Gratitude 101

Last night Heather, my co-host of our Facebook Live show – SoFlo Moms on the Go, and I spoke about gratitude.  One of her comments really made me think…she said, “Why do we have to wait until Thanksgiving rolls around to talk about being grateful and showing gratitude?”

She is 100% right.  Why do we customarily wait to talk about the things we are grateful for during this time of year and not all year long?!  Well, that is going to change.

GROWING UP WITH GRATITUDE

Growing up I was taught to say please, thank you and you’re welcome.  I was taught to look the person speaking to me in their eyes – to give them the attention they deserve.  I was taught by my aunt to give a firm handshake and a bright smile when being introduced to someone (and to stop chewing gum so much).

I have tried to instill these manners into my boys, but I see things slipping through the cracks and I blame myself 100%.  My parents worked super hard to provide for my sister and me and give us everything they could, and I hope I was appreciative.  I promised I would do the same for my children, and think I have done a decent job of doing so, but I sense some “entitlement” slipping in and need to nip that at the bud.  (Entitlement can also be translated as “spoiled” and I completely agree…but need to reel it in.)

PRESENT DAY GRATITUDE

We try to sit together at the dinner table every evening – this is our time to catch up on how everyone’s day went and find out what’s going on in their lives, outside of what my husband and I see.  This time has now been devoted to talking about what we are grateful for as opposed to what we want, or what so-and-so got.  There are many times I catch myself sounding like my mom when I say, “Well I am not Bobby’s mom…”.  I now understand why she said it all of those times and hope my boys appreciate the decisions my husband and I make.

We instill in our boys the importance of appreciating all they have, the value of the mighty dollar (no, our money tree died a long time ago…), and how to spread gratitude to others.  Something as simple as a hug, a handwritten thank you note, or a verbal thank you can make someone’s day brighter.

We created a gratitude tree, writing what we were thankful for on leaves and then placing them on the tree.  This kitchen table centerpiece is a visual reminder to “check ourselves”.

What do you and your family do to show gratitude?