Weekend Wisdom, November 18-19th, 2023

My family, especially my mom, loves a good tradition. One of these traditions was born from the changing of our Thanksgiving plans and traditions after my maternal grandparents had passed away and the Thanksgiving feast shifted to my parents’ table. We now have a special Thanksgiving tablecloth on which every attendee at Thanksgiving dinner writes one thing they are thankful for.

After the meal, we go around and read what we added for the year. Not only is it nice to have a conversation about the current year, but it’s also so fun to look back at our previous years’ gratitude offerings.

My now 13-year-old nephew once wrote he was thankful for "big boy undies" and his "beloved puppy water bottle." My husband wrote he was thankful for the "University of Notre Dame’s winning season" and a few years later during a losing season he was thankful that "one of the players was a senior and leaving the team." Of course, there are plenty of more serious offerings as well, including health, healing, simply being together, or notes from loved ones who have since passed on.

As we prepare for the celebration of Thanksgiving in the week ahead, I hope you are finding many things to be grateful for. If this year has been a bit more melancholy for you and your family, here are a few offerings of gratitude from some of our first-grade students to put a smile on your face and give you a little inspiration.

• Mom and Dad

• My puppy and cat

• Family and animals, but mostly my family

• Grandma and Grandpa

• Zebras

• Jesus

• Make-up on my face

• Stuffed animals

• Teachers

• Food

• My friends

Molly Mares

Principal, Notre Dame of De Pere