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Perspective on Thanksgiving changes after children come
Before: Moosewood; After: Butterball
By Debbie Farmer
I never intended to tell you anything about this, but since I became an adult I discovered that the meaning of Thanksgiving sure isn't what it used to be. When I was younger, I remember receiving the inevitable homework assignment to write an essay on "something I am thankful for." Then I'd spend a lot of time sitting in my room trying to figure out just what in the world that could possibly be, and I'd end up writing down everything I could think of from God to environmental consciousness.
But after having children, my priorities clearly changed.
Before children: I was thankful to have been born in the United States of America, the most powerful free democracy in the world.
After children: I am thankful for Velcro tennis shoes. As well as saving valuable time, now I can hear the sound of my son taking off his shoes--which gives me three extra seconds to activate the safety locks on the back windows right before he hurls them out of the car and onto the freeway.
Before children: I was thankful for the recycling program, which will preserve our natural resources and prevent the overflowing of landfills.
After children: I am thankful for swim diapers because every time my son wanders into water in plain disposables, he ends up wearing a blimp the size of New Jersey on his bottom.
Before children: I was thankful for fresh, organic vegetables.
After children: I am thankful for micro-wavable macaroni and cheese, without which my children would be surviving on three bites of cereal and their own spit.
Before children: I was thankful for the opportunity to obtain a college education and have a higher quality of life than my ancestors.
After children: I am thankful to finish a thought without being interrupted.
Before children: I was thankful for holistic medicine and natural herbs.
After children: I am thankful for any pediatric cough syrup guaranteed to "cause drowsiness" in young children.
Before children: I was thankful for all of the teachers who had taught, encouraged and nurtured me throughout my formative years.
After children: I am thankful for all of the people at Weight Watchers who let me strip down to pantyhose and a strategically placed scarf before getting on the scale each week.
Before children: I was thankful for the opportunity to vacation in exotic foreign countries, so I could experience a different way of life in a new culture.
After children: I am thankful to have time to make it all the way down the driveway to get the mail.
Before children: I was thankful for the Moosewood Vegetarian Cookbook.
After children: I am thankful for the Butterball turkey hotline.
Before children: I was thankful for a cozy home to share with my loved ones.
After children: I am thankful for the lock on the bathroom door.
Before children: I was thankful for material objects like custom furniture, a nice car and trendy clothes.
After children: I am thankful when the baby spits up and misses my good shoes.
Before children: I was thankful for my wonderful family.
After children: I am thankful for my wonderful family.
Debbie Farmer can be reached at familydaze@home.com.
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Willow Glen, California Since 1992
