What parents can be thankful for this Thanksgiving Day

November 26, 11:13 PMOrlando Parenting ExaminerRobyn Kurth

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I am always grateful if I can get one of these pre-made gingerbread houses
to look halfway decent! (Photo by Robyn Kurth)

Whether you are refereeing a dispute between your kids while assembling the turkey and side dishes for a Thanksgiving Day meal or packing up the minivan for a trip to the grandparents’ house, there is always something that we as parents can be thankful for on this holiday.

For parents of babies: No matter how your infant arrived in your home—through childbirth, adoption, or foster care—be grateful for all the little things that you do for your baby. Children are so helpless at this age, and everything you do for them—from feeding and burping to diaper changing and bathing—means that you are doing your job as a parent. It’s not the most glamorous work, but it’s time well spent.

For parents of toddlers and preschoolers: Even if your kid is having an historic meltdown in front of all the relatives at the dinner table, be grateful (try, at least) that your child is trying to assert her independence as the diapers and strollers fall by the wayside. You are still the most important person in the universe to your child, and despite the occasional tears and tantrums, your little one is old enough to know it.

For parents of school-aged children: Be thankful that your child is still young enough to want to be your buddy and learn from you as he makes his own strides academically, writing and reading on his own and constantly filling his head with knowledge. Older ‘tweens may have convinced themselves that they know everything there is to know already, so you might have to wait another 20 years for them to attribute any wisdom to you.

For parents of teenagers: Your child is almost an adult, and for that you can be grateful. You are beginning to see the fruits of your labor: a combination of the individual your children were meant to be that has been shaped and molded by everything you taught them, either by instruction or demonstration. Maybe in a few years they will be hosting a Thanksgiving dinner for you!