"Being Thankful"
Sometimes being thankful requires a bit of stillness. Just to be, to reflect and to watch. Our home moves and shakes just like the next. To practice thankfulness with our kids we have started to use dinner time as a time to be still and talk about what being thankful means. We thought the act of writing our thankful ideas together and hanging them from the light would make it more tangible for the beans.
Inspired by Alla and Mu-Hsien from their outstanding blog On The Same Page. Here is what we have set out on the table with our food. A basket filled with pinecones that are wrapped with string and a paper tag. And a pen for easy writing. It is a learning experience for me as well to take life a bit slower and to cherish the beauty of November.
linking with my friend Kaara for her 30 days of being thankful series
I am thankful for all of you! You inspire me everyday through your passions!
What a wonderful way to teach the beans to appreciate their lives.
ReplyDeleteHolidays become so commercial, yet when we look back at the memories, it isn't the gifts or the huge meals that we remember, it is the fun/touching/caring moments with family that stay in our minds.
I am heading over to your friends blog to check it out.
So sweet Nicole, thanks for such nice mention! That's such a good point about making thankfulness more tangible for the kids, I can see how my 2.5 yr old would 'get' it more if he can count how many things he is thankful for. Oh and it's really cute your kids are thankful for SCHOOL!? Or is that the politically correct thankfulness? :) :)
ReplyDeleteI can't tell you how happy it makes us to see our gifting tree idea transform and continue to give! I like how you attached the tags to the pine cones...as they add up you also physically see the centerpiece build! Ha and Alla... school back then used to be fun so I can see how they might be thankful for that! ~ this is just so fantastic! I'm excited for you and your beans and all the thankful scribbles to come!
ReplyDeleteThe beans are lucky to have the two of you for parents.
ReplyDeleteThat is such a great idea and such a simple way for your beans to learn about this sentiment. I am thankful for all of my new bloggy friends that I am making, especially you Nicole! xx
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea and you can never start too soon to teach your little ones how to be thankful. Especially in this world of greed and me, me, me. Well done and well said.
ReplyDeleteCindy
Awe ;) I love it! You are such a sweet teacher and mama! xoxo friend!
ReplyDeleteThank you for linking up ;)
I love having time to just be still and quiet and together ~ it usually lasts about five minutes!! We are really focusing on being thankful this month as well ~ especially that it is a gift to be able to give to other people rather than to get gifts in return. So far, the message has gotten lost in the christmas crush but I'll still talk about it anyway. This is really a wonderful thing to do at dinner time. Hope you are having a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteSuch a lovely thing to do with your family,it's these moments we remember.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great way to teach your little ones about being thankful, my friend! I'll have to keep this in mind for when my baby Alex is big enough to understand.
ReplyDeleteThankfulness so important, your way to teach this to your beans is great.
ReplyDeleteNicole, this is beautiful! I am going to do this too! Such a wonderful idea!
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful exercise for your whole family. I used to do crafts with my kids making turkey "feathers" out of paper and they would write something they were thankful for on the feathers. Once it was all glued together on a turkey body it made a nice reminder that sat on the table through our Thanksgiving season. I like your idea, just the look of it is calming. Don't you love the thoughts your kids come up with. They seem to come up with the tiniest details & reminders to us all. Enjoy your November, and I'm glad you're not getting caught up in Christmas craziness yet! Wendy x
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful idea Nicole! A nice way to teach our little ones about being Thankful!
ReplyDeleteYour such a sweetheart!
xx Shari!
That is a really thoughtful idea. Hope you are all well, happy and feeling thankful. Love Jo x
ReplyDeleteThis is such a nice idea. I can tell that you appreciate your life and everything in it, and your beans will learn that from you.
ReplyDeleteSuch a good idea to slow down a bit, and be thankful. And to share that with your children. I bet this will be a favorite tradition for many years to come.
ReplyDeleteDinner is such a great time to slow down with the family and be thankful! I love this idea Nicole, I will have to do it with my kids! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely way to encourage your children to consider how much there is to be thankful for and to express their thoughts in such a meaningful way! Have a beautiful week, Nicole.
ReplyDeleteHow lovely! And how true -- an attitude of gratitude does wonders in transforming one from being filled with self-centredness, self-pity and negativity. Have a lovely, blessed week, my friend :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! November is the calm before the storm, isn't it? My mind is already in overdrive with the to-do lists. I love the notion of slowing down, even if it's just at the dinner table.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely and creative way to teach the art of gratitude, Nicole. We can get caught up in our busy lives and forget to stop and think of all of our blessings. You are a wonderful Mom. Hugs xoxo
ReplyDeleteThis is such a beautiful idea. You are raising thoughtful, grateful children which will take them far as adults and help make the world a better place. THANK YOU!
ReplyDeleteYour couldn't have used a better word to express our mind when we need to silent the outside world and speak to our Lord of the many things we are grateful for whether they are happy or sad.
ReplyDeleteStillness is just perfect. I find Nov. to be the month to embrace the changing of the seasons and when you are still God's plan is always revealed.
From a Grateful Heart Happy Thanksgiving Kathy.
So great that you are instilling precious values into your children. Recognizing thankfulness is huge! Love the pinecones and the idea of writing them down. I am planning a big bulletin board for our dining room where we can write blessings and reminders on it all year long!
ReplyDeleteAwh Nicole... the beans are so lucky to be growing up in a home like yours. Being thankful is something we try to instill in ours everyday, especially for the small things... it makes a huge difference!
ReplyDeleteI am thankful for you and your blog and the little snippets of your life you share with us. I love to swing by, rest and read for a little bit to catch up on all the goings on!! I haven't been commenting of late, due to time constraints but by golly do I enjoy to pop by! :) So today I am thankful for you and you brightening my day! Hazel x
What a lovely idea, maybe a tip for the future for me. I love your blog, i'm thankful to have found it! Oh and i adore the bathroom gallery idea! Cate, x
ReplyDeleteI love this idea! It's what the season is [supposed to be] all about, after all. Good for you! xoxo
ReplyDeleteHi Nicole...it's Shari again. Here is the link to my new blog address. Hope to see you there!
ReplyDeletesundaysnotes.blogspot.com
xx Shari!
What a great idea! Have a Wonderful Thanksgiving!! I am thankful you blog, I love to see your gardens and crafts!!
ReplyDeleteI love this post Nicole and will be sharing the link on the #gardenchat Twitter forum tonight ( 9-10 p.m.ET) . IF you get a chance -stop by and tweet us! I hope friends will visit your site filled with garden inspiration! Bren ( I'm at @BG_Garden on Twitter.)
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