This May Be Why Your Kids Don’t Act Grateful

Have you ever thought your kids could be a little more grateful? You’re not the only one. With Thanksgiving around the corner, it has me thinking about how to raise my daughters to be grateful people. Of course, I encourage them to say thank you, but I’ve come to find there is a big difference between teaching them to simply say those words and actually being grateful. When doing some research, I discovered that there is a clear reason why our kids don’t act grateful - we don’t teach them.

You Haven’t Taught the 4 Parts of Gratitude

According to Greater Good Magazine, “Research suggests that the experience of gratitude has four parts, but we rarely teach all of them to our kids.” The majority of parents focus solely on what children DO to show gratitude (i.e., saying “thank you”). However, there are three other parts of gratitude that should come into play before we actually show gratitude.

Here is an explanation from the Raising Grateful Kids project at UNC Chapel Hill.

Based on the scientific literature and our conversations with parents, we’ve come to think about gratitude as an experience that has four parts:

• What we NOTICE in our lives for which we can be grateful

• How we THINK about why we have been given those things

• How we FEEL about the things we have been given

• What we DO to express appreciation in turn

In order for kids to learn to be grateful, they have to work their way through these four parts. But, most parents tend to stick to part number four: what we do to express appreciation (say, “thank you”).

Put It Into Practice

Fortunately, once you understand that there are four parts to gratitude, it is easier to teach your children gratitude.

• NOTICE – Start by helping your kids notice the things in their life they are grateful for beyond a gift, such as being grateful for the person who gave it to them being in their life.

• THINK – Move on to helping your kid think about the gift. Greater Good recommends the following questions: “Why do you think you received this gift? Do you think you owe the giver something in return? Do you think you earned the gift because of something you did yourself? Do you think the gift was something the giver had to give you? If you answered no to these questions, then you may be more likely to be grateful.”

• FEEL – Ask your kid how the gift makes your child feel (such as happy) and what about the gift makes them feel this way.

• DO – What can you DO to show appreciation for this gift? Greater Good explains, “Prompting children after experiences of gratitude in order to motivate acts of gratitude, whether they be acts of appreciation or paying it forward, may help children connect their experiences and actions in the world.”

Model the Four Parts of Gratitude for Your Kids

Ultimately, the best way to teach your kids gratitude is to act grateful yourself. Let’s say a stranger ahead of you in line buys your Starbucks.

• NOTICE – Wow! I am so grateful that there are kind people in the world like that nice man.

• THINK – I didn’t even do anything for him to pay for my drink. What a kind gesture! Hmmm, maybe I should do something kind in return.

• FEEL – That small gift from a stranger made me feel so good inside.

• DO – Thank the stranger and then pay it forward and buy the person behind you a coffee.

The Dos and Don’ts for Black Friday Shoppers

Shopping’s biggest day of the year is almost here. As a personal shopper, not only do I love to shop for myself, but I also love to shop for others. So, naturally, I am paying close attention to the upcoming Black Friday sales. While I could talk to you all day long about what to buy, I’d rather talk to you about how to make Black Friday shopping a worthwhile experience.

For many, Black Friday shopping has become as much of a tradition as eating turkey on Thanksgiving. But, many of these same people are doing it all wrong. That’s why I’m taking some time today to share the dos and don’ts of Black Friday shopping.

Check the Times

This should not come as a surprise to anyone, but Black Friday no longer just exists on the day after Thanksgiving. Many of the major retailers open their doors to Black Friday shoppers on Thanksgiving. And, it’s getting earlier and earlier. However, opening dates and times vary greatly from one store to the next. This is why it is so important to check the times before you head out. Plus, many stores offer Black Friday doorbusters only during certain hours.

Review the Ads

The best way to save money is to go into your Black Friday shopping with an idea of what you are buying and where you are buying it. You can do this by reviewing the ads before going shopping. This will help you strategize where you need to go and when.

Go for Quality

Yes, there are going to be some crazy low prices, but that doesn’t mean you are actually getting a good deal. Just because you can buy something for a very low price doesn’t mean it is worth it. For example, opt for sales on a few quality items rather than purchasing several cheap things that will fall apart or not last long.

Control Your Impulses

It is very easy to get caught up in the sales on Black Friday, but you don’t want to blow your budget – especially on things you don’t need – and especially not on things you don’t really want. There are few things worse than buyer’s remorse. And who wants to go back out in that craziness to do returns?

The official Giphy for NBC.

Don’t Lose Your Mind

For some strange reason, Black Friday shoppers lose their minds and act like someone other than themselves. We’ve all seen videos of Black Friday shoppers fighting over toys, and we’ve all witnessed someone’s rude behavior in a store. Don’t be this person! Instead, go into your Black Friday shopping with extreme patience and lower your expectations.

And, for goodness sake, be nice to the retail workers! Trust me – they do not want to be there dealing with rude people when they could be spending Thanksgiving with their families.

Prioritize What Matters

Is it more important for you to get that huge deal or rest? Do what is best for you. If you love the rush of Black Friday shopping, then, by all means, go for it! But, if you find it more stressful than fun than just do your shopping online at home in your pajamas.

Remember, More Sales are Coming

Finally, don’t forget that there many more shopping days after Black Friday before Christmas. Even better, there are many more sale days coming. Cyber Monday follows immediately after Black Friday. Travel Tuesday is right behind it. And, the final Saturday before Christmas always hosts big sales. You still have time. Don’t lose your mind.

Are you a Black Friday fan? Let me know in the comments!

Our Paw-some Adventure Before the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Are your kids crazy about the Nickelodeon show PAW Patrol? PAW Patrol is one of the most popular shows for kids on tv today. My girls love the show and were tickled to hear we had the special opportunity to see the beloved Nick Jr. character Chase come to life before their eyes. Read on to hear all about the new PAW Patrol TV movie and our adventure at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade PAW Patrol balloon inflation.

Why Paw Patrol is a Show My Girls Love

“No job is too big; no pup is too small.” This is the main idea of the kid-friendly Nick Jr. television show PAW Patrol. The show focuses on a ten-year-old Ryder and his pack of rescue dogs. Each of the six rescue pups has a unique personality and talent, which allows the pups to all work together to save the day and keep Adventure Bay safe. As a mom, I appreciate that the show teaches the kids valuable life lessons and encourages positive behaviors.

Why the New TV Movie is the Perfect Stocking Stuffer

The PAW Patrol crew have been embarking on new and exciting adventures, which you can experience through the PAW Patrol: Mighty Pups DVD, available exclusively at Walmart. It takes the fans of the show on a longer mission, allowing them to spend more time with the characters they know and love. If your kids are like my girls, you know that they can re-watch their favorite PAW Patrol episodes over and over again. So, when I heard that the DVD is being sold exclusively at Walmart, I knew it would be a great stocking stuffer for them. My girls will be thrilled that they can watch the movie whenever they want!

What Made This Event Even More Special

As a super popular show for kids, it makes sense that PAW Patrol would be featured in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. A giant balloon would bring the pup, Chase, to life in New York City for the parade – and we got to see it happen! As PAW Patrol lovers and fans of the parade’s giant balloons, I knew this was an event my girls would absolutely love. And, I wasn’t wrong! Even with the chilly weather, it was so fun to see the balloon being filled right before our eyes. My daughters thought it was PAW-some!

Why Everyone Should See the Balloon Inflation

If you have only ever watched the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV, then you may not have given much thought to how the popular parade happens. For instance, the iconic massive balloons have to be inflated and staged the day before Thanksgiving. Visitors can stop by and watch the balloons be inflated and see the characters grow and float. Plus, you also get to see how they prevent the balloons from floating away before the parade – with giant nets and sandbags! It’s really fun to see the magic that happens before the main events even begins.

Why We Love the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

All across America, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade is a well-loved holiday tradition. But, for New Yorkers, the parade is quintessential to us. It is the true start to the holiday season. It wouldn’t feel like the holidays without it!

Simple Ways to Cultivate an Attitude of Gratitude

With Thanksgiving coming next week, I’ve been thinking about a lot about gratitude. I want to be a person who is known for her attitude of gratitude. But, that’s easier said than done, right? We live in a time where it is becoming easier to be self-sufficient and also selfish. As we strive to do things on our own, we should not forget to thank those who helped us get where we were.

That’s one of those things that sounds good, and we know it is right, but something we don’t put into practice as we should. I can admit that there are many days when I focus more on the negative than the positive. I see the thorns instead of the roses.

And, it is time to stop. I want to be a person that strives to live out Thanksgiving not only on the holiday but throughout the year. I want to extend gratitude and thankfulness to others and to pass this trait on to my kids.

Here are just a few of the things I plan to do to cultivate an attitude of gratitude.

Write it down.

Let’s bring back the practice of writing thank you notes. Writing a thank you note forces you to think about what someone else has done for (or given) you. This practice inspires gratitude. While there are all sorts of etiquette rules about formal thank you notes, I say let’s simple embrace writing someone a simple thank you note – even if it is a quick thank you on a post-it note.

Additionally, try keeping a gratitude journal. Rather than writing about the various things that happen in your day, a gratitude journal is a place where you record the things you are grateful for. This is another great way to inspire grateful hearts.

Say it aloud.

The easiest way to become known as a grateful person is to express thanks aloud! By simply saying, “Thank you” when it is deserved, you can make a big difference. Your thank you may be just what the person needs to hear, and it will help you to focus on others instead of yourself.

Give and serve.

We all take things for granted. Maybe the best way to cultivate an attitude of gratitude is to serve those less fortunate. In doing so, we will see how much we have to be thankful for. During the holiday season, there are numerous ways to give back in your local communities.

Make it part of your routine.

Add intentional moments of gratitude to your daily routine. This will look different for everyone. Some women use a time of meditation or prayer to reflect on the things they are thankful for in their lives. Others take time to name something they are thankful for with their families around the dinner table. There are also women who make finding gratitude a part of their daily exercise routine by thinking on the things they are grateful for motivation. The point is to make it normal and natural to reflect on the things you have to be thankful for each day.

Create a gratitude jar.

For the Pinterest-crowd, you can create a gratitude jar. A gratitude jar is simply a jar that you fill throughout the year with written tokens of gratitude. For instance, some women place a small notepad and a pen next to a jar. Then, they write down something they are grateful for and drop it in the jar whenever the mood hits. At the end of the year, you can dump the contents and reflect on the many reasons you are grateful.

For those of you who would rather buy a gratitude jar, you can purchase Gratitude Glass Jars which were named one of Oprah’s Favorite Things in 2017. In addition to the beautiful jars, they come with 365 gratitude cards.

What are some ways you are striving to create an attitude of gratitude?