It started back in August, when we switched from mostly commercial free Disney Junior, to Nick Jr., Nick, and Sprout. The incessant, “I want that!” every time a commercial came on. Or “I’m totally getting that for my birthday!” each time we visited a store. Our girls were being introduced to a new world of toys and I WANT has become my least favorite phrase. Then in September, they started a Christmas list.
It’s now enormous, filled with every Barbie, Palace Pet, and Descendants doll you can imagine. And left behind is a huge dollhouse already filled with over 50 Barbie’s. Yes our girls are spoiled, “as they should be,” my husband uttered one morning recently. But in all of this I feel like we’ve forgotten to teach them an important skill, thankfulness.
With a Halloween candy hangover this week, everyone is tired and cranky from Daylight Savings Time. The girls aren’t sharing as well, and fights and scuffles are occurring more often than not. As the season of giving approaches, it seems like we are all doing the opposite, and are simply not being grateful or kind. For us it’s the transition and pressure of me starting the Miami HEAT season, and my husband travelling more. Not to mention the exhausting after school activities, birthday parties, and holiday stress and travel about to kick in.
So it’s time to make a change.
This week, I’ve been working extra hard to keep my voice low, model kindness and patience, and introduce gratitude journals. It is a great reminder for us all to journal and remember the positives everyday, as opposed to focusing on how many Palace Pets your sister has, or why mommy makes disgusting food. And for our littlest who can’t yet write words, well she just draws pictures of things she loves. (Usually toys, a work in progress!)
As we were walking through the girl’s favorite store Target last week, I saw a super cute manners sign. It was in the $1 bin and not that pretty, but the sayings were. So I snapped a photo and decided to recreate it!
So here’s what I made that now sits by our front entrance so the girls can see it everyday. Sure they might not always read it, but the messages are important and beautiful, and something we could all benefit from reading everyday.
And since I’m grateful to all the kind readers of mommy in SPORTS, I thought I’d share it as a free printable. (ENTER YOUR NAME & EMAIL BELOW TO DOWNLOAD!) Enjoy!
And if you are looking for more ways to inspire gratitude in your kids, check out these wonderful solutions from Alana and Parenting from the Heart.
This was needed for me to read today! I have been parenting alone this week and my own patience has not always been there this week. I am always talking to my 4 1/2 year old about being kind and patient and I know I must be the model of that. We are always talking about being thankful for what we have and practicing kindness. I like these signs!
Oh thank you! And yes, it’s SO hard to not react when they are being bratty. I am trying to take my own advice as well!!
This is the first Christmas where my daughter is really understanding that she is going to be getting a lot of presents. I would like her to understand that being thankful and showing gratitude is of the utmost importance. When we go to the store she has gotten into the habit of asking for everything. I love your printable. I think it would be a great addition to my home and I could read it to my kids. Thank you for sharing! And thank you for linking up!!
Thanks for having me! And glad you like it – gratitude I’ve learned is modeled. I’m a work in progress…isn’t it wonderful how much parenting changes us for hte better?
We have a blessing jar. But I love the idea of the gratitude journals.
Great post.
Emily
I love this! It is super cute and a wonderful message!
Great idea and a beautiful sentiment! I am printing one out!
I LOVE a gratitude journal. A year ago we used to crawl in bed together and talk about our days and list one thing we were thankful for…this is a great reminder that we should get back to that. I also can totally relate to this post. When we stopped watching Disney Junior for the other networks, Kyle starting believe that he NEEDED all those toys.
I love that! What a great find! (Another great reason to love Target!) Thanks for the great printable and for linking up with us! It’s so important to be mindful as we go throughout each day. This whole exercise in gratitude is making me give more pause throughout the day as well.
That chalkboard printable is so lovely! Downloading and pinning! Thank you!
I love the idea of a gratitude journal even if it is just drawings like in the case of your youngest. Learning gratitude is something that will keep giving back to you in such a positive and important way your whole life. You are very wise to be helping your girls lesrn and appreciate it.
This is amazing. I love the printable. You did such a great job!
yea, we need to be more grateful over here too! i need to think about this… i like all these reminders – esp. this month!
What a great printable to have up in your home, especially this time of year 🙂
Yes, we could all use it!!
Oooooo I love chalkboard art! My used chalkboard paint on my kids’ walls and recreate a chalkboard saying every season. Let’s me work out my artistic side 🙂
I struggled with this problem back when I lived in Germany. My kiddo (only one at that time) would get boxes and boxes of stuff from family stateside and she began to disassociate the gifts from the people who sent them. One of my favorite tricks? Teaching her how money works (she was 3 at the time, so it was a very basic level). I would show her the dollars, show her how many dollars we needed to give away to get our food, and then show her how many dollars were left. Kids think we have this endless supply of toys and resources for them and sadly, that’s not the case. At least not in my household.
Both my kids also dedicate their birthday’s to raising money for Heifer International. It’s a perspective check – if we are lucky enough to celebrate birth in a country with as many luxuries as we have here, we are wealthy enough to pass along the love to those much, much less fortunate. They get it. My youngest is a toddler, but she gets it.
This is perfect! I am going to download it & print it out for my son to see everyday!!!
You are very talented and certainly have an inventive mind! We too are in a situation of “Are you getting this for me?” which drives me NUTS and sibling rivalry is seemingly at an all-time high, I love the idea of this sign<3 Thanks so much for linking up too!!!
Thank goodness my kids aren’t the only ones who seem to be bickering more lately! I think they were totally blindsided by the time change, no matter how much we warned them. I can’t wait to print out your design!
Great sheet!! Thank you!
That’s really cool and great advice! More people should listen more and speak less!