Caring for Kids

An Accredited Organization of Parents Anonymous ® Inc.

by Imelda Tatsch

Here we are at the middle of November already. We know that it must be time for Thanksgiving because everyone is decorating for Christmas. It’s not just in the stores anymore; I have passed houses with a fully decorated Christmas tree in the window. Personally I love Thanksgiving and would like to see it honored more fully, and not just a prelude to Christmas.

For me, Thanksgiving means coming together with the family sharing food and eating an entire weeks worth of calories in one sitting, but hey it’s just once a year right? But the important element is family, and that maybe the very reason it is skipped over more now. The family unit has changed. Many families are separated for a number of reasons and grandma doesn’t live just around the corner anymore.

We live in a small community that most would call “Small town America” where everybody knows everybody or are related, and yet there are many young families, and I’m sure older as well, that have no relatives close by. Many are struggling to manage without the benefit of extended family to help them through the tough times. This is not just about the Thanksgiving meal but everyday meals and basic necessities that many of us take for granted.

This is the time of year when we at te NorthEast Texas Child Advocacy Center begin to get calls from those in need; some looking for work on the verge of eviction, another with a newborn and children with needs for warmer clothes. We usually turn them to the churches, which are fast becoming tapped out.

If you are so blessed to have family and close friends around you, be thankful and tell them how blessed you feel to have them. Then maybe take a look around the community for those who may be in need. If you can, lend a helping hand -- not a handout but a hand up.

Nothing makes you feel as good as knowing you have helped make someone’s day a little brighter and their life a bit easier.

I believe children are the most honest people on earth, so I love to hear what they have to say about life. I searched the internet and found a few quotes from children about Thanksgiving. Enjoy….
Have a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving !!!! .

“A Kids-Eye-View of Thanksgiving”
The Bible says in Psalm 8:2, “ From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise…” So we surveyed children in our children’s ministry to get their “kids-eye-view” on Thanksgiving. Enjoy!! [Note: Original spelling is included!]
“Why do we celebrate Thanksgiving?”
“Becuss it is fun” Aidan
“Because Jesus died on the cross” Aaron
“We are thankful for food and stuff and thankful we survived the winter” Emilee
“It’s the day that Calufonu (California?) was made.” Bella
“I have no idea” Anthony
“It’s God’s birthday” Kylie
“Because it’s going to be Christmas” Hunter
“On the first Thanksgiving, the Pilgrims ate…”
“…fruit” Jessica
“…porrige” Kylie
“…with the indins and ate treky” Stephen
“…fish, ducks, bread and soup and cake or cookies maybe.” Autumn
“If I was a turkey on Thanksgiving I’d…”
“…run for my life and grab a rifle” Lloyd
“…I would color myself purpel” Meg
“…starve myself” Clay
“…run in circles” Hannah
“…peck people” Sonora
“…eat donnuts” Jessica
“…run away to the jungle” Emilee
“This is how my mom cooks our turkey…”
“She has my Grandma do it” Arielle
“She stuffs it & cooks it, as far as I know.” Riley
“She puts it in the oven. Does it for 2 minutes. Then puts it on a barbecue then asks Dad to cook it. Then she goes into the house and takes care of everything else.” Emilee
“…just rite.” Lauren
“She takes the guts out and stuffs it with rice.” Lexi
“She spits on it and takes it to the BBQ. Dad does the rest.” No name
“She buys a pizza.” Hunter

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Imelda Tatsch is the Program Director at the Northeast Texas Child Advocacy Center (NETCAC) located in Winnsboro, and her columns appear in their bi-monthly newsletter. In "Caring for Kids" she offers support, insight, and a touch of humor for parents and grandparents. She is a trained facilitator for parenting classes.

She will be happy to answer questions about parenting and family relationships. You can e-mail her with your questions.