Most parents want their kids to view Thanksgiving as a meaningful event — not just an opportunity to indulge in turkey and mashed potatoes. Unfortunately, most kids’ eyes will glaze over when their parents launch into a lecture about thankfulness. You will likely find better success by emphasizing the value of gratitude all year long. “What do you say?” It’s a question we all ask our young children after someone does something nice for them. This practice instills good manners, but it shouldn’t be confused with teaching gratitude. Imparting the meaning behind the words “thank you” takes something more. If you want grateful children, you need to be grateful parents. Consider how you can incorporate gratitude more into your everyday life. Are you as thankful as you should be? Do you repay favors and write thank-you notes? Do you regularly talk about why you’re so fortunate or what you’re thankful for? Cultivating gratitude in your life sets a good example, and many studies show it benefits your mental health as well. A DAILY DOSE OF GRATITUDE Raising Thankful Children
have been good to us can inspire kids to put their gratitude into action. Doing some yardwork, sharing a toy, or making a painting as a gift can help children understand how powerful it can be to outwardly show our gratitude for the people who are in our lives. Consistency is the most crucial factor, so try to find ways you can incorporate gratitude into your everyday routine. Children of any age can keep a gratitude journal with their parents’ help. Some families also use a gratitude jar where each family member can write what they’re grateful for on a slip of paper and add something different to the jar each week. It’s the perfect way to keep gratitude front and center.
Next, consider how you can encourage your child to reflect on who they’re grateful for. Acts of kindness and returning the favor to those who
These lessons may not sink in immediately, but by cultivating these positive habits in our everyday lives, you will see a big difference in the long run.
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HOW MUCH DOES THE TONGUE OF A BLUE WHALE WEIGH? Blue whales are the largest animal on Earth, and their tongues can weigh around 2.7 tons — as much as an adult elephant. HOW MANY HOURS A DAY DOES A SLOTH SLEEP? You can usually find these slow-moving animals napping in a tree. But their naps last a while. On average, an adult sloth can sleep up to 15–18 hours a day. HOW MANY THOUGHTS DOES A PERSON HAVE IN A DAY? We have about 50,000–70,000 thoughts per day. This means we have about 35–48 thoughts per minute. DO MY INSURANCE BENEFITS ROLL OVER INTO NEXT YEAR? Dental insurance only gives you a certain amount of advantages you can use per year. But if you fail to use all of your benefits by the end of the year, they won’t roll over into 2023. So, don’t waste those benefits! Call us to schedule your appointment today before we’re booked for the end of the year.
Apple Cranberry Crisp
INGREDIENTS
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3 cups peeled and chopped tart apples
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1 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
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1 1/2 cups cranberries
3/4 cup packed brown sugar, divided
1/3 cup butter, cold
Vanilla ice cream (optional)
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 375 F. 2. In a large bowl, combine apples, cranberries, 1/4 cup brown sugar, lemon juice, and cinnamon. 3. Grease an 8-inch baking dish and pour the mixture into it. 4. In a small bowl, mix flour and the remaining brown sugar. Cut in cold butter until the mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle this over the fruit. 5. Bake uncovered for 25–30 minutes or until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbly. If desired, serve with vanilla ice cream and enjoy!
Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
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