies can provide enough entertainment for an entire afternoon. And then you can even pack them up and give them away as gifts. From gingerbread houses to Christmas ornaments to holiday place-mats, the options really are endless. 

Adopt a Family

Just when you thought you really needed that fancy new digital something-or-another, you encounter someone whose child doesn’t have a winter coat. There are a number of holiday outreach programs that help provide Christmas for low-income families. Empower your kids by teaching them the deep satisfaction that only comes from giving to those in need.