Thanksgiving Meal Preparation - A Way Keep Small Hearts and Hands Full

It's the week before Thanksgiving. The boys are talking tradition. Mashed potatoes. Pumpkin pie. We're making a grocery list - fast, wild scratches on a paper on the fridge.

We're planning to come together.

And I want to pull the boys in.

They love to be in the kitchen. Whisking. Whipping. Chopping (don't read this, Mom). But the busy of Thanksgiving morning can be enough to drive a mama mad.

So we have a plan.

A turkey plan.

A plan to keep small hands and hearts full.

                                              How to Make a Fruity, Tasty Turkey

Gather supplies: apples, raisins (it's nice to have gold raisins,too), dried cranberries, toothpicks, and grapes.

Set a work station - close enough for some supervision, far enough to give mama some work space, too.

 

 

Show children how to string raisins and cranberries on toothpicks. Patterns can be fun.

 

 

Press the decorated toothpicks into the back of an apple. These will be the feathers.

String another toothpick and place a grape on the end. Press into the front of the apple. This is the turkey's head.

That's it! The children have a contribution. They're preparing while I'm preparing. (They usually make one for each place setting.)

The boys get the blessing of giving and sharing - bringing something from God's goodness to the Thanksgiving table.

But the blessing of holding my boys close and still giving them space to grow?

That one is all mine.