A tip for parents – Teaching gratitude
For those of us who are parents in the United States, this is the time of year that we celebrate Thanksgiving. As a mother, Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because it gives me the opportunity to deliberately teach about gratitude. I’ll give you some honest parenting advice here; Developing an attitude of gratitude in your children is one of the most amazing things you can do. This is why.
— Gratitude reminds us of who we are.
We are not better than anyone, and we are not worse either. Our children desperately need to learn that message. The child who grows up honestly believing that he is the center of the universe (and everyone starts out that way) is an unhappy child.
— Appreciation means considering others.
When I recognize the efforts and service that each of my family members provides to the rest of us, I am motivated to serve as well. That is another reason why it is so important to teach our children their part in our families; not only so that they learn to do housework (important in itself), but so that they can take their legitimate and necessary place in the family structure.
Each of us in a family has a vital role to play. Someone else may be able to do our tasks, to be sure, but *no one* can do them the way we can. Each of us is unique and it is that unique service that makes our family special.
Children who understand that what they bring to their family is needed and valued flourish in the eyes of our parents! And they begin to understand that other family members also bring unique gifts to the family. Cooperation and respect begin to make sense as tangible tools that bring us all blessings when we first offer them to others.
All from the seed of gratitude.
— Gratitude means acknowledging and appreciating our blessings.
It’s all too easy to get caught up in consumerism in our fast-paced society. But honestly, at some point in that build-up process, you have to ask yourself, “what’s the point?” If you want your kids to get over the “me! me!” stage in life, then a solid parenting tip to explore is to start talking to your children, no matter their age, about the blessings in their lives.
Do you have a roof over your head? Talk about people who don’t. Lots of food to put in those stomachs? There are families who don’t know where their next meal will come from. Does your body function at all? You are fabulously rich!
Appreciating our blessings begins with acknowledging them…seeing them for what they really are; the gifts you have in this life, here and now. That’s good!
As a parent, don’t make the mistake of always expecting the important things in your family life. It’s that toothless grin your baby gives only to you… it’s the joy on their face when your child successfully learns what you’re trying to teach them, whether it’s how to ride a bike, fish, spin around on the dance floor. , or to do precalculus.
Which brings us to the next idea in this parenting tip on gratitude.
— Joy comes from gratitude.
We all say we want our children to be happy, but we often don’t make it clear what that would look like. Most parents are quick to see that ‘more stuff’ is not the way to happiness. It just doesn’t work! In fact, it often has the opposite effect and produces whiny, spoiled children who are experts at ruining the calm of the whole family.
If you can see this truism, but don’t know what the next parenting step is, then honestly give this idea of intentional thanks a try. When gratitude is *practiced*, when we teach our children that everything they have is a gift and that it is their job to be good stewards of it, something amazing happens in our families. The whining goes away and the joy comes in. Selfishness lessens your control as thinking of others is encouraged and praised.
You’ll also be amazed at what you’ll personally learn to be grateful for. Nothing can compare to her son’s joy when she tells him what a great sister he has, or how she saw one child help another at school today. Appreciation allows your child to see the good in life. And that produces a life of abundant joy.
See what I mean? That’s why I think this parenting tip for teaching our kids gratitude ranks as one of the best of all time. So as you prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving this year, consider all the small but powerful ways you and your children can increase your habit of being thankful. Your new habit will serve you extraordinarily well throughout the year.