Thanksgiving has a way of slowing us down—just enough to notice the things we normally move too quickly to see. The way your child’s face lights up when they help mash the potatoes. The laughter around a full table. The quiet moment before everyone wakes up and the house fills with life.
For many families, the holiday season is chaotic, cozy, joyful, stressful… all at once. It’s a time that asks a lot from parents, both emotionally and logistically. But it also offers something powerful: a built-in opportunity to reconnect.

Between school, work, activities, and the everyday rush, it’s easy to slide into “transactional parenting”—managing schedules, reminding, correcting, directing. Thanksgiving break offers a window to shift back into relational parenting: slowing down, tuning in, and strengthening the connection that makes our kids feel safe, seen, and loved.

Here’s how you can use this holiday break to create meaningful moments with your kids—moments that last far longer than turk...