Many families come together to celebrate Thanksgiving, but while they may come together physically, they may not come together emotionally. So how can we make Thanksgiving a better experience for everyone and bring that sense of togetherness to such an important family holiday?
The answer is simple. Starting family traditions is a good way to give holidays meaning and structure. Ask your family to come up with some simple traditions on their own. That way everyone can feel he or she has contributed something important. Traditions could be as simple as building centerpieces for the table together, eating a special dessert, or singing songs together after dinner.
Another important way to bring family members together on Thanksgiving is through sharing responsibilities. We all want to feel useful sometimes. Giving your family something to work on will help them feel appreciated and feel truly engaged in family business. If you have young children, ask them to make decorations for the table. If you have older children, ask them to help with cutting vegetables or stirring. Give yourself something to do too, like preparing the turkey or setting the centerpiece.
Remember to be creative. Thanksgiving is a special time, so if you want to do more than making sure everyone works together or starting traditions, you can! Most important, have fun and enjoy the time you spend with your family.
Since 1976, the mission of Parents Assistance Center has been to strengthen families and to prevent child abuse, neglect and other family violence. The PAC teaches classes to improve parenting skills and to build compassion. Parents may also use the center as neutral drop-off area for children. The PAC also conducts parent-child observation to help parents apply the skills they have learned in class. Please check out our website at www.packok.org.
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