Have you ever wished you could magically make your children more thankful for everything they have? What about their siblings? Do words of encouragement and gratitude flow from child to child as you'd like? You might not believe how easy it is to encourage gratitude between family members this Thanksgiving season. Try this idea. It works wonders in our family.

At the beginning of every November, I pull out our Thanksgiving boxes. Each has the name of a person in our family. Next to the boxes is a box of blank paper, pens, and a card reading: "Thank you for_____. I appreciate it when _______. I like it when __________." Over the course of the month, each member of the family writes down a thought or two for each other member of the family. They write simple things like "Thank you for playing dolls with me" or get fancier and write something like, "I appreciate when you always remember me when you are away and bring me back a little surprise." Even when my youngest was two and three, she still participated. She couldn't write what she wanted but she told mom or dad and we wrote it down for her. Parents have boxes as well so mom gets to hear what's been on dad's mind all year and vice versa. Then, around the Thanksgiving table, we read the notes aloud and enjoy the contents. It's the highlight of our Thanksgiving meal each year.

Potty training. If you have a toddler, this is on your mind whether you want it to be or not. And, probably, you are stressed over it. You think about all the stories people have been telling you for years either about how their child was trained at three months or how it’s fine to have your 5 year old in diapers. Whatever the thoughts that run through your mind, in general, it’s overwhelming and so easy to feel confused and discouraged even before you even start the process.

Chances are if you feel all this pressure, confusion, and angst, then your child is probably picking up on all the vibes and generally not feeling that positive about the whole process either. Let’s take a step back and look objectively at the whole issue for a moment. Did you stress as much over your child learning to use a spoon? Did you lay awake at night and wonder if he would get it THAT day or worry what your friends would think if he still used his fingers at lunch? Probably not. You gave your child the time, practice, grace, and opportunity to learn at his own pace. You knew that he would eventually learn and you expected that it would happen soon enough. And, why did you do that? It’s because you knew that learning how to use a spoon is just a skill and with time and practice, he would get it when he was ready.

There’s no reason we can’t approach potty training with the same healthy attitude. Our kids deserve it. If we enter into the process matter-of-factly and patiently work with them to acquire this new skill, then everyone wins. There’s no need to compare with other children and their progress and definitely no reason to pressure your child to do anything before he is ready.

Here are some basic tips to help keep things in perspective. Remember, it’s just a developmental milestone, a skill that your child needs to learn. It is not a reflection of you in any way.

1. Spend time talking naturally about bathroom habits. Let them observe you and notice how normal and natural it is.

2. Avoid treats or prizes as much as possible. It’s the success that is the reward.

3. Avoid punishment or criticism.

4. Provide extra fiber and liquid to allow for ample practice.

5. Stay close to home for several days until you both feel comfortable.

6. Once you start, don’t go back to diapers. (naps and nights are okay for awhile longer after daytime dryness).

7. Look for readiness signs: can be dry for a couple hours at a time, notices dryness and wetness, has desire to be dry, can pull pants up and down.

8. When there are successes, encourage your child to own the success. You can and should be proud of his progress but try to keep the focus on his accomplishment, not yours.

9. In the same way, when there are failures (and there naturally will be), don’t be dramatic about it. Just clean up the mess together and try again. It’s just part of the process.

Handy Household Uses

1. Grease splatter reducer. Carefully place a colander upside down over frying foods. The heat can get out, but the grease is largely contained.

2. Warm a serving bowl. I love this one: Set your colander inside a pasta serving bowl, then drain boiling pasta as usual. Instead of running down the drain, the hot water will get the bowl warm and ready for your spaghetti and meatballs.

3. Berry storage. Fruit keeps better when air can circulate all around, and that's especially true for delicate berries. So keep your berries in a colander instead of a plastic container.

4. Bathtub toy scoop. Round up those rubber duckies in no time with a colander. A quick shake drains drips easily, and you can store toys in the colander, too.

5. Play accessory. Kids love to watch anything drain through a colander. I mean anything. Sifting water, small beads, bird seed, sand, or good old-fashioned dirt through a colander works well for keeping kids entertained.

6. Craft template. Whenever you need to draw a circle for a kiddie craft – or any reason, for that matter – the colander is always an easy way to go. Example: make an almost instant face mask. Cut your circle, then punch holes in each side and attach string. Cut holes for eyes and let your child decorate as they wish.

Outdoors Ideas
7. Bug tent. Colanders can't keep tiny bugs off picnic and barbecue spreads, but they will help discourage large flies. So if your platter has no lid and you're in a pinch, grab a colander and pop it upside down over your food.

8. Wind chime. Cleaning out grandma's attic? Don't throw out all those vintage kitchen utensils. As Family Fun magazine demonstrates, kids can make a very cute wind chime with them with only a bit of help from you.

Crafty Interior Projects
9. Lamp shade. An upside down colander makes an eye-catching lamp shade – just be careful not to burn your fingers on the hot metal! An Instructables post shows you how to make a colander into a hanging lamp shade, while Craftzine demonstrates a table lamp version.

10. Holiday display. Heaps of scented pine cones not doing it for you anymore? Want something a little more unexpected for your holiday party centerpiece? AC's craftsters suggest piling a colander full of holiday lights. Presto! An easy, yet whimsical table display.