As a mother, it’s important to me to convey how appreciative I am of each village member’s part in nurturing my children. Subsequently, we now have a Thanksgiving tradition where we craft a letter of thanks. We list all of our village members: grandparents, aunts, uncles, neighbors, friends, therapists, doctors, specialists, caregivers, and community activists and volunteers who support causes dear to our heart.

We then summarize what we are thankful for from each member. For example, for Grandma, we are thankful that she accommodates her schedule to care for our children during the week. For our family pediatrician, we are thankful for the excellent medical care and peace of mind she provides to our many questions. We then send each person a copy of this letter so they can see how their role in our children’s lives is important and is part of a larger village of care.

This expression of thanks serves both to remind us of our blessings and express our admiration and appreciation to those who make this parenting gig possible.”