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What I’m Grateful for this Thanksgiving
Wondering what the heck to be thankful for this year? This is a season of giving thanks, feeling blessed, all the things. But 2020 sure has thrown us all through a loop. Everyone has been affected in their own unique ways, but as a mom, I hope you can relate to what I am choosing to be thankful for this year.
And all I want this year is to keep things simple. We don’t need to go all out. We are hunkered down, not even seeing my parents and grandma 15 minutes down the road. The pandemic has changed so many traditions this year. And Thanksgiving is just the next one on the calendar that we have to adapt to this year.
The CDC is strongly recommending no one travel for the holidays as the spike in cases is severely on the rise once again. With my immune system compromised, and my grandmother’s as well, we just can’t risk it. So it will be the 4 of us at the dining table, just like every other night this year. But I do have some tricks up my sleeve to keep it a special day like we know it is.
I am so thankful this year. If 2020 has taught me anything, it is that we have so much to be thankful for. It has given us time to have the kids home. We get to see how they learn, and see them grow and adapt to online learning. Joey has been resilient this year. He has overcome so much. Seeing his friends on the screen instead of in person. Learning via Zoom versus in the classroom. Not getting the 2nd grade experience you and I had, but the 2020 experience. But he is healthy, and the extra time has truly been a gift. (Most days. Some days, yes, I would LOVE to pull my hair out. Extra time means extra fights with his little brother. More stories about Roblox and Minecraft than I ever care to hear. More complaints about being bored. More screentime than I care to confess to. But still. A gift.)
As for Max, we withdrew him from preschool for the year. As much as I loved seeing him grow socially last year in his first year of preschool, I just could not fathom sending him to an already germy environment (because kids and boogers go together like pb&j). I feel like I would not be doing my part as a mom in giving him what’s best for him. The social aspect, yes. I do wish that more than anything he had other kids his age to play with, to learn with, to share with, to grow with. But I keep telling myself kids are resilient. He will learn all that in time. He is learning that with his brother. Hopefully (fingers crossed) he will begin kindergarten in person in the fall 2021. And we can start his elementary school years as planned. But until then, I do enjoy doing activities with him in his Preschool Activity books, and looking up on Pinterest for preschool activities and crafts to do together. His attention span is that of a goldfish sometimes, but that’s what he will learn in time.
I am also lucky enough that he still likes to take naps with me, and I absolutely LOVE cuddling up with him in bed for a couple hours each day. That is something I would not have if he were in preschool.
As for John, my husband, I am most grateful he has been able to work from home this year. We converted the boys’ bedrooms into his office and playroom, respectively, and the big playroom that once was is now the boys’ bedroom. John has his space with his 3 monitors, his desk, an office chair, and he is in earshot of everything that goes on in the house. He is present. He is here. He is not commuting 3 hours a day. He is not spending that money on gas, putting those miles on his car. He is here at lunch time. He is here to talk to. He is HERE. If I had to choose one thing I am grateful for this year, it would be him being able to work from home.
So as we take pause this year and stuff ourselves with turkey, ham, green bean casserole, stuffing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and cocktails, just take a minute and really soak in what you are thankful for. Food on the table, roof over your head, happy kids, happy marriage, running water…basics. Choose to be grateful. Choose to be happy. Don’t overcomplicate the holiday. Because giving thanks is the whole reason for this season.
Cheers,
Jackie
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