Grandparenting Through the Holiday Season
by Fay A. Klingler

One thing I’m learning from my “Meridian” readers is that there are many right ways to grandparent. I love to hear about your wonderful experiences. Thank you for sharing.

This month, my column is dedicated to unifying, Thanksgiving crafts and/or traditions. Of course, the most important thing you can do for your family this holiday season is to spread a message of peace, safety, healing, and love. You do that by making a conscious effort to recognize each visitor by name, greet him or her with a smile and, where appropriate, a hug. Prior to your family gatherings, kneel in prayer and request the Spirit’s guidance. Ask that His love be felt in your home, or wherever the get-together(s) is held. Then listen not only to the promptings you receive, but open your ears in compassion as you visit with individuals attending the function.

If you are going to someone else’s home for Thanksgiving, consider presenting the hostess with a gift, possibly a plant or a book. If you give a book, take the time to read it to the grandchildren in the home before you leave. One book I recommend is Grandad’s Prayers of the Earth by Douglas Wood, illustrated by P.J. Lynch. Not only is it a lovely story, the artwork is breathtaking.

Perhaps you have a flair for expressing yourself. Write a poem, revealing your feelings of gratitude for members of your family. Share it, either by reading it or providing a written copy for those in attendance.

On Thanksgiving, Nancy Beck traditionally shares the following declaration by Abraham Lincoln given in 1863 in the middle of the Civil War, stating his desire for a national Thanksgiving Day. From what I understand, this rendition, however, is not accurate. It combines pieces of his “Proclamation Appointing a National Fast Day” (given in March of that year) with parts of his “Thanksgiving Proclamation.” (The “Proclamation Appointing a National Fast Day” can be found here. You will find his “Thanksgiving Proclamation” here. Nonetheless, Nancy’s idea is superb. She prints the proclamation and rolls and ties it with a beautiful, satin ribbon, and puts a copy on the plate of every guest.

“I print it on one page of very nice stationary. I suppose you could assign this to one of the children and have them go creative with pretty autumn leaves, etc. A nice bow makes an interesting 'something' on the table,” wrote Nancy. “Before we bless the food, we have someone at the table who is designated ‘important reader of the document’ read it as others follow along on their documents. It's pretty powerful, and beautiful prayers always follow the reading.”

Nancy hopes this family tradition encourages each guest to appreciate what an inspired man President Lincoln was.

THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATION

Abraham Lincoln
3 October 1863

Possibly each person at your holiday table could share something about the person next to or across the table from them. Before the blessing on the food, each person could take a turn, saying “I am grateful for . . . because . . . . Think about baking muffins, rolls, or biscuits for the holiday meal. In one muffin, roll, or biscuit put a whole walnut (candy or raisin). The individual who gets that special bread would be the first person to express his or her thanks.

Perhaps you could make a gratitude bush, using a real or a fake plant. Guests could write on small papers what they are thankful for. The papers could be hung on the branches of the plant. Another idea would be for guests to bring scrapbook-size pictures (possibly three-dimensional) showing what they are thankful for to hang on the plant.

“Several years ago,” wrote Claudette Borrowman, “I purchased a soup tureen that is shaped like a turkey and also colored like a turkey. We always use it on Thanksgiving Day. The kids love that.” Using familiar items adds to the joy of family members—a special tablecloth, colored plates, or decorations. The tablecloth idea is explained further in The LDS Grandparents’ Idea Book (by Fay A Klingler, published by Spring Creek Book Company), page 127.

One tradition to consider is taking a walk following the holiday meal. Perhaps special walking sticks would be in order. I met a delightful couple from the state of Washington—Rebecca and George Copple. In the fall, Rebecca goes into the woods near her home to cut vine maple sticks. She drys them and sometimes peels them to make marvelous canes or walking sticks for family and friends.

While the adults are cleaning up after the meal, you might provide a holiday craft for the grandchildren. Here are patterns for a turkey door hanger.

Print the turkey body on cardstock and help the children cut it out. They could color or paint it with crayons, watercolors, or washable markers. You could provide googly eyes or buttons to place on the face.

Click to Enlarge

Print the turkey tail on cardstock and help the children cut it out. They could color it or they could glue items to it before attaching it to the body. For the tail, consider using art foam pieces, feathers (real or craft), colored construction paper, dried leaves (real), plant stems, felt, cloth, tongue depressors, or netting. The grandchildren could even add glitter, write something they are grateful for on paper feathers, or include a bow tie at the turkey’s neck.

It may turn out looking like a “turkeycock,” but it will be a grandchild’s treasure and a fun memory of craft making.