November 2018 Soto’s Chronicles
DeDe Soto
Protecting your most valuable asset — your family
FROM THE DESK OF DeDe Soto
How a Thanksgiving meal is eaten is just as important as what’s on the table. On Thanksgiving Day, we gather to express gratitude, reflect on the things we are thankful for, and share a communal meal with loved ones. And, almost always, we do it at a “kids table” and a “grown-ups table.” Separating diners by age is tradition for a reason, and it also highlights the difference in the Thanksgiving experience for children and adults. According to data analytics site FiveThirtyEight, Thanksgiving is America’s second- favorite holiday, with only Christmas ranking as more popular. If you were to conduct the same study with children, you’d probably expect the results to be different. Think back to your childhood. Did you prefer Thanksgiving to Halloween? Independence Day? Easter? New Year’s? Probably not. And there’s good reason for that. Thanksgiving’s focus on family, food, and gratitude lacks the kid-friendly appeal of gifts, candy, or fireworks. That doesn’t mean, however, that kids should pass the holiday wallowing in boredom. Done right, Thanksgiving can be a wonderful experience for children, but you have to make a concerted effort to engage them. Here are a few ways to do just that. CONTROL IN THE KITCHEN “Cooking with kids is not just about ingredients, recipes, and cooking,” says gastronomy luminary and fashion icon Guy Fieri. “It’s about harnessing imagination, empowerment, and creativity.” So why not let the little ones in on the culinary journey to Flavortown this year? Nothing will get your kids more excited about a Thanksgiving meal than having a chance to play a role in it. A THANKSGIVING FOR ALL AGES H ow to C reate a K id -F riendly H oliday E xperience
Let me be the first to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving! There are so many things I am grateful for this time of the year. My attitude of gratitude is extended to my family, friends, colleagues, and the wonderful members of my team at the Soto Law Group. I am thankful to spend Thanksgiving in Palm Desert with my husband, wonderful parents, my Aunt Toni, and our friends. As I reflect on this year, I am thankful for many things, including my health. I hope that you find yourself thankful for your good health! And I hope each of you will pause and reflect on the many blessings we have, which includes the freedom to call this country home. With much gratitude, I simple say thank you — I hope you enjoy this Thanksgiving newsletter.
Depending on the size of your kitchen and your ability to navigate the space, it’s up to you to decide whether or not you want children to participate in the cooking
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on Thanksgiving Day itself. Cooking Thanksgiving dinner can be hectic, and there’s no need to add unnecessary stress. What you can do, though, is create a side dish with your kids on the night before or give them very easy-to-accomplish tasks that can be done without supervision. For a lot of children, Thanksgiving is a holiday of waiting around. Allowing them to take part in the cooking process gives them something to do, but it also adds significance to the meal. Everyone playing a role in the assembly of a communal meal is what Thanksgiving’s all about, after all. GRATITUDE GAMIFIED Thanksgiving is the perfect opportunity to teach children about the importance of gratitude and appreciation for others. All too often, we let that opportunity pass by with little more than saying grace and going through the motions. It doesn’t have to be this way.
There are so many fun ways to make your child reflect on who and what they are thankful for. One easy method is to have children spend the morning gathering leaves — though, if you live in a city, you may need to come up with an alternative. Once they have a certain number of leaves, ask the child to distribute them to friends and family members. While doing so, the child can share something they are thankful for with each person. It requires no preparation, costs nothing, and could end up being the most meaningful activity anyone does all day. Of course, it’s also a smart idea to have a few games on hand that the kiddos can play just for fun. You can buy tablecloths that also serve as coloring books, set up a crafts table, or let the kids roam in the backyard, but whatever you do, you have to provide some outlet for them to let loose within reason. NEW TRADITIONS No matter how hard you try, there are certain aspects of Thanksgiving that appeal to adults
more than children. You may love sitting around a table exchanging stories with loved ones you haven’t seen all year, but most 10-year-olds have a different idea of fun. Remember to consider that when you plan your holiday. Attending a turkey trot, scheduling a family football game, or holding an annual three- legged race are all activities that anyone can get a kick out of. Really, you’re only limited by your imagination and the interests of your family. Choose something that will be special and enjoyable for everyone in attendance. Who knows? Future generations may look back on you as the creator of a long-standing Thanksgiving tradition. Crafting a Thanksgiving that children look forward to and can look back on fondly requires a little bit of ingenuity. Put in the effort to create an experience kids will love, and the rewards will be sweeter than even the best piece of apple pie.
EnjoyThese 6 Autumn Activities Fun for the Whole Family!
Throughout November, everyone is eagerly looking forward to Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday, but you shouldn’t let the rest of the month slip past you! Enjoy these other fall activities with the whole family.
HOME-COOKED FOOD When autumn rolls around, pie and warm cider may be high on your list of tasty treats you’re eagerly anticipating. This fall, encourage your family to take part in making annual goodies and sharing themwith your neighbors. Nothing warms the heart more than receiving a loaf of freshly baked pumpkin bread during these increasingly cold days. KNITTED SCARVES If you’re handy with knitting needles, now is the season to put them to work. Hand-knitted scarves are great gifts to give throughout the fall and winter, and you can also make it a family activity! Take some time to teach your kids how to knit and crochet to create scarves of their very own.
HOMEMADE CARAMEL APPLES Homemade treats are no doubt far better than their store-bought counterparts. Try your hand at making your own caramel apples for the whole family to enjoy. You can also add a number of toppings to liven things up, such as nuts, white or milk chocolate, coconut, sprinkles, or pecans. BACKYARD BONFIRE During these cold months, you may be tempted to stay indoors, but heading outside for a bonfire is a great way to spend time with your family while enjoying the brisk weather. If you have a fire pit in your backyard, now is the perfect time to take advantage of it by bundling up with some hot chocolate and s’mores.
AUTUMN ARRANGEMENTS It’s time to get crafty! Creating your own fall arrangements will ensure that your home has the seasonal decorations you want. Making beautiful fall flower arrangements for your kitchen table or wreaths for your front door to greet guests will create the desired autumn vibe you’ve been searching for. MOVIE NIGHT Gather your loved ones in the living roomwith popcorn, blankets, and a great film. Make the most of your autumn evenings by cozying up and spending quality time with each other while watching some family holiday favorites, like“A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving”or the Thanksgiving comedy-drama“Pieces of April.”
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Thanksgiving Prep for the Whole Family
Thanksgiving is more than just a feast; it’s about coming together as a family and being thankful for one another. So why wait to get into the spirit until everyone is seated at the table? Here are a few ways you can make the actual preparation of Thanksgiving dinner fun and engaging for the whole family!
GIVE EVERYONE A ROLE No, not those rolls — yet. Making the feast a family project can turn the day from a hectic list of chores into a magical bonding experience. It’s important to match each family member to a job that best fits their abilities. Young children can mash potatoes or rinse ingredients in the sink. Older kids can take on more responsibility, like measuring ingredients, keeping an eye on timers, and setting the table. Teens and young adults can supervise their younger siblings and cousins in these important tasks and may be called upon to stir what’s on the stove while an adult checks on the football game. ROLL OUT THE DECORATIONS Still not talking about bread . Not everything in Thanksgiving preparation needs to be tied
to the kitchen. Creative family members of all ages can work together to bring some seasonal flare to the dining room. Maybe this means picking up some Thanksgiving coloring books, or perhaps the family can venture outdoors to collect autumn trimmings for crafts. It’s a great way to let each family member put their own personal spin on the holiday! HAVE A ‘ROLLER DERBY’ Finally . While an adult should be the one to put these delicious baked goods in the oven, the whole family can help shape the dough. In fact, Care.com recommends making this a contest. Set aside a time when everyone can vie for the title of Fastest Roll Maker, and you’ll have plenty of warm, flaky, delicious treats come dinnertime.
Letting everyone play a part may take a little more planning and add slightly more chaos to your Thanksgiving preparations. But it’s sure to produce a lot of great memories and bonding moments among your loved ones. And by the time you sit down to eat, you’ll all have something to be thankful for right in front of you—Those. Delicious. Rolls.
Take a Break!
SPICY, CREAMY SWEET POTATOES Ingredients
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5 pounds sweet potatoes 1 cup canned coconut milk
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1/2 cup dark brown sugar 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoonThai red curry paste
1 tablespoon kosher salt
Directions
1. Heat oven to 375 F. On a large sheet pan, bake potatoes until very soft, approximately 75 minutes. 2. Let potatoes cool until they are safe to handle, then peel and mash. 3. In a small saucepan over low heat, combine coconut milk and curry paste. Once mixed, add the mixture, salt, half the sugar, and half the butter to potatoes. 4. 30 minutes before serving, heat oven to 425 F. Spread potatoes in a baking dish, cover with foil, and bake for 20 minutes. 5. Uncover potatoes and dot with remaining butter and sugar. Broil until brown, crusty, and delicious. Serve hot.
Inspired by Food Network
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE From the Desk of DeDe PAGE 1 AThanksgiving ChildrenWill Love PAGE 1 Caramel Apples, Knitting, and Bonfires PAGE 2 Let Kids Play a RoleThis Thanksgiving PAGE 3 Take a Break PAGE 3 Spicy, Creamy Sweet Potatoes PAGE 3 HowThanksgiving Became an Official Holiday! PAGE 4
SARAH HALE
How Thanksgiving Became a National Holiday
Thanksgiving is one of the most popular holidays celebrated throughout the United States. One of the first documented Thanksgiving celebrations took place in 1621, when Plymouth colonists andWampanoag Indians shared a feast together. But the banquet, which celebrated the colonists’first successful harvest, wasn’t just one large meal, nor did it last for only one day; in fact, the feast lasted for three days.
He used this to speak to his fellow American citizens about the Revolution’s satisfactory conclusion and encouraged them to show their thanks for the freedoms they gained. Thanksgiving became a national holiday more than 200 years after its first celebration. It gained this status largely due to the persistence of a woman named Sarah Josepha Hale. Hale was a successful magazine editor, prolific writer of novels and poems, and author of the famous nursery rhyme“Mary Had a Little Lamb,”which was first published in her 1830 collection entitled“Poems for Our Children.”
President Abraham Lincoln finally declared it a national holiday, hoping that it would help heal the wounds of the country. Lincoln decided that the holiday would take place on the last Thursday of November. It was celebrated on that day until 1939, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved Thanksgiving a week earlier in the hopes of increasing retail sales during the Great Depression. However, this plan was very unpopular, and in 1941, the president reluctantly signed a bill making Thanksgiving the fourth Thursday in November. Without the efforts of Sarah Hale, we might not have the pleasure of the Thanksgiving feast we know and love to this day. This year, give thanks for family, good food, and the resolve of one woman who recognized the importance of Thanksgiving as a national holiday.
In later years, Thanksgiving also lasted for longer than a single meal. During the time of the American Revolution, the Continental Congress chose several days throughout the year to celebrate giving thanks. Then, in 1789, GeorgeWashington made the U.S. national government’s first Thanksgiving proclamation.
In 1827, Hale began a campaign to make Thanksgiving a national holiday. For the next 36 years, she wrote numerous editorials and countless letters to state and federal officials expressing her desire that it gain official status. In 1863, in the midst of the Civil War,
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For more information: Call: 888-735-7686 | www.TheSotoLawGroup.com | DeDe@thesotolawgroup.com For more information: Call: 888-735-7686 | www.TheSotoLawGroup.com | DeDe@thesotolawgroup.com
DO YOU HAVE THE FIVE KEY ESTATE PLANNING DOCUMENTS? A will is simply a set of instructions on how to distribute your assets to loved ones and charities upon your death. Be aware, however, that a Will alone does not cover any specific beneficiary designations you have made on investment and retirement accounts. So, for example, if you IRA account has your son Jimmy as the beneficiary, but your Will has your daughter Suzie, receiving the account assets, Jimmy will get the assets. However, this will not avoid the costs and delays of probate. 1. WILL If your children are minor, you’ve probably thought about who would raise them, if for some reason you or another parent couldn’t. It’s not an easy thing to consider, but with a simple arrangement of a guardian in your will and on a separate document (easily accessible) you can have peace of mind, in the extremely unlikely event you can’t raise your children, they will be well cared for by the people you trust(see website for more information regarding Guardianship under Protection for your Children). 2. GUARDIANSHIP
3. REVOCABLE LIVING TRUST (EVEN IF YOU ARE INCAPACITATED)
This document provides for management of financial affairs during your lifetime (even if you incapacitated), upon your death and for future generations. This trust helps your estate avoid probate, lessening the risk of personal information becoming public record and all the fees associated with probate.
You name another person to act on your behalf, with limited or broad powers, as you see fit. Choose carefully because, in general, this person can buy and sell your assets. A “durable” power lets someone act on your behalf if you are disabled and terminates on your death. 4. DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY
These documents authorize a person you designate to make medical decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated, providing a path to avoid family conflicts and possible court interventions. Your Directive will lay out your wishes regarding the use of life-sustaining measures in the event of terminal illness or if you are unable to make your own medical decisions. It’s best used in tandem with your health care power of attorney and a HIPPA release. 5. HEALTH CARE POWER OF ATTORNEY/HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE/ HIPPA
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