"The root of joy is gratefulness" ~ David Steindl-Rast
ARE THERE ANY TRADITIONS YOU PARTAKE IN FOR THANKSGIVING?
“Our family's tradition is mainly where we have Thanksgiving. Every other year, we go up to New York with Steve's (my husband) extended family. Most of those years include time in Philly (where I am from) as well to break up the driving. Both families have very different traditions. Mine being a fairly small, not too long meal, followed by lots of TV. His being a big family gathering of 25-30 people and a long leisurely meal with lots of adult conversation.”
SO WHEN YOU’RE TRAVELING FOR THANKSGIVING DO YOU GO BY CAR?
“We always travel by car.”
HOW DO YOUR KIDS DO WITH THAT?
“My boys are now 11 & 9 and they are excellent travelers. They have been doing it since birth and don't know of any other way...”
KIDS ARENT ALWAYS EASY TO TRAVEL WITH. WAS THERE EVER A TIME WHERE THEY WEREN’T SO GREAT WITH IT?
“Nope, the only time I had any issue was when my 9 year-old was a baby and we had left Connecticut for home in Maryland from a family bar-mitzvah (this was over Labor Day weekend) and we had to get off to change him because he hadn't pooped the ENTIRE day (he was just a year old), and he was finally so uncomfortable that he screamed bloody murder (until we stopped)! As they have gotten older, the boys tend to bother each other more, especially if we need the cargo space in the minvan and only have the middle row of seats so they must sit next to each other. But in general, my kids are very good travelers.”
WELL THAT IN ITSELF IS SOMETHING TO BE THANKFUL FOR.
WHAT WILL YOU BE GIVING THANKS FOR THIS YEAR?
“Just the usual stuff- family, good health, etc. I'm hosting this year, so I will be thankful for not having to travel. I used to envy those who got to go travel for Thanksgiving (or any holiday), and now that I pretty much have traveled every year since 1996 (except for 4 or 5 times), I truly do appreciate only having to get my house ready for guests.”
HOW DO YOU TEACH YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT GRATITUDE?
“We always talk about being grateful for what we have. My oldest constantly asks questions every time we drive though an urban area and we see the blight (whether it's going to Baltimore for his doctor’s appointments or even going through Philly en route to my parents house). He is becoming very aware that [some of] those who live there do not have what we have just by seeing how the buildings are kept, etc. We always do thanksgiving baskets with our synagogue, so they learn about those who many not have food for the holidays. We have been making cookies and delivering trays of goodies to our local first responders on Christmas day. I guess just little things here and there.”
SO IF YOU HAD TO GUESS, IF YOU ASKED YOUR KIDS WHAT THEY WERE MOST THANKFUL FOR THIS YEAR WHAT DO YOU THINK THEY WOULD SAY?
“Hmmm... for my 11 year-old, probably his Xbox! I don't know. I'm guessing our family? We don't typically do that part of Thanksgiving where we all go around and say what we are thankful for.
ONE WORD TO SUM UP YOUR FAMILYS THANKSGIVING FESTIVITIES?
“Busy. Fun.”
THAT’S TWO!
“Ha! Busy is what was first. Obviously came to mind first for a reason.”
IT’S THANKSGIVING, I’LL GIVE YOU BOTH!
“Our family's tradition is mainly where we have Thanksgiving. Every other year, we go up to New York with Steve's (my husband) extended family. Most of those years include time in Philly (where I am from) as well to break up the driving. Both families have very different traditions. Mine being a fairly small, not too long meal, followed by lots of TV. His being a big family gathering of 25-30 people and a long leisurely meal with lots of adult conversation.”
SO WHEN YOU’RE TRAVELING FOR THANKSGIVING DO YOU GO BY CAR?
“We always travel by car.”
HOW DO YOUR KIDS DO WITH THAT?
“My boys are now 11 & 9 and they are excellent travelers. They have been doing it since birth and don't know of any other way...”
KIDS ARENT ALWAYS EASY TO TRAVEL WITH. WAS THERE EVER A TIME WHERE THEY WEREN’T SO GREAT WITH IT?
“Nope, the only time I had any issue was when my 9 year-old was a baby and we had left Connecticut for home in Maryland from a family bar-mitzvah (this was over Labor Day weekend) and we had to get off to change him because he hadn't pooped the ENTIRE day (he was just a year old), and he was finally so uncomfortable that he screamed bloody murder (until we stopped)! As they have gotten older, the boys tend to bother each other more, especially if we need the cargo space in the minvan and only have the middle row of seats so they must sit next to each other. But in general, my kids are very good travelers.”
WELL THAT IN ITSELF IS SOMETHING TO BE THANKFUL FOR.
WHAT WILL YOU BE GIVING THANKS FOR THIS YEAR?
“Just the usual stuff- family, good health, etc. I'm hosting this year, so I will be thankful for not having to travel. I used to envy those who got to go travel for Thanksgiving (or any holiday), and now that I pretty much have traveled every year since 1996 (except for 4 or 5 times), I truly do appreciate only having to get my house ready for guests.”
HOW DO YOU TEACH YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT GRATITUDE?
“We always talk about being grateful for what we have. My oldest constantly asks questions every time we drive though an urban area and we see the blight (whether it's going to Baltimore for his doctor’s appointments or even going through Philly en route to my parents house). He is becoming very aware that [some of] those who live there do not have what we have just by seeing how the buildings are kept, etc. We always do thanksgiving baskets with our synagogue, so they learn about those who many not have food for the holidays. We have been making cookies and delivering trays of goodies to our local first responders on Christmas day. I guess just little things here and there.”
SO IF YOU HAD TO GUESS, IF YOU ASKED YOUR KIDS WHAT THEY WERE MOST THANKFUL FOR THIS YEAR WHAT DO YOU THINK THEY WOULD SAY?
“Hmmm... for my 11 year-old, probably his Xbox! I don't know. I'm guessing our family? We don't typically do that part of Thanksgiving where we all go around and say what we are thankful for.
ONE WORD TO SUM UP YOUR FAMILYS THANKSGIVING FESTIVITIES?
“Busy. Fun.”
THAT’S TWO!
“Ha! Busy is what was first. Obviously came to mind first for a reason.”
IT’S THANKSGIVING, I’LL GIVE YOU BOTH!
