As much as I have always loved holidays, spending quality time with friends and family from near and far, there are some holidays that can get a little bit boring for kids. Though it’s been many years since I sat at the ‘kid table’ on Thanksgiving, I still keenly remember the boredom that set in once the turkey had been put away and the pumpkin pie sliced, served and savored. The adults were tired and settled into the sofa for a nap or to watch a football game, and the kids didn’t have much to do except talk over what they hoped Santa would bring that year. And…that’s a shame. Because as much as I love Christmas, it hurts my heart to see Thanksgiving serve as a mere stepping stone to Christmas. Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday all on its own! And I have a fun way to celebrate it with your little ones – and fellow adults – this year…
The Turkey Won’t Be the Only Thing Getting Stuffed…
As long as I can remember, I get most excited about stocking stuffers. I love my ‘big gifts’ as well, of course! But that oversized, Christmas sock stuffed to the brim with candy, lotions, perfume, nail polish and more is what sets my Christmas morning heart aflutter. So – why reserve that feeling to just one day a year when it can just as easily happen twice? Why, indeed!
This Thanksgiving, I’m breaking out the stockings early, and asking guests to bring theirs along as well. I’m heading out to do some shopping tonight, so I’m going to pick up a nice selection of stocking stuffers for people to gift one another. I’ll also get some goodies right here at Blair, of course. A stocking isn’t a stocking without a serious selection of candy! But it isn’t the bubble bath and Bursting Berry Blow Pops that will make these stockings extra special – it’s the notes of thanks, appreciation and love we’ll each be slipping inside them.
1.) First, I plan to ask everyone to hang their stocking, letting others know which is theirs if it isn’t obvious (my name is embroidered on mine!)
2.) Next, each person will pick one candy treat to stuff inside each stocking, and one non-candy treat as well. Once everyone has chosen one candy and non-candy treat each for everyone, the stockings should be looking pretty stuffed! But the real gift is yet to come…
3.) Lastly, I’ll ask everyone to write something thoughtful about everyone else there – one thing per person. It could be something about that person they particularly enjoy, something that person has done for them that they are thankful for, or really anything that would be nice to know or hear from someone you care about. Just like the candy and non-candy treats, these sentiments will be nestled in the stockings, adding up to paper slips far sweeter than even Pixy Stix! Once complete, we’ll all sit around together and take turns reading our slips aloud. While eating candy, naturally!
I hope some of you will consider trying this at your home this year. Even if your plans do include spending Thanksgiving evening in line at a favorite store, don’t forget to give Thanksgiving its fair share of the spotlight. We all have things to be grateful for, big and small, and we couldn’t stuff all our blessings in a stocking if we tried.
