It’s the week of Thanksgiving, which means your kids are officially out of school or in their final days before Thanksgiving break. If your family is like mine, you are so ready for some time off from school so you can eat delicious food, catch up with family and friends, and begin your Christmas shopping (and decorating!). While it is easy to fill this week with lots of activities, the thing that I cherish most about Thanksgiving is it can be a time to rest. My favorite part of Thanksgiving is taking a nap after lunch on Thanksgiving Day!!! While I know that there is so much to do and so little time before Christmas, here are three fun things you can do with your kids this Thanksgiving that will remind you to rest, be grateful, and enjoy your time off from work and school.
- Watch TV. Yes, it’s allowed! And, it’s quite fun!! Snuggle up on the couch in your slippers and p.j’s to watch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, or go see one of the new movies out in theaters (my family can’t wait to see Moana!) A favorite t.v. snack of my family is candy popcorn. We pop a big bag of kettle corn popcorn and add in m&m’s, pretzels, raisins, and whatever else is in the pantry that looks good! It’s fun for the kids and a tasty treat for parents too.
- Exercise. I know, I know, exercise isn’t really rest, but getting outdoors with your family is rest for your soul. Go on a walk, collect dried leaves in the yard, or play a game of flag-football with the cousins. Exercising before we eat a big meal will also help us not feel as guilty when we go for seconds on Grandma’s sweet potato casserole!!
- Start a “I’m thankful for” notebook. A woman in my community, Susan, shared online that each year she has her family members write down what they are thankful for and then saves it in a notebook. She says that it is such a gift now that her children have grown and also now that some of her family has passed. Creating a simple list like this helps our hearts to sit, be still, and give thanks for all that we have been given.
It’s easy to get so busy this time of the year to stop and be still but rest is so important. Rest is a way for us to recharge, regroup, and re-center our priorities so that we may enjoy the holidays that much more. Find time this Thanksgiving to do one of these simple things with your kids…you won’t regret it!
Happy Thanksgiving,
Christen
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