Before I ask you my question I want to set scene. You’re a loving parent striving to give your children best life you can offer. You race around household picking up their dirty underwear from under bed, collecting towels from bathroom floor and spend whatever time it takes to knock up their favourite food while one of your children spends fifty percent of their free time surfing net and talking in chat rooms and other catches up on thirty hours of TV a week. Meantime, you…

Well, sometimes you might feel tired. Sometimes deflated. Sometimes unappreciated and perhaps just a tad grumpy! If you relate to any of what I describe then my question will change it all for you and I recommend you read on.

For women, age-old family values still play a big part. Values passed on – mother-to-mother – combine with natural instincts to love, support and nurture. And despite doing a day job you probably still arrive home and strive to take care of your family in way your mother took care of you. But are your mother’s old values working for you and, just as importantly, are they working for your children?

So, here is question…

What kind of children do you want to raise?

Do we want to raise well-rounded, confident, considerate children that show gratitude and appreciation for all that is given to them and just a fraction of what you do for them? Do you want strong, loving children, who understand and accept responsibility for their ‘self’ and ones they love. If you do then I have a second question for you…

Will current behaviour in your household make that happen?

This is usually what comes to mind when we think of Thanksgiving. Granted food is yummy and worth waiting for however, let’s not forget another import aspect of this holiday “Being With Family & Friends”.

Family & Friends, they are what make this wonderful holiday so special, and help create those special memories.

Memories .... Everyone has them and each is precious. I love being with my husband and two beautiful daughters, but I think my favorite remembrances are from long ago. “Nana’s House” This of course was my beloved grandmother, who has been gone from us for many years, but will always be remembered with so much love.

Thanksgiving at her home was best.

Our family is not very big but with sisters, husbands and cousins it seemed like an army. My sister and I looked forward to spending day with our cousins; we always had so much fun.

Of course very best part of day was when nana declared “Time To Eat”. The first order of business was getting seated at “kids” table. Nothing special, just a couple of card tables put together with a paper tablecloth - we were a bit messy - put over them.

Then came food, makes my mouth water now just thinking about it. Please forgive me if I tend to sound just a bit prejudice - everyone’s grandmother is a great cook after all - but in my mind no one could cook like my “Nana”.

The amount of food was horrendous, as I said there where not that many of us but you’d think entire town was there by number of dishes on table.

Everyone had their favorites, mine was turkey & stuffing - I always had a drumstick, and my little sis was a wing girl - although everything else was good, except maybe veggies.