WebParenTips - The Online Parenting Newsletter vol.5 no.11, Nov 2004 

              HAVE A FAMILY THANKSGIVING

I made a lot of dumb parenting mistakes when I was raising
my children. One of these mistakes had to do with Thanksgiving
so I will share it with you hoping you will learn from it and
0not repeat it.

All moms are busy but I was super busy with two small children
and a demanding full-time job running a hospital pediatric
department. But, hey, every mom knows she is supposed to go all
out for Thanksgiving. After all it's a feast.

The mistake I made was to worry so much about the food and the
festivities and the flowers and what our guests would think if
everything wasn't perfect that I ignored my kids that day. I
remember my daughter crying as though her heart was breaking for
my attention, and sobbing, "You care more about the turkey than me!"

I figured out later how I could have avoided this particular DPM
(dumb parenting mistake).

First, lose that tendency toward perfection most women have
lurking in their psyches somewhere.

Second, get help by asking guests to bring a dish or buying
items like pies.

Third, involve the children in the planning, table
decorations, and cooking. If children are involved they own a
piece of the holiday, it's not your solo performance.

So concentrate on your family togetherness on this holiday,
not on how perfect a meal you can prepare.

Happy Thanksgiving!


Happy Parenting,
Marilyn Heins, M.D.


NOTE: There are New ParenTips on the website. See:

ParenTips


For comments, suggestions or requests for future topics
please write: 
info@parentkidsright.com


=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Dr. Marilyn Heins is a Tucson pediatrician, parenting
columnist for the Arizona Daily Star, author of the book,
ParenTips, as well as a mother, stepmother and grandmother.

She is available for workshops and lectures to groups of
parents, teachers, and grandparents. See:

Dr. Heins' Lectures
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=


Subscribe to WebParenTips


STOP receiving WebParenTips

More parenting information can be found in

Dr. Heins' book, ParenTips