When we reflect on the Thanksgiving celebrations from our childhoods, many different things come to mind. The long drives to the relatives house, massive Thanksgiving feasts, watching football games, it is amazing how often our memories can be so similar. Some of my fondest childhood Thanksgiving memories involve sitting at the “kids' table” it was the place where we were sent to spend the meal while the adults had what was always a more serious meal around the main table.
The kid’s table sat adjacent to the adult’s table. Their table was a nice wooden table, a very distinguished table. There the adults gathered to laugh, discuss (or gossip) about family, argue about politics, or just feed their faces with turkey, dressing and more.
The kid’s table was this little, folding table or a couple of your mom's end tables from the living room squeezed together with a plastic tablecloth thrown over top. And those hideous chairs... the chairs were the worst part. Piecemealed seats gathered from different rooms in the house and sometimes a few metal lawn chairs dragged in from the garage. Not exactly dinner at The Ritz.
As a child, you were placed at the kid’s table for an indeterminate amount of time. Your only means of making it to the adult table is if a relative does not show up for the holidays or you graduate college.
The best dishes, crystal glasses, and elegant linens were placed on the grown-up table. The kid's table was set with the everyday dishes, plastic cups, and lots of paper napkins. The grown-ups feasted on large platters of the choicest cuts of turkey and ham, huge bowls of creamy potatoes, savory sauces, fresh vegetables, and real cranberries. The grown-ups engaged in animated conversations, sharing family stories, discussing important current events and politics. At the kids table my time was spent judging burp contests, joking with my brothers and cousins and passing vegetables to the dog when no one was looking.
Thanksgiving is the perfect holiday to teach kids the importance of family and giving. Before banishing them to the kids table this year get them involved in your holiday celebration by letting them prepare a dish, set the table or greet guests as they arrive for dinner.
Adults can also teach youth the spirit of Thanksgiving by participating in activities before the big day. Teach kids how to give by creating a Thanksgiving basket and giving it to a family in need. Sit down with the young person in your life and have them make a list of items they would like to include in the basket. Visit a local supermarket and shop for the items on your list together. Neatly arrange the food in the basket and deliver it to a family of choice.
You can also teach kids how to give by volunteering to serve dinner to people in need. Most community centers and places of worship in Porter County will serve dinners to the community during the Thanksgiving holiday. Check your local newspaper for notices on volunteer opportunities. Happy Thanksgiving from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County!
The opinions expressed solely are those of the writer. Jennifer Wright is the director of resource development for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County
