Parenting has become a race for time for many parents during November and December. I have had to find ways to simply the holidays because I have often been on call or during my training spent the day in the hospital seeing patients. I have had many Thanksgiving dinners in hospital dining rooms. Fortunately, food has never been my particular interest, so as long as I didn't have to cook that was good! Both of my children became good cooks because they enjoyed eating. My grandson is planning to cook this Thanksgiving. That will be interesting.
I think Thanksgiving should be a time to establish some traditions and enjoy your family and friends. The food should be secondary. Unfortunately,now many parents, particularly mothers, feel they have to be miniature Julia Childs. I remember some special Thanksgivings, but not the food. Being thankful that so far we are not at war with North Korea, that hopefully we will someday have some sensible gun laws and that a lot of people are fighting to keep us safe should be uppermost in our minds. Traditions are important to children because they give them a sense of connection and on-going relationships with families. So many young people seem lost today and take refuge in drugs or acting out in some way. We need to get back to some old-fashioned parenting where parents are in charge, kids have chores and have to earn any money they are given. Too many children these days don't appreciate all they are given and feel entitled to whatever they want. I see far too much to much of this in the small affluent community where I now live.
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