Manner's Checklist for Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
OK, so let's not stress.  We have grocery shopping to complete, a house to get clean, and children to turn into little angels before Thursday.  No worries.  We can do this.  Right?
OK, so maybe there's reason for a little stress.  I can't help you with the shopping or cleaning, so let me help with those little dev...I mean angels.  No, we can't completely transform a caterpillar into a butterfly in three days, but these helpful hints will surely get you started.  Let's review with our children the following to ensure a happy, joyful and as little embarrassment as possible at the Thanksgiving Dinner Table.

1. Take a gift to the host.  Whether it's your grandmother, your aunt, or a friend, whose home you are visiting for Thanksgiving, make sure everyone has a small token of appreciation in hand.  The children actually really enjoy this.  It can be a flower, a candle, a special treat or really anything.  It's a polite way to show our loved ones how much we appreciate them helping our holidays become special memories.
2. Make sure everyone is dressed appropriately.  Thanksgiving is special.  It's a meal that we usually bring out the best china and the linen napkins, and we ensure that the table looks beautiful.  To honor such a special occasion, the children should reflect the attitude of the day with appropriate dress.  I'm not saying they need to be in their church clothes, but definitely, "dressy casual."
3. It's not polite to ever announce that we don't like something at the dinner table, but it is especially rude when we are a guest in someone's home.  Let's remind our whole family that absolutely never, never announce our dislikes when we are a guest.  The polite way to handle turning down food that we do not care for is simply, "No thank you."
4. Find ways to compliment the host (cook).  It's really not easy to prepare a Thanksgiving meal with all the "fixins."  Let's give our children an assignment on Thanksgiving, that they have to "hand out" at least 5 sincere compliments on this special day (2 of them going towards the host).  This will be a great challenge that will be fun to discuss at the end of the day.
5. Finally,  send thank you cards.  This is a great occasion to allow our children to practice the art of sending thank you cards.  The day after Thanksgiving, have the whole family sit down and write a little note of appreciation to the host of Thanksgiving.  The host is probably in the bed, recuperating, and will surely appreciate the gesture.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.  We are so blessed to live in America!  I love our country, my family and especially my Savior.  May we all count our many blessings during this week of gratitude.
Sincerely,
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