Modeling Gratitude: The “Thankful Tree”

Practicing gratitude is CRITICAL to my daily survival.

When I find myself deep in the muck and stress of running a household, mothering four children, and trying to just keep it all together, nothing helps pull me out of a funk like remembering and noting the things that I am thankful for, big and small. Sometimes, it is really, really hard to see these blessings, but I think that identifying them definitely re-frames the struggles and helps refocus my lens to find the gifts in each day.

I try to remind and encourage my children to practice gratitude, and our family has a tradition during the Thanksgiving season that helps reinforce this practice.

Enter, our “Thankful Tree.”

This practice is any easy one. It has to be to even think about being able to execute, let alone keep the practice going.

Allison Gagnon- Choicelunch
We’ve had several Thankful Trees through the years.

First step – Create your tree.

I usually use butcher paper, and we sketch out a trunk and branches. The past couple of years, the kids have enjoyed painting the trunk itself. Another excuse to paint and get really messy? If your kids are anything like mine, they’ll be sold in a second.

Allison Gagnon- Choicelunch
Trace a tree and branches, tell the kids to paint- and voila!

If the kids are cranky or you don’t have the supplies, or if sketching or painting are not your jam, crunch up some paper to make a trunk and branches like so…

Allison Gagnon- Choicelunch
No supplies? Scrunch up newspaper to make a trunk and branches

Next step – Create your leaves.

Again, opt for the easy route on this one. You could easily make your own leaves for your “Thankful Tree,” but, really, who has time for this when Amazon, Michael’s, Target, and most craft stores sell ready-made and pre-cut foam leaves. Buy a few packs so you have plenty on hand, and put them in a bowl somewhere really accessible. We like to keep ours in a bowl on our kitchen table. Access is everything, people.

Allison Gagnon- Choicelunch
My daughter, Grace, is thankful for some important things this year

Implementation.

Each day, or every other day, or every few days (this should not be a stress-inducing practice, nor feel like “homework” to anyone involved), have each person in your family make a leaf for your tree. All they need to do is to think of one thing or more that they are thankful for, and write it on the leaf. Then, tape the leaf to your tree. I am sure there are also ready-made tree trunks out there for those who want to go that route. How you execute is up to you, but the important thing is that you are thinking with a mind toward gratitude, and encouraging those in your family to do the same. Help your little ones think through this process also so they can begin to understand the concept of Thankfulness.

 

Allison Gagnon- Choicelunch
Preparing our Thankful Leaves

Our “leaves” each year definitely run the gamut in terms of emotional depth. But, really, I sit and think about the gratitude for “Daniel Tiger” and “my morning coffee” and “the weekend – so I don’t have to do homework.” Those gifts, though seemingly inconsequential when compared to some of the bigger gifts we’ve been thankful for like “health,” “a home,” “family and friends,” or “Jesus,” all round out what I believe to be a great lesson in gratitude for all of us this time of year and beyond. And, this, is that all gifts, big or small, have a place at the table in our lives on a daily basis.

After all, “Life is a series of tiny miracles. Notice them.”

Hello There!

My name is Allison! Nurturer Of 4 Remarkable Littles / Married To My Own Modern Day Prince Charming / California Born And Raised / Adventure Seeker / Nature Enthusiast / Memory Maker / Food / Wine / Fashion / Sleep

Join me in the Choicelunch Blog takeover

Categories

Latest Posts