Happy Thanksgiving Week

In America, this is the week most people start preparing for Thanksgiving. Traditions are followed with favorite family foods, visits from friends and family. In the last few decades, more consumerism has crept into this family oriented holiday. As caregivers for family members, we sometimes wonder how much of this tradition we are able to maintain. Do we continue with the enormous fancy meal? Do we prepare a simpler and sometimes healthier version of a family favorite? Will it continue to be the family favorite? Do we include the older family members in the preparations? How do we include the younger family members to become an integral part of this celebration? There are some 40 and 50 year-old people who are eager to visit parents as the parents and grandparents continue to work tirelessly preparing this annual dinner. When do they graduate to assisting with this tradition? As this week of giving thanks emerges, let us thank our loved ones and share with our elders. This includes learning the family secrets and getting your hands into the mix. Some family history might be learned and so much more for continued thanksgiving.