Being Thankful… and Giving Back

give-back

When it comes to the holidays this year, I am determined to make sure my children have a different perspective. Our family went through some major struggles last year and we were on the receiving end of some major help not only during the holiday season, but throughout the past year as well.

This year I am hearing my children talk about turkey and pies and what they want for Christmas. I’d like to reinforce a little bit more. Much was given to us, and we are not out of the woods yet. I’d like my children to remember the kindness so many showed to us, and I want them to pay it forward. So this holiday season, our family is going to make an effort to give back.

It may be common and menial things, but we are going to do them. Pantries are getting cleaned out and food is getting donated. Closets are getting pulled apart and clothes will go as well. I bought a little crafty tree and each day we are going to add a “leaf” saying what we are thankful for. Each kid is going to buy a toy and give to a needy child. We are all going to volunteer our time this holiday season more than once for local nonprofits. We may find other things to do, but you get the jist.

Yes my kids will still get some gifts, but hopefully they will come with a little more appreciation this year. I don’t want them to take what they have for granted ever again. At this time last year we lost health, we lost family, we lost friends, we lost security, and we lost a lot of hope. We were very fortunate to have so many to lift us up and help us recover. We are not 100% yet, but we are stronger and well on our way. I want to remind my children not everyone is that lucky. There are still so many who need help, and we are in a position to do just that. It’s something we should do the entire year, but right now, the holidays are a good place to start.

We are not perfect, but we have been blessed enough to give back a little. I want to make sure my children never forget the love of the community and the people who lifted us up when we were down. I want them to be the ones who do that to others in the same position. I want to teach them to give without expecting anything in return. It’s a tough lesson to enforce when you’ve spent the past year as a family acquiring things just to get back on your feet and survive. But no matter what, there is always someone more in need than you are. If I teach my children anything these next two months, I want it to be to give more than they receive, and I want it to feel just as good as opening any gift on Christmas morning.

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Jen Forsyth
Jen F. lives in Gibsonia, PA and is a mom to three kids. After battling two school districts in seven years for her own autistic son, Jen started The Happier Autism Family, where she became an educational advocate, representing families at IEP and other meetings, and she also empowers parents via public speaking and social media, teaching about education law and what to expect when having special needs children in school. In her spare time, Jen can been seen running like crazy to hockey and dance practices, and posting as many pictures of cats she can find to Facebook.