Count Your Blessings...Before You Ask For New Ones - Veteran's Day and Thanksgiving

Aren't those just the greatest lyrics? I don't know who wrote or sings them but I heard the song in the movie "The Wendell Baker Story" which is a great movie for thinking about counting your blessings (among other things and a couple of great lines, laughs and poignant moments.)

Veteran's Day is a really great day to teach children about sacrifice, country, democracy and being involved in something larger than yourself. It's a chance to open their eyes to the fact that our country is a free and democratic nation because people defend her right to be.

Veteran's Day Discussion Starter Tips:

* What is Veteran's Day?
* Why do we celebrate Veteran's Day?
* How would the USA be different if our brave soldiers hadn't fought for her?
* Which was the first war that was fought for the USA?
* What war is the USA fighting in now? Where are our soldiers stationed?
* Do you know any soldiers or veterans?
* Is anyone in our family from a foreign country? How did they get here?
* What is great and good about a free country? Voting? Freedom of Speech?
* What do Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness mean?
* What makes you happy? Why?
* How can we give thanks to our veterans?

Depending on the age of your children you can go into the concepts on a surface or a deeper level.

For older teens and young adults it's a good time to talk about the long-term effects of combat and combat wounds both physical and psychological. Are there any veterans portrayed in any of the media they consume? Talk about the countries that don't enjoy the freedoms that we do.

Without our veterans we wouldn't be here today. Let's celebrate them.

November!!!!

Ok I have always loved November and I'm still the biggest kid because I get excited about it every year. Being from New England originally I love the fall, the leaves, the crispness everything about it. Being the daughter of immigrants and someone whose immediate and extended family endured terrible experiences while in their countries of origin I love Thanksgiving, Veteran's Day and Election Day. And back in the day when I was in the school system I must admit that I loved all the vacation days we had during November.


This month we'll talk about -

* Election Day and teaching children of all ages the importance and privilege of living in a free country where we can vote and choose our leaders. (No blue or red state talk here...just the facts.)

* Veteran's Day and teaching children of all ages about the sacrifices, heroism, loyalty and dedication that our men and women in uniform have exhibited in the past as well as the present, at great cost to themselves and their families.

* Thanksgiving and teaching children of all ages about giving thanks, feeling thankful and how to show it, being appreciative and thankful for all the things we take for granted and as entitlements.

Enjoy the day, enjoy the month!

Gratitude

Since Thanksgiving is in November I think it's the perfect time to teach children about gratitude and giving thanks in all areas of their lives. I'll be talking more about it in the weeks to come along with activities, tips, tools and suggestions for raising an awareness of the need to appreciate in children. From Election Day and living in a free country where we're able to vote, to Veteran's Day and being grateful to the brave men and women who fight and fought for our right to live a free life, to Thanksgiving and a time to think and contemplate all that we might take for granted during the year.

For starters, if you're taking your children around on Halloween remind them to say thank you and please and talk about how generous it is that people are sharing with them.

Enjoy the day,
RK