Check out these helpful tips for how to teach kids to be grateful this year

As parents, guiding our kids toward living a life of gratitude is no easy feat. After all, how do we actually teach our kids what gratitude means and how they can demonstrate it on a daily basis? It starts with simple acts and words that even the youngest of kids can understand. (Also, try reading these books about gratitude.) Here are a few specific examples to get your little one in the habit—you can thank us later.

1. Give back to the community. Acts of service are great ways to instill gratitude in kids. Consider participating in a local park clean-up, donating canned goods to a food pantry, or giving away unused clothes and toys. There are also lots of ways you can volunteer right from your own home.

2. Ask your kids to name one thing they're grateful for every night. Starting this habit helps kids (and adults) remember what is good in our lives, and that we are grateful for even the smallest of things. This can be during a dinner conversation or before bed.

3. Make a good deed calendar. Use it in the holiday months as a countdown or year-round to inspire kids to pay it forward every day.

4. Teach them to "work" for a reward. I'm sure we've lost track of how many times our kids ask for a new toy or something fun. The next time your little one wants another hour of screen time, how about telling them to complete a household chore before getting the reward? Receiving a reward after work always makes the treat feel more well-deserved.

5. Integrate gratitude with holidays and special days. Thanksgiving and Christmas aren't the only holidays that are all about gratitude. Other days where it's equally important to teach kids the meaning of the holiday and how they can be grateful for it include Veterans Day and Memorial Day are teaching opportunities for kids to be grateful for service members.

6. Model saying "please" and "thank you." There's no substitute for good manners. Regularly using words like "please" and "thank you" gets little ones to remember to be grateful while demonstrating respect to others.

7. Gratitude goes both ways, so make sure to say "thank you" to your kids. As parents, it's easy to get caught up in the day-to-day and forget to show appreciation to our little ones. So when they do something kind or follow directions, remember to say "thank you." It may seem like a small gesture, but they will know you're grateful.

8. Teach them about food security. It can be hard for young kids to understand what it's like to not have enough food in their bellies. We've got easy ways to help them understand and ideas on how to give back.

9. Look for the positive in even the most difficult situations. It's easy to focus on the negative, especially when a situation doesn't go our way. Helping kids focus on the positive (even if it's a small positive) will go a long way in helping them feel grateful in life, even during difficult times like we are experiencing now.

Related: 8 Easy Ways Your Kids Can Give Back All Year Round

how to teach your kid to be grateful
iStock

10. Send notes of gratitude. Don't reserve your "thank you" notes for birthday gifts and holiday cards. Teach your kids the importance of gratitude by having them write a note or draw a picture for a special person each month. This could be a grandparent, a neighbor, a teacher or a community member.

11. Turn holiday gifting into an opportunity to give back. With the holidays approaching and kids making their wish lists of toys, try making a new kind of list. Have your kiddos write down a few gift ideas they'd like to give to others. So rather than focusing simply on the getting, it's also about giving. Check out also these gifts that give back with every purchase.

12. Gift experiences not gifts. Kids who get tons of presents for holidays might not appreciate it when another one comes along. Gifting experiences like museum memberships or a special day with mom or dad can be something they remember long after that last toy gets chucked under their bed.

13. Create a gratitude jar. A mason jar is the start of this fun activity the whole family can participate in. A few times a week have everyone write down what they are grateful for. Then, have a special night where you read them all aloud.

14. Try out Turkey on the Table. This one is specific to Thanksgiving but is a fun way to get the flood of gratitude going. The feathers of this festive turkey are things that each family member is grateful for. You add them in the weeks before Thanksgiving and then read them aloud after dinner. Check it out here.

15. Discuss "needs" versus "wants." This one's more for the older kids but you can get the discussion started even at younger ages. Thinking about what we need to survive versus everything else can help kids to be grateful when they get those little "extras."

16. Read books about gratefulness. There are tons of great books where the characters share what makes them thankful. Consider adding one of these to your family bookshelf.

17. Write down a reverse bucket list. Instead of focusing on things they want, have kids write down things they have done and loved. This shift in focus will reframe this time of year away from all the wants.

18. Be a grateful parent. Kids learn from observing. There's no better way to demonstrate gratitude than for you to show how much YOU are thankful in life.

These adorable Thanksgiving craft ideas are the perfect way to keep little hands busy

Wondering how to keep the kids at the table this year? These super-simple ideas are great activities, and they don’t take a lot of pre-planning to get done. So forget about those generic-looking store-bought turkeys in Pilgrim hats, and check out our favorite Thanksgiving crafts that’ll keep the kids occupied. If you need even more ways to keep the kids busy, check out these Thanksgiving games and activities!

A Classic Turkey Craft, but Make It Colorful

How pretty are these turkeys? You’ll need doilies and bright markers to make the tails stand out in a crowd.

Thanksgiving Turkey Puppet Craft

Try out these turkey puppets that can double as decor! Make them small or large so they can sit on top of the table as adorable decorations.

Glitter Pumpkins

glitter pumpkins are a fun Thanksgiving craft idea
Mini Monets and Mommies

Add sparkle to the table with this easy Thanksgiving craft. Grab a few gourds or small-sized pumpkins, and let the kiddos paint them with glue. To make this Thanksgiving craft idea even better, let the glue drip down the sides of the gourds/pumpkins. Sprinkle sparkles on top, shake off the excess, and let the tabletop displays dry before adding them as cool centerpieces. The best part is that you can completely customize this for any table. Choose glitter colors that match your place settings to create a cohesive look.

Pine Cone Pumpkins

Thanksgiving crafts
Fireflies and Mud Pies

Sure, a basket of random gourds makes for a rustically chic centerpiece. But stacking pumpkins on top of various forms of squash isn't always the most creative way for your kiddo to spend Thanksgiving day. Instead, make your own with this pumpkin craft from Fireflies and Mud Pies!

Thanksgiving Fluffy Slime

Thanksgiving crafts
Little Bins for Little Hands

Sometimes sitting at the dinner table and patiently waiting for the grown-ups to finish just isn't fun for your tot. Scratch that, it's never fun for your tot. Well, this turkey-shaped fluffy slime idea from Little Bins for Little Hands solves the "Mommmmmmy, I'm sooooo bored" problem. Package this recipe into a cute little see-through cup to create cute holiday decor. As the kids finish eating, they can take the slime out and play with it—giving you time to eat your meal!

Related: Cozy Fall Decor We Can’t Live Without

Thanksgiving Thankful Tree Craft

Erica Loop

What is your family thankful for? Instead of waiting until dinner to ponder this question, start early in the day (heck, start the day before). Give each family member a leaf to write what they're thankful for. You can either have the kiddos craft paper leaves from fall-colored card stock or go with the real deal. Get extra crafty and ask the kids to paint their leaves before adding what they're thankful for in marker. Gather a few sticks, and push them into a foam base or secure them in a tall vase. Before the meal starts, collect the thankful leaves. Punch holes in the top and thread the yarn through them. During the holiday meal, each family member/guest can read what they're thankful for and hang the leaves on the "tree." 

Recycled Napkin Rings

paper napkins are a fun Thanksgiving craft
Mini Monets and Mommies

You'll get to recycle and reuse paper towel cardboard tubes with this Thanksgiving craft idea. Cut them into pieces, and let the kids get to work painting them into cute little napkin rings. Want other ideas? Mini Monets and Mommies has plenty of other ways to transform cardboard into Thanksgiving table décor.

Related: 40 Incredible Thanksgiving Desserts (That Aren’t Pie)

Popsicle Pals

turkey popsicles are a fun thanksgiving craft idea
The Nerd's Wife

Yeah, kids are all about popsicles. Even in November. So put those sticks to use for this adorable table-top craft from The Nerd’s Wife. This recycle-and-reuse art activity is just as Earth-friendly as it is adorable!

Printable Placemats

Thanksgiving crafts
Mama Papa Bubba

The kids can create crafty placemats that show exactly what they’re thankful for. Mama Papa Bubba’s printable design provides plenty of opportunities for thinking about the holiday while getting creative and coloring.

Related: 25 Simple Ways to Keep the Kids Busy on Thanksgiving

Top Turkeys

Thanksgiving crafts
Mini Monets and Mommies

The kids need something to do at the Thanksgiving table. Of course, other than eating the fab feast that you’ve spent the day preparing. Cut shapes out of felt (you’ll need circles and ovals), add a few googly eyes, and let the kids go to town, pressing together the felt turkey table toppers. They can puzzle together this project at the table or make them beforehand as place cards.

Gobble Gobble Tablecloth

Nikki Walsh

Your grandma’s hand-sewn lace tablecloth is gorgeous. Just not with gravy and cranberry sauce on it. Pull double duty protecting the table and entertaining the kids with this turkey-time tablecloth. Spread out butcher paper, draw a few gobble gobblers, and let the kids get crafty with their crayons during dinner.

Related: No Sweat Side Dishes to Make This Thanksgiving

Playful Pumpkins

Toddler Approved

Who says pumpkins are just for Halloween? Turkey up your mini pumpkins with this idea from Toddler Approved. Table perk: they're perfect placeholders for the kiddos!

Thankful Placemat

Kersey Campbell via Momtastic

What is your child thankful for? Learning about gratitude is kind of the name of the game on Thanksgiving Day. And your child thought the holiday was all about turkey and stuffing. Things are about to change with this crafty laminated placemat from Momtastic. It’s much more than simple holiday décor—it’s a thoughtful activity that will help the kids think about why they should give thanks today!

Related: Genius Ideas to Keep Them Busy the ENTIRE Thanksgiving Week

Gorgeous Gourds

Thanksgiving crafts
Design Improvised

You need a Thanksgiving table idea. So you pile on the gourds to add that decorative touch. But wait. Why not let the kids get creative and dress up those plain ol’ gourds? Design Improvised can show you how to turn gourds into adorable little turkeys.

LEGO Tree Craft

Little Bins for Little Hands

Calling all LEGO lovers! Add this fun preschool Thanksgiving table idea to your art repertoire. We guarantee you already have all the supplies you need around the house. The simple steps are perfect for younger ages, plus you get a sweet keepsake of their tiny hands through the years. For the how-to details, visit Little Bins for Little Hands

These free Thanksgiving printables are the perfect way to keep them busy on such a long day

So you’ve already run through all your tried-and-true Thanksgiving games and activities. How about a few free Thanksgiving printables? Not only are they perfect for the kids’ table, but they’ll help your family achieve an unplugged Thanksgiving. From coloring turkeys and matching fall leaves to thoughtful lists and connect-the-dots, these Thanksgiving activity sheets are fun ways to keep the kids busy as you finish up the cooking.

Printable Thankful Poem

Thankful poem Thanksgiving activity sheet
Doodle Art Alley

Let your kids get creative while thinking about what they're thankful for with this printable "Give Thanks" poem prompter, and then, let them read it out before digging into the Thanksgiving meal. Download it at Doodle Art Alley.

Happy Thanksgiving Coloring Page

thanksgiving coloring pages
Education.com

Your kiddo can color this adorable Thanksgiving picture and turn it into a greeting card or just something fun! Find it at Education.com.

Thanksgiving Writing Activity

thanksgiving coloring pages
Education.com

if your kid loves to write, they'll love this Thanksgiving activity page from Education.com!

Pumpkin Maze Activity Sheet

This pumpkin maze is a fun Thanksgiving activity sheet.
Education.com

Even the youngest members of the family will enjoy this pumpkin maze! Download the printable over at education.com.

Thankful Turkey Placemat

Crafts By Amanda

Gobble, gobble! Little hands stay busy coloring this terrific turkey before the big meal. Even more, if you print it on card stock paper, you'll have instant placemats. Printing these placemats is as easy as pie over at Crafts by Amanda.

Words for the Day Thanksgiving Printable

Free Thanksgiving printable
My Mini Adventurer

It’s a Thanksgiving word-fest! Little hands stay busy and learn about all things Thanksgiving by coloring in these terrific turkey day words. Head over to My Mini Adventurer for these word printables, grab crayons and you have happy little pumpkins while you finish cooking the meal.

Thankful Activity Placemat

This thankful placemat is a fun Thanksgiving activity sheet
Saving Dollars & Sense

Turn over a new leaf this year and print out these perfect placemats for half-pints to use. Your little pumpkins will have a fun time matching the shapes. Hop over to Saving Dollars & Sense for this free Thanksgiving printable.

Thoughtful List

Give Thanks free Thanksgiving printable
Teacher Karma

Whether it’s what little diners are thankful for or their favorite Thanksgiving memory, this list will keep their minds busy. A special shout out to Jen over at Teacher Karma for this creative idea.

Related: The Thanksgiving Tradition the Whole Family will Love

The Ultimate Thanksgiving Activity Sheet

fun Thanksgiving activity sheet
Real Life at Home

Activities galore! From a word scramble to coloring a cornucopia, there is plenty to do with this free Thanksgiving printable. We are thankful to Angie over at Real Life at Home for providing these. All you need to provide is the crayons!

Match Colors

Thanksgiving activity sheet
Rock Your Homeschool

Can you get the right color? We love this Thanksgiving activity for the kids' table. A high five to mom Amy who gives you the free printable. Head over to Rock Your Homeschool; print it out and your little ones will stay busy while you finish up dinner. Just make sure you have all the crayon colors!

Pumpkin Mandala Coloring Sheet

Don’t Eat the Paste

Little diners will scoop up the chance to color these pretty pumpkins. Head over to Don’t Eat the Paste to print out these gorgeous gourds. 

Free Thanksgiving Printable

Thanksgiving activity sheet
Artsy Fartsy Mama

This fun page from Artsy Fartsy Mama has a little bit of everything: coloring, a word search, a place to write what they’re thankful for, and tic-tac-toe.

Give Thanks Activity Sheet

Thanksgiving activity sheet
Hello Moments

Remind your little ones what Thanksgiving is all about with this printable from Hello Moments. In addition to a word hunt and tic-tac-toe, they’ll get to write a poem and jot down what they’re thankful for.

Doodle Time

photo: 1 1 1 = 1

We love this cute coloring page from 1 + 1 + 1 = 1, especially since it has enough details to keep kids busy for quite a while. Get the printable, plus another adorable page with a turkey to color in.

Related: 9 Mermaid Coloring Pages Your Kid Will Love

Amazing Thanksgiving Maze

free Thanksgiving printable maze
Brainy Maze

If your kiddo loves mazes, they’ll definitely have a ball with this Thanksgiving activity sheet from Brainy Maze. They can also color it in when they’re done.

Connect the Dots Turkey

Turkey connect the dots Thanksgiving activity sheet
Big Activities

Kiddos can get some quiet time in while filling in this turkey connect-the-dots page from Big Activities. There’s also another version available that uses the alphabet instead of numbers.

A Cornucopia

Thanksgiving coloring page of a cornucopia
Doodle Art Alley

The tots can color in this overflowing cornucopia from Doodle Art Alley as they wait for the Thanksgiving feast.

Gratitude Cards

What We Do All Day

Challenge your kids to write something they’re thankful for on each of these cute cards from What We Do All Day. Or you can have them make personalized place cards for the table.

Thanksgiving Printable Memory Game

free Thanksgiving printable memory game
Mama’s Learning Game

Print out, cut up, and pass out this easy memory game from Mama's Learning Corner to keep kids busy during prep time.

Word Scramble Placemat

Thanksgiving printable placemat
Jinxy Kids

Because all fine dining establishments have kid-friendly placemats, right? These particular mats come with a word scramble activity that's just right for little learners. Download the printable at Jinxy Kids.

Thankful Turkey Activity Sheet

Thanksgiving activity pages
How to Nest for Less

This activity is a great way to immortalize your Thanksgiving meal—have the kids write and draw the most memorable parts of the day. You can even print the same page next year and compare. Get the printable at How to Nest for Less.

Autumn Leaves

Make and Takes

As the kids tackle this autumn coloring page, talk about how leaves change color in the fall. Get this printable at Make and Takes.

Related: 11 of Our Favorite Stegosaurus Coloring Pages

Snoopy & Charlie Brown

Peanuts Thanksgiving Activity sheet
Best Coloring Pages for Kids

Happiness is a warm puppy and a fun Thanksgiving coloring page. We love this page that features everybody's favorite comic strip pup. Get this printable (and more!) at Best Coloring Pages for Kids.

Paint-by-Number Turkey

Paint by Number Turkey Thanksgiving free printable
Nicole’s Free Coloring Pages

This paint-by-numbers coloring page is as easy as 1, 2, 3. Little artists who like to get their artwork just right will like the easy-to-follow idea. Get this printable at Nicole's Free Coloring Pages.

Thanksgiving Mad Libs

Thanksgiving Mad Libs printable
Happiness Is Homemade

For a giggle-inducing Thanksgiving activity, try a round (or two!) of festive Mad Libs. Get the printable over at Happiness is Homemade.

Harvest Fruit and Vegetable Word Search

This harvest fruit and veggie word search is a fun Thanksgiving activity sheet
The Kidz Page

We love a good word search, and this version features all of Fall's bounty. Download it over at The Kidz Page

Give Thanks - Dog and Cat

Thanksgiving activity pages
Coloring Pages for Kids by Mr. Adron

Animal-loving kids will have a blast with this coloring page that gives a dog and a kitty the spotlight. As they color, talk about what your own pets might be thankful for—and why you're thankful for your furry friends. Get the printable at Coloring Pages for Kids by Mr. Adron.

Pilgrims and Giant Feast

Pilgrim Thanksgiving free printable
Raising Our Kids

Your own Thanksgiving turkey may be more modest, but the kids will get a kick out of the giant feast on this coloring page. Will they color it a delicious golden brown or go for something a bit flashier? (Blue turkey, perhaps?) Get the printable at Raising Our Kids.

Thank You For ...

Thanksgiving activity pages
Living Creatively

What are your youngsters most thankful for? Crayons? Books? Discuss and share as they decorate this fun list. Get the printable at Living Creatively.

Adorable Pilgrim Boy

Thanksgiving activity pages
familyholiday.net

How cute is this pilgrim boy coloring sheet? This tiny guy just needs your little one's colorful attention. Download your own pages at familyholiday.net.

Related: 10 Exciting T-Rex Coloring Pages for Kids

Thanksgiving Decoder Puzzle

This decoder puzzle is a fun Thanksgiving activity sheet
All Kids Network

Do your kids love figuring out puzzles? Give their thinking caps a mini-workout with this fun decoder puzzle. Get the printable at All Kids Network.

Pumpkin Connect the Dots

Thanksgiving activity pages
Bigactivities.com

Once your kiddo connects all of the dots, they'll have the chance to color in the pumpkin picture. It's a 2-in-1! Find the worksheet on Bigactivities.com

Turkey Color by Number

Education.com

Follow the numbers to find the colors to create this exciting Thanksgiving picture! It'll be such a festive way to celebrate the holiday. Get the worksheet from Education.com

 

I am thinking about you today.

I want you to know that everything you do matters.

When you crawl into bed at night, aching from your temples to your toes, know that you have done enough. There may have been no progress made with toileting, feeding therapy or communication today and that is okay.

Your child is safe and so loved.

The weight of hectic schedules, parent trainings, OT, PT and visits with every other MD in-between can feel suffocating.

The research, the meltdowns, the battles over chicken nugget brands and clothing choices, all can withdraw every ounce of patience from your soul.

The smeared feces, the eloping, the pica and other behaviors you watched your friend’s toddlers outgrow. Years later, they remain in your child.

Most days are exhausting and thankless and I want you to know that your child appreciates you, they need you, and they love you beyond measure.

You need to know that.

Your child may not be able to express this, some of you may have never even heard your child call you “Mom.”

But they know you are Mom.

Your child is so grateful for all that you do and would be lost without you. Just as you would be lost without your sweet child.

I want you to know that you are not alone.

When your patience has been depleted.

When you’ve cried behind your sunglasses at a park as you watched your child’s differences come to light.

The loneliness you have felt from the long days spent with a child unable to read your emotions.

The difficult medical and educational decisions you struggle to make.

Know that there are so many of us with you.

We have felt the lows and celebrated the victories, too. We know the fear and the worry you wrestle with daily, and the immense pride you feel over the slightest progress.

I want you to find hope.

Today let’s bask in achievements and forget about regressions.

Even if only for one day.

Let your hope be stronger than your fears. With so many unknowns in the future, know that it’s going to get better.

I know this because we will grow stronger.

We will continue to learn, to advocate, to protect and make certain our children know their worth and just how very much they are loved.

I am so thankful for this sisterhood of amazing mothers today and every day.

Have a very Happy Mother’s Day.

This post originally appeared on Wilsonsclimb.com.

Lauren is a proud mom of two adorable kids, her son Wilson and daughter Charlie. She is constantly learning from her children and loves to share their adventures from the world of autism on wilsonsclimb.com.  Lauren shares her son's journey as one small piece in helping to spread autism awareness around the world.  

It’s (nearly) fall, ya’ll! If you want to give your house a little harvest love this season, look no further. We searched everyone’s favorite online marketplace and found plenty of things to give your abode cozy vibes in no time. From soft snuggly blankets to charming wall signs, scroll down to see the best fall decor you can find on Amazon right now.

Glasshouse Fragrances Trick Or Treat Pumpkin Pie Candle

While this candle is technically Halloween-inspired, we are definitely on board burning this candle the entire fall season. With notes of coconut, orange, pumpkin, nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, cumin, maple, caramelized sugar, musk and vanilla, this pumpkin pie scented candle will burn for up to 65 hours.

Get it here, $55

White and Burlap Mini Pumpkins

These little pumpkins can go right out in September and stay out all the way through November. Use them on your mantlepiece, or on your dining room table as a centerpiece or Thanksgiving decoration. 

Buy them here, $16.99 for 18.

Sunny Sunflower Garland

This six-foot sunflower and straw garland would look great strung on your fireplace, over a doorframe or on your table. 

Buy it here, $26.49. 

Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice Kitchen Towel

Pumpkin spice is nice!! This cute little kitchen towel will perk up your dishwashing duties. 

Buy it here, $13.

Wooden Fall Sign

It doesn’t take much to make it feel like fall! This sweet wooden sign is a nice addition to a front entry or a kitchen counter.

Buy it here, $11.99.

Pom-Pom Blanket

Who wouldn’t want to snuggle down under this cozy-looking blanket? The warm color is the perfect accent for all your other fall decor, and the pom-poms add a little extra pop. 

Buy one here, $23.99.

Pumpkin Planters

How adorable would these little guys look on your kitchen island? Or as hostess gifts? The succulents are not included, but that leaves room to plant other items, too.

Buy a set of three here, $13.99.

Battery-Operated Candles

If you need to stock up on battery-operated candles, now is the time! This nine-pack comes with varying sizes so you can spread around the house or use together and make a statement. But either way, creating a cozy (or eerie!) glow is part of the fall fun.

Buy a set here, $9.99.

Scarecrow Pals

Don’t forget your front yard! These adorable scarecrows are perfect for welcoming guests to your humble abode during the fall season. Prop them up with pumpkins against your front door or put them in the ground in the yard, either way, they’re perfect for fall!

Buy a set here,$22.83

Thankful Banner

There's nothing quite like burlap for fall decor, and we love this banner! Adorned with maple leaves and the words THANKFUL, this banner can brighten up a living room, add flair to a holiday party and more.

Buy it here, $8.99. 

Heirloom Veggie Poster

This heirloom veggie poster is not typical fall decor, but the vintage vibe is charming, and it can work in your house all year long or just for the harvest season.

Buy one here, $12.99.

Harvest Plates and Napkins

If you’re going to use paper plates and napkins for your harvest celebration, these adorable pumpkin and sunflower plates fit the bill and the adorable vintage truck napkins complete the package.

Buy a set here, $15.95 for a set of 8.

Cotton Bunch

It’s easy to get a farmhouse look for fall with these cotton stems. Pair it with mini pumpkins and a burlap runner, and you’ll have a Pinterest-inspired table in no time.

Buy a bunch here, $12.99.

Farmer's Market Pillows

An easy way to get that that autumn feel? Simply swap out your couch pillows for this fun set of four. Farmer’s Market inspired, with plenty of colors, these are something you’ll love to pull out year after year.

Buy the set here. $16.99.

Plaid Tablerunner

This fall-colored table runner comes in three different sizes: 16”x72, 16”x90 and 16”x108 or as a tablecloth! It’s got hints of green, and the plaid print is on trend for fall 2020.

Buy the right size here, $28.

Apple Cinnamon Scented Candle

Last, but not least is a comforting fall scent. If pumpkin spice isn’t your jam, may we suggest this apple/orange/cinnamon scent instead? Your house will still have those spicy fall undertones but with a twist.

Buy one here. $20.

—Gabby Cullen

All images are courtesy of Amazon

Editor’s Note: At the time of publication, all items were available for purchase. 

 

RELATED STORIES:

34 Fall Festivals to Visit at Least Once with Kids

All the Pumpkin Spice Products You Can Enjoy This Fall

Pick of the Season! Family-Friendly Farmers Markets

 

 

Wonder Woman Gal Gadot has added a third daughter to her crew! The actress announced the news on Instagram today with the first shared photo of the family of five. She and husband Jaron Varsano welcome daughter Daniella, who joins Alma and Maya.

Accompanying the candid snapshot, Gadot wrote, “My sweet family 🖐🏼 I couldn’t be more grateful and happy (and tired 🤪) we are all so excited to welcome Daniella into our family. I’m sending all of you love and health. GG ♥️🖐🏼🖐🏼🖐🏼🖐🏼🖐🏼”

Varsano posted the same photo to his account with the caption “And now we are 🖐🏼 So happy and grateful. My dear wife is a lioness! So thankful and humbled by your powers.”

The 36-year-old Gadot married Varsano, an Israeli real estate developer and businessman, in 2008. Oldest daughter Alma was born in 2011 and Maya joined the family in 2017. In an earlier post this year, Gadot praised her husband as “the greatest dad in the world!”

Congratulations to the happy family! No doubt Gadot’s powerful superhero will be an inspiration to all three daughters for years to come.

—Sarah Shebek

Featured image courtesy of Tinseltown/Shutterstock 

 

RELATED STORIES:

It’s a Boy! Ewan McGregor and Mary Elizabeth Winstead Welcome First Child Together

Cardi B Announces Baby Number Two Is on the Way

Usain Bolt & Kasi Bennett Welcome Twins With Epic Names

 

Photo: Jen Kathrina-Anne

While I was growing up, I absolutely loved Barbie. I would beg my mother for a new Barbie every time we ventured into the toy department. As soon as we neared those Pepto Bismol-pink displays, I would get butterflies and daydream of Barbie’s and my next adventure together.

On one such trip, my mother finally acquiesced and bought me Peaches ‘n’ Cream Barbie. She kept her in the closet and said she would be my birthday gift.

Fortunately (or unfortunately) for me, Peaches ‘n’ Cream sat in her pink box staring down at me with her eternally painted smile through her see-through plastic window. I looked forward to our reunion with eagerness.

When the happy day arrived, I carefully removed Peaches ‘n’ Cream from her packaging, and slowly examined her with the precision of a doctor. She was perfect—she had waist length blonde tresses and big blue eyes. Peaches ‘n’ Cream Barbie was beautiful—and I looked nothing like her.

It’s bad enough that Barbie is a poor anatomical role model for young girls, all unbalanced rack and legs for days. But when I had asked my mother what was meant by “peaches ‘n’ cream,” she shook her head.

“I don’t know,” she had replied.

It was years later that I learned the meaning: a creamy white complexion with a blush of peach. Something I would never have. I was thankful that my 6-year-old self and my 30-something-year-old mother never knew this at the time.

Now that I’m a 30-something with young impressionable daughters of my own, I am determined that they have a doll who looks more like them. 

Enter Nahji, from Assam, India. Nahji is part of a collection called Hearts 4 Hearts Girls whose proceeds partially go to helping young girls in the countries they represent, including Dell (USA), Consuelo (Mexico), Rahel (Ethiopia), Tipi (Laos), and Lilian (Belarus).  

I immediately purchased this doll for Pumpkin’s 2nd birthday. Never mind that the box loudly stated For Ages 6+ or that my daughter was more interested in the box Nahji came in rather than in Nahji herself. She has dark beautiful hair and large lovely brown eyes. She is perfect—and she looks everything like us.

This post originally appeared on The Haute Mommy Handbook.

Jen Kathrina-Anne is a blogger, freelance writer, and graphic designer. When she’s not writing or designing, she enjoys spending time outdoors in the California Bay Area where she resides with her husband and two fearless daughters. Find her at www.hautemommyhandbook.com.

 

Christina Milian and partner Matt Pokora are parents again! The singer recently announced the birth of her third child—a baby boy.

This is the second son for Milian and Pokora, who are already parents to 14-month-old Isaiah. Milian also has an 11-year-old daughter, Violet Madison, with ex-husband The Dream.

The new mama-times-three posted a snuggly post-partum pic on Instagram, captioning the mommy-son photo, “Kenna, Welcome to the world baby boy! Wow, What an adventure we’ve been on since the day he was conceived! I thank God everyday for blessing me with his super active energy (wonder where he gets it from? And now to meet our healthy baby boy?! Thankful. Blessed. Now it’s party of 5 baby!”

Milian continued with a sweetly sentimental shout-out to Pokora, “Thank you my @mattpokora for being the best partner/dad/ best friend a woman could ask for. You’re a king in my eyes.” Pokora also shared a beautiful baby pic on IG in black and white, adding his newborn news in French.

Congrats to Milian, Pokora and their new party of five!

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Shutterstock

 

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Photo: Samira Soto

To the mom going through a diagnosis during a global pandemic, I know right now your world feels like you’re walking a new planet. It feels scary, isolating, and so lonely. 

It feels like you’re drowning in the depths of the biggest oceans, gasping for air each time you come up to the surface, only to be pulled right back down by its powerful current. Screaming for help each time you reach to the surface, only to see there is no life raft in sight. There is no help coming, there is no one to rescue you. The extensive waitlists, the endless amount of phone calls with no responses for weeks on end, and don’t get me started with the amount of hours on Zoom.  

I promise you are not alone. You see, my son Kanen is almost 3 years old. He has the biggest brown eyes that light up like the Aurora Borealis anytime a truck, plane, or bus passes by. He has a smile that shines as bright as a full moon on a dark and cold winter night. He also was diagnosed with severe, non-verbal autism in September of 2020. Going through the diagnosis process at any point in life is not for the weak hearted, but especially not during a global pandemic. While others are fighting for toilet paper off the shelves, and others are angry that their travel plans have come to halt, our worries become much bigger, and yet feel so little to the rest of the world. One day, we went from mom’s chasing our children on the playground, to the next day becoming camerawoman for what feels like a reality TV show. But instead shooting MTV’s next biggest show of rowdy 20 year olds living in one house, we’re chasing children around our homes using our computers and phones, praying that the person on the other side can get an appropriate evaluation. Hoping that they’ll catch a glimpse of all the hard we witness everyday. The hard that lead us to this point in our life, seeking a diagnosis.  

One might assume after a diagnosis that your days of being camerawomen would be over, but in all honesty they might have just began. Thearpy that was once in person is now all via Zoom. For most of us, we don’t have the option of in person or Telehealth. We are given what we are given, and are expected to not throw a fit.  At first you are going to ask yourself more than you want to admit if you’re capable of this. If you are capable of not only being your child’s mother, but their teacher, their therapist, their advocate, and most importantly their camerawoman.

I want to let you know you are capable, you are the only one who is. You will learn through this journey that you are your child’s person, you are their safe space. When their world feels too overwhelming and chaotic, only you mama will know how to center them. And you might learn along the way they are all that for you to, and even more. You will become a jack of all trades, master of none, but better than one.

I never imagined a time in my life where I would be seeking a diagnosis for my only son during a pandemic, but I’m thankful I did. I’m thankful I didn’t give up when I felt like the rest of the world was. When the rest of the world was giving up on the services he most needed, I didn’t. I’m not saying it’s going to be easy, but now a year into this, I promise it does get better because you mama will become stronger through the process. You will find a strength in you no others before or after us will ever experience, because we have faced a global pandemic while fighting for a diagnosis for our child and all the services they need after. Wear that badge of honor with pride! I want to remind you that you are never alone I see you, I hear you, and I’ll always be here to throw a life raft whenever you need it.  

With love,  

A fellow Mom

Samira is a 25 year old single mom to a 2 year old son Kanen Arley. Her son Kanen was diagnosed with severe non-verbal autism in September of 2020, which inspired her to start sharing their journey through My Charming Arley on Facebook and Samirasstella on Instagram.