Olive reminds us at dinner, as she does every night now: “Let’s all hold hands!”
We put down our forks, move our plates slightly and reach for each other. “”Ok who starts?” asks Nick.
“Me!” both kids say.
"No me," Olive says and Elias defers.
Olive speaks so softly I have to lean my head towards her to hear. She says something like: “I’m thankful that we are all holding hands and for my whole family, for Mommy and Daddy and me and Elias and Tonsina and for the flowers and the candles and I’m thankful we are all eating dinner, I’m thankful for my yogurt and blueberries and carrots and noodles and that Daddy is eating dinner and Mommy is eating dinner and Lias is eating dinner and I’m eating dinner, ok, I’m done.”
She laughs when she is finished and puts her head down to bite the carrot on her plate, her hands locked in ours.
When it's Elias’s turn he says, “I’m thankful that my Mom is my school counselor. And that I had a good day at school today. And for the flowers and the candles and that we are all holding hands.”
Oh, its hard to stay stressed surrounded by such gratitude!
Kids can really surprise you. Would have loved to be a fly on the wall to see and hear!
Posted by: Mom and Dad | 01/30/2013 at 12:11 PM
I'd like to do this with my family but we are only all together two nights a week! how sad is that? I am thankful that you all do this. a good reminder for me!
Posted by: fleming | 01/30/2013 at 01:36 PM
:) so sweet and so true.
Posted by: Kate | 01/30/2013 at 03:33 PM
Like!
Posted by: Greta | 01/31/2013 at 08:54 PM
I love this!!! :-)
Posted by: Susan Halvor | 02/02/2013 at 09:06 AM