Give Thanks!

Give Thanks

By Allan Olson

It’s hard to believe that it’s getting to be the big holiday season already; with Thanksgiving here this week, it will only be a few weeks until we are celebrating the Christmas holidays and then we start another New Year.

It’s funny how time flies by. At the beginning of the year, we are looking forward to some warmer weather. When that weather finally arrives, we look forward to some less humid temperatures. In all, it’s a cycle that never ends.

This time of year, many families are getting together to celebrate the holiday season, and are appreciative for their short time together. As we get caught up in our daily lives, we often forget about the little things that we should be thankful for.

Personally, I can say I’m thankful for my family. I’m especially thankful for my four children. We might not always see eye to eye – like when I ask them to help out with something and I get a whine in return, I don’t feel appreciated then. However, a random hug or an “I love you, Dad,” from one of the kids can more than make up for those moments of frustration.

I’m thankful for the challenges they present, like the challenge to keep my patience when I’m trying to get some work out of them, or get them ready for bed (the girls especially), or ready for school.

The fights between the siblings, for that I’m thankful (when I’m not annoyed) as it means they are just normal kids, tormenting their siblings.

I can even say I’m thankful for the effort my parents put forth into raising me. Now I might not have been as appreciative at the time as I am today, but with my own faults pouring out in front of me while raising my own children, I can see that I was not always easy to deal with, either.

I’m thankful for the help of some babysitters, in the form of nieces. More than once have they bailed us out of a jam when we needed a babysitter, whether it was when my wife and I were expecting our twins and two of them came to entertain our oldest while I had to work, and then at the same time helped us move to a different home down the street. Or the time when their aunt had pneumonia and a niece took on the duties of babysitting three young kids, at an age where many would think she couldn’t handle those duties. And then there were the countless times they helped us in the shopping malls, or watched our children while we had a night out. These are just a few examples of the many times these fine young ladies stepped up to the plate and batted a homer. For that I am thankful.

To them I owe a mountain of thanks, and someday, perhaps my kids will be able to repay the favor.

I’m thankful for my wife, who as a stay-at-home mom, has perhaps the most thankless and under-paid job in the world. Without her managing the chaos at home, my life would be even more chaotic than it already is.

This weekend and throughout the remainder of the year, I encourage everyone to give thanks, share stories and have some fun with family and friends. Do it throughout the holiday season and beyond.

I, for one, plan on enjoying the food this weekend, in addition to the family and friends who come to celebrate with us. And the best part of the weekend: I don’t have to leave home to do it.

P.S.—The deer apparently didn’t get my memo and did not show up where I was waiting, so that’s it for me this hunting season. There’s always next year.

Thanks for reading, and remember to watch out for those school buses. As always, feel free to drop us a line and/or a photo have a great week. For more of my columns visit: http://allan-crazykids.blogspot.com.