This post: FREE Printable Thanksgiving Grateful Cards: Conversation Starters for Family & Friends
When my children were toddlers, my husband and I started a tradition in our home that has withstood the test of time.
I know some traditions have a tendency to fall by the wayside when our kids become teenagers and young adults. And, there are certainly some traditions that our kids start to find childish and they simply don’t take interest the way they did when they were young.
But, not this tradition…
This tradition has remained in my family for nearly two decades. My kids have admitted to enjoying it so much that they plan to continue the tradition when they have families of their own. The best part is, it doesn’t cost anything and it doesn’t require a ton of planning. Yet, with all its simplicity, it’s one of my family’s treasured traditions, year after year.
Every Thanksgiving, after we’ve all sat down at the Thanksgiving table, after the turkey has been carved, after we’ve said our blessing, and after we’ve patiently waited all day to dive into the scrumptious food our mouths have been watering for since the early morning, we take turns going around the table expressing what we’re grateful for.
The magical thing about this tradition is, that no matter how old my kids were years ago or even now that they’re much older and nearing adulthood, it prompts us all to pause.
And, every year we all need to take a moment to pause and reflect on what we’re grateful for.
This year, particularly, has been such a challenging year. What better time is there than Thanksgiving to remind ourselves what we’re truly grateful for, of all that is good and kind and wonderful in this world and our many blessings we sometimes take for granted.
This year, I decided to tweak my tradition just a bit by creating “Grateful Cards” for my family. Although every year since I can remember, I’ve entertained company on Thanksgiving – friends and extended family – this year it’s just my husband and me and our three children. And, in the effort to spice things up a bit, I thought I’d try something new.
When each of my family members sit down at our Thanksgiving table, everyone will have a different question or grateful prompt to ponder and answer.
In years past, my kids’ heartfelt thoughts have triggered tears, laughter, memories and, even a bit of playful teasing. As for me, I always cry. (My kids tease me terribly every year.) It’s so amazing to hear my family’s answers – particularly my children’s’ answers. They’re always so remarkably (and sometimes surprisingly) heartfelt, insightful, intuitive, and honest.
It’s a wonderful reminder to me that my kids are paying attention and they are grateful, even if they don’t always express it.
Since I created these Grateful Cards for my family, I thought I’d pass them along to you…
There are 9 grateful prompts to choose from. You can either use the same question for every person at your Thanksgiving table or you can offer each person a different question to liven things up.
- The one thing I’m most grateful for this year.
- My life is better this year because…
- How am I making a difference in this world?
- Something I witnessed that made me realize that life is good.
- Who inspired me to become a better person this year?
- The best thing that happened to me this year.
- One person who had a positive impact on my life this year.
- A hard lesson I am grateful to learn this year.
- One thing I’m most looking forward to this year.
I hope these Grateful Cards inspire you.
I hope they bring your family closer together this Thanksgiving. I hope they help you and your family pause, reflect, reminisce and embrace your many blessings. I hope they remind you of all the good in this world. From my family to yours, wishing you and your beautiful families a wonderful and festive Thanksgiving.
To Download our Thanksgiving Grateful Cards
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[…] starters are another great way to express gratitude with your children. These Thanksgiving Grateful Cards from Raising Teens Today are a simple way for even older kids and teens to share their own grateful […]