It’s hard to feel grateful these days. Between the Pandemic, the election and state of our government, our divided country, civil unrest, fear of the future, and parenting kids who have been locked down with virtual school and virtual life, gratitude is not top of mind. Until today. I received an email from a longtime client, thanking me for all I taught her about cultivating gratitude in her children way back when. She included a photo of the same “Gratitude Jar” she has pulled out every … [Read more...] about Gratitude in the Pandemic…and how to grow it all year long.
Gratitude
Gratitude Beyond Thanksgiving
Each year as Thanksgiving approaches, there is an mighty uptick in the gratitude discussions at school. Gratitude awareness fills the mommy blogsphere. And parents begin to think about the need for cultivating more gratitude in their spoiled kids…especially as the season of gimme is right around the corner. But shouldn’t gratitude be a year round attitude, part of our regular lives and our kids’ everyday school curricula? We know a whole lot more about the importance of gratitude, beyond … [Read more...] about Gratitude Beyond Thanksgiving
ThanksGIVING…and then?
I am always struck by the irony of Thanksgiving, the holiday of giving thanks, being followed so closely by the winter holidays—Christmas and Chanukah—the holidays of gimme gimme gimme. Our children are taught the Thanksgiving story—the horror of the true story somewhat p.c.-ified (made politically correct) to reflect the supposed kindness of the Native Americans to the Pilgrims. They are asked to consider all of that for which they are grateful. They participate in canned food and gently used … [Read more...] about ThanksGIVING…and then?
When Jewish kids want Santa
As young children grow, their interest in and experience with the winter holidays change. This includes learning that different people celebrate different holidays in different ways—Christmas,Chanukah, Kwanza to name just three. It is well within the range of normal development for young children to want for their own anything and everything that appeals to them. With all the trappings of Christmas so prevalent, it is not unusual for a Jewish child to want to claim trees and lights and Santa … [Read more...] about When Jewish kids want Santa
Putting the thanks in Thanksgiving
As Thanksgiving approaches, most of us firm up plans for "the feast." At whose house will it be? What will I bring? What's the best sweet potato recipe? Then the day comes and it's all about rush-rush, clean the house or clean the kids, cook the food, set the table, get everyone dressed...and then it's over. Maybe the kids talked about Thanksgiving at school. They told the story (remembering the Mayflower, the pilgrims, the Native Americans--Indians is not pc). They planted corn, made … [Read more...] about Putting the thanks in Thanksgiving