There are days when I have no idea what my kids are thinking and why they just don’t seem to be thankful for what’s in front of them. Was I that way? Did I look for the next thing for my mom to do for me? Was I not even thinking about who paid for my clothes, trips, evenings with friends? Am I expecting too much?
Life is so much easier for my kids than for me and I planned it that way … it’s my doing. But is it the right move? Am I doing them a disservice?
While I think I have the whole thankfulness thing figured out, at least when compared to my kids, I wonder if even that’s true. I know (for the most part) to say “thank you” when someone gives me a gift or does something nice for me. Yet, I usually have to beg my kids to write thank you cards.
Maybe I am looking at this the wrong way. The truth is, there is more to thankfulness than good manners. While my kids might not know the right words or the best etiquette, they are much more genuine and sincere when they are thanking someone for a gift and usually have that great smile to go with it. They are polite in public (I think!) and they seem to appreciate what others do for them (appreciating what I do for them is another story!).
We adults say thank you because we know it’s the right thing to say. We are restrained and polite. Even when we are delighted by a gift or act of love, we often don’t show our happiness fully – really, as we get older we often become less child-like, in our excitement!
So, while I can teach my kids a lot about thankfulness, especially when it comes to etiquette, there really is plenty for them to teach me about the wide-eyed excitement and thankfulness that comes with being a kid. I’m going to pay attention!
Have a great Sunday!
theyearof50 