It happens every year. We get so busy, so caught up in the holiday frenzy, that the time inevitably flies by and before we know it another season has come and gone. One of our resolutions each year is to try to s-l-o-w this down and provide more meaning to the holidays and create more memories as a family. So, in the spirit of Thanksgiving and giving thanks, we have started two new traditions in the Wilcox house this year.
The Thanksgiving Tree
Following a brief family meeting and discussion about how truly lucky and blessed we are, each person wrote down a few of the things for which they are most grateful. I knew I was running the risk of Garrett listing his Legos among his most cherished possessions, but I was quite surprised (and proud) to see that the boys really "got it". Here is what they wrote:
"I am thankful for my family, my friends, my home and food and water." (Blake)
"I am thankful for my crasce (crazy) famy and my coock (kookie) frends too. Thanks God for the things that I have. Thanck you God for my bruthrs and sitstr and my mom and dad." (Garrett)
And I am thankful for my practical child...and my colorful one. And my loving and dedicated husband and father to our children, my sweet and delicious babies, the warmth, security and love that fill my home, and many, many more blessings...and all the wonderful and curious packages in which they come.
The Complaint Jar
And if the Thanksgiving Tree doesn't remind us to appreciate how blessed we are, then maybe just plain giving will. The idea is that for each and every complaint from ANY member of the household- adults included- a deposit of $.25 must be made into the family Complaint Jar. With every deposit comes a gentle reminder that we have little to complain about (ie "some people have to dig their dinner out of the trash, so we are very fortunate to have hot, nutritious food- even if it's not what you wanted for dinner"). As Christmas approaches, the intention is to give the jar to a family who is less fortunate. The boys liked this idea so much that they have even made some voluntary contributions just because! And, yes, I've had to make a few deposits myself. This simple jar is proving to be a very powerful reminder of gratitude and generosity for all of us. And we are really looking forward to finding a family to give our "gift" to!
I was hopeful that the kids would come away from these experiences with a more meaningful definition of Thanksgiving and giving thanks, but I wasn't expecting that the real blessing for me would be to see my kids express genuine gratitude for what's truly important and self-less generosity because they know it's the right thing to do. You can't ask for much more than that as a parent. And now I have another thing for which to be grateful.
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