Parenting Tip on Thank You’s

Don’t Forget to Say Thank You

Gratefulness is an important life quality because it helps us to be thankful for what we have instead of complaining about what we don’t have. Gratefulness is a lifestyle but it starts by saying “Thank you” to others who bless us.

Begin now to prepare your children for receiving gifts. Talk about the importance of the giver, not just the gift. Teach children to look at the nametag first so they can be thinking of the person who gave the gift while they open it. Encourage children to express thanks to the giver, even if that person is not in the room at the time. A phone call to extended family or a thank you note to a distant friend can mean a lot.

Gift receiving sometimes provides that awkward moment when we want to ask, “What is this?” or discover that we already have one of these. Play a “What if” game with children to help them anticipate how they might say thank you in those times.

Opening gifts can happen fast and then children are off playing with new toys and games. Helping them to take time to express gratefulness can extend the true meaning of Christmas past the few hours of Christmas Day. And don’t forget to take time to thank the Lord for his special gift in Jesus Christ for us.

5 days

Is it really only 5 days till Christmas….where is my time going??? I am not done Christmas shopping. And I have not gotten half the stuff done that I wanted to do with the kids! I swore this Christmas I would not be so busy…but this is the busiest December we have ever had! So the next 5 days I am going to just take it all in hour by hour and enjoy all the family that comes tomorrow.

2 days

Only 2 days to get done all that I need to get done before Kim’s graduation. So little time in my days. Or maybe I just need to be better planned. Whatever it is, I only have 2 days.

We have our house all decorated for Christmas. I think it is so pretty. This is my favorite time of year. I love all the decorations. I love all the get together’s with my family. I am thankful we will be able to spend Christmas with Kim and Krystina. I bought lots of stuff to make all sorts of goodies. Kim had said she does not remember ever doing that with her mom. I know I am not her mom, but I wanted her to have some good memories, so we are trying to do things that she will remember. And things that Krystina and Kaitlyn would enjoy doing. Kaitlyn loves to help and so does Krystina.

Okay, I am off to bed. Tomorrow is a big cleaning day!