It can be the best of times. It can be the worst of times. I’m referring to Thanksgiving. Or more specifically Thanksgiving gatherings with extended family… and a heaping helping of dysfunction. I once saw a greeting card that read: “Thanksgiving, bringing out the best in family dysfunction since 1863.” Hey, if you can’t prevent it, you might as well embrace it. In many clans, no Turkey Day celebration would be complete without some family drama. Still, you don’t have to let the feud between Uncle Larry and Cousin Stewart ruin your holiday. Nor should you allow meltdowns by your … Continue reading →

For most families, Thanksgiving activities are traditionally relegated to eating, watching football on TV, napping and talking. Not exactly a fun-filled day if you are a kid. If you are planning to host the Turkey Day spread this year, you might consider including activities to entertain your youngest guests. By doing so you will not only make the holiday a memorable occasion for children, but also, by keeping them busy you can spend more time making merry with adult guests rather than breaking up fights and listening to a chorus of whines. These low-budget kid-friendly crafts will keep your pint-sized … Continue reading →

Last night, our local food bank issued a public plea to area businesses and families who have the ability to help the community’s less fortunate. The non-profit needs monetary and/or food donations immediately or hundreds of needy individuals won’t be able to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal this year. With the economy in the dumpster and millions of moms and dads out of work, it’s no surprise that a record number of parents are being forced to swallow their collective pride and turn to community food banks for assistance. And it’s not just the unemployed who are struggling to prepare … Continue reading →

Kids don’t care how hard you worked to make your Thanksgiving bird look like it flew in from the Food Network. Nor do they care how many hours you spent slaving over your made-from-scratch Pumpkin Persimmon Pie. All they care about is eating as fast as they can so they can go back to playing. Of course, you won’t be able to cook a fraction of your holiday spread if you have a house full of bored kids hanging on your apron strings. In order to ensure your turkey and all the trimmings make it to the table on time … Continue reading →

Thanksgiving is just two weeks away. Are you hosting the Turkey Day celebration this year? Preparing a massive meal for your extended clan is no picnic. Add to that the task of decorating your home for the holiday and you may be wondering if you bit off more than you can chew. With time ticking down to the big day, now is the time to recruit the troops. Get your kids involved in the making simple decorations to embellish your Turkey Day buffet. The following Thanksgiving-themed projects are so easy you can have a houseful made in no time: PAPER … Continue reading →

Who says Thanksgiving is just a day set aside to expand your waistline? If you are a parent, consider using the holiday to broaden your kids’ minds. In many cases children are taught the history of Thanksgiving in class. They get generic lessons about the Mayflower, Plymouth Rock, Pilgrims and Indians, but far less time is spent schooling youngsters about the true meaning of the day—-gratitude. Whereas the first Thanksgiving took place in 1621, when Governor Bradford of the Plymouth colony appointed a day for public praise and prayer after the first harvest, the first national observance didn’t come until … Continue reading →

For kids, Thanksgiving pales in comparison to holidays in which they get to unwrap more than just some silverware from a cloth napkin. In fact, for some youngsters Turkey Day can be downright boring. Save for stuffing herself with bird and her favorite pumpkin pie, my 7-year-old sees the holiday as simply the day before she can start using her red Sharpie to countdown to Christmas on the calendar. Of course, having whiny kids underfoot while trying to prepare a feast for 20 is no picnic for parents either. This is why it pays to be prepared. Keeping children entertained … Continue reading →

Today was the last day of school for many kids in our area. Thanksgiving break is now officially underway. That’s great news for students, but for harried parents trying to prepare their homes for Turkey Day guests having a bunch of bored children underfoot can be a holiday nightmare. If you are looking for ways to preserve your sanity while the kids are home next week, consider these fun Thanksgiving-themed activities that will yield hours of fun and some nifty holiday decorations in the process: HOMEMADE INDIAN CORN Materials: Green and yellow construction paper Scissors Craft glue Dried beans Pencil … Continue reading →