Thankful Hearts

 That’s a heart-shaped dollop of vanilla ice-cream that Audrey scooped, entirely by accident!

 

 

 

 

Being home last year meant I had a lot more time to observe the kids and to spend with other moms. One of the most apparent concerns we shared was the challenge of helping our children learn gratitude and true appreciation for what they have. All around us, societal norms revolve around materialism and wanting, often to great excess. For us parents, it’s second nature to teach and remind kids to say "thank you" – as a matter or politeness, which is of course important. But how do we teach them to really mean it?

So I don’t recall when exactly except that it was during one of our bedtime chats, that we got round to talking to our kids about the difference between ‘needs’ and ‘wants’, and what it means to be thankful. Our chat somehow ended up with me asking the question: “So what are you thankful for today?”… This moved our little discussion to an altogether difference dimension – it became the start of a daily bedtime routine that the whole family would take part in.

Whilst the level of understanding of this little “ask-and-answer” activity between Audrey and Anthony differs given their age gap, they both embrace it with equal enthusiasm. Thankfulness means being grateful for people and things and knowing how fortunate we are to have them. They’re making small steps each night to learn to appreciate their blessings and to show appreciation for the people who care for them.

Their responses have ranged from quite simple and mundane to sometimes surprisingly profound. New toys, TV shows, story books, stationery, favourite foods, teachers, help received on school work or a test, lost items that were found, friends and playdates, our helper, recovery from illness, family members especially their grandparents, the aunties (other moms) who help organise playdaytes… oh i almost forgot, new iPhone games and the people who create them….

The kids have come to love this routine and sometimes even when they’re dog-tired, they are the ones reminding us to run down our Thankful list. Our rule is that every one must share at least one thing. “Alright, Mummy… Sleep, I’m thankful for sleep because I’m so sleepy?” Yes. Thank you God for sleep and a very comfortable bed. There is always room for thankfulness, every day.

This hasn’t stopped them from continuing to want and ask for more, but slowly we’re seeing them put more thought into what they ask for, more understanding when their requests are not immediately met, their growing consideration for and desire to help others.

I’m very thankful we’ve gotten this far. Thankful Hearts will be my weekly attempt to capture and treasure some of our daily blessings!