Welcome to our Marriage War and Peace blog for November! 

With Thanksgiving and family time fast approaching, we’re focusing on gratitude — what it means, why it matters, and how families can nurture this powerful habit together.  

As mothers, we know gratitude is more than just teaching our kids to say, “thank you.” It’s about helping them develop a mindset of appreciation that shapes how they see the world, act, and interact with others. 

But gratitude isn’t only for our children — it’s for the entire family.  

This November, I encourage you to embrace a month-long celebration of gratitude, a time filled with joy and family bonding. Let's plan fun and creative ways to come together as a family, making this season one of thankfulness and joyful connection! 

In this article, we explore the importance of gratitude within families, offering practical and creative activities to help cultivate a mindset of thankfulness, strengthen family bonds, and create lasting memories during the Thanksgiving season and beyond. 
 
In this month’s article, we’ll focus on:  

• How our family finds strength in gratitude 

• Thankful hearts, happy homes! 

• The Family Gratitude Project 

Finding Strength in Gratitude and Teamwork 

Our daughter Kara just started her first year of high school, and we thought things were going well. So, imagine our shock when, during her recent parent-teacher conference, we learned she wasn’t performing as well as we had assumed. Dismayed but determined, we knew it was time to take action — following a method that has become second nature in our family. 

In our home, when something goes wrong, we don’t rush in with emotions blazing. Instead, we pause, breathe, and take a moment to reflect. We shift into a space of gratitude before addressing the issue and ask ourselves, “What is this person doing well?” This reflective parenting approach has been a guiding light for us, inspiring us to approach situations calmly and with respect rather than frustration or blame.  

So, we didn’t jump straight to accusations or disappointment with Kara. Instead, we asked ourselves, “What can we do better as parents?” It didn’t take long to see where we had room to improve. We decided to be more involved by keeping up with school emails, checking the parental portal for updates on her subjects, and discussing her learning progress regularly at the dinner table, ensuring that she stays on track — And we did this before talking with Kara. 

Being more involved isn’t just about holding Kara accountable — it’s about being a team. That’s what keeps us strong and connected, no matter the challenge. 
 
Thankful Hearts, Happy Homes: Fun Family Activities to Foster Thankfulness 

Here are five fun activities you can do as a family to nurture gratitude and thankfulness. 

Create a Family Gratitude Tree  

A gratitude tree is a beautiful visual representation of thankfulness that everyone can contribute to. Collect some small branches or create ones out of craft materials and place them in a vase in your living room. Place a stack of colorful paper leaves and nearby with string strung through holes.  
 
Each family member can write something they're grateful for and hang it on the tree throughout November. By Thanksgiving, you'll have a beautiful display of all the things your family appreciates.  

Gratitude Journals 

Encourage each member of your family to start a gratitude journal for the month. Dedicate five minutes each evening to writing down three things you're grateful for from that day. Younger children who may not be able to write yet can draw pictures of what they are thankful for.   

At the end of each week, gather everyone around the table for a snack-and-share time to hear what everyone's been grateful for.  

Gratitude Dinner Conversations  

Something we do in our family is make gratitude a regular part of our family dinners.  

Once everyone has settled at the table, we go around and share one thing we’re thankful for from the day. This usually sparks meaningful conversations and allows everyone to appreciate their blessings, big and small.  

As a twist, you could theme each dinner — one night could be about what you're grateful for in nature, another about the people in your life, and another about personal achievements. 
 

Acts of Kindness Jar  

Encourage gratitude through action by creating an "Acts of Kindness" jar.  
 
Write down small, simple acts of kindness on slips of paper (like helping a sibling with homework, baking cookies for a neighbor, or writing a thank-you note to a teacher). Each day, have someone draw from the jar and complete the act of kindness.  

Volunteer as a Family  

Nothing teaches gratitude like giving back.  

Find a local organization or cause your family can support, whether serving at a soup kitchen, volunteering at an animal shelter, or delivering Thanksgiving dinner for Meals on Wheels.  

By incorporating these activities into your family’s routine, you’ll foster a culture of gratitude that extends far beyond Thanksgiving! 

Helpful Resources 

Joanna Grzeszczak’s The Family Gratitude Project  focuses on how to raise a thankful child with fun activities and crafts for every season.  

Share Your Insights 

Join the conversation! What are some ways your family celebrates gratitude? Share your ideas and stories by emailing me! Email [email protected] I'd love to hear from you!