Balancing Life This Thanksgiving

Conscious Parenting ~ Balancing Life this Thanksgiving

By Traci L. Williams

Thanksgiving 2020 will likely include change for most people. This year has come with lost jobs, changes in school, sports and even how we do friendships and family. For many, retirement has been impacted, and plans for college and the future as well. In addition, many people have not been able to spend time with their elderly loved ones, some of whom may have passed away during these last several months. There are many reasons to be sad this Thanksgiving.

That being said, while we acknowledge and accept feelings of loss, we want our children to know that sad and happy exist at the same time. We don’t have to be sad all the time when sad things happen. Feelings come and go and they all exist together. When you live in that flow of feelings, you heal each day as you experience the ebb and flow of life. Allowing your heart to feel, and teaching your kids to do the same, is living life fully.

As you plan this Thanksgiving, here are some things to think about:

Is there room at your table for a relative who may be alone? Make some calls and find out who does not have somewhere to go.

Could you bring a plate of food to an elderly neighbor who may not have family close by? (If restrictions are lifted, they may like to join you!)

Ask your kids what they would like to include during this holiday week. You can put time aside to play board games, listen to music, play video games, talk, color, draw, bake, etc. You can find out so much about your kids by participating in their interests. What is everyone’s favorite Thanksgiving dish? Is it possible to include all of them so everyone has something they absolutely love?

Who are you missing? Who are your kids missing? Talk about that. Make phone calls or schedule zoom meetings with family and friends to stay connected over the holiday.

What are the highs and lows for each family member this year? It’s a great way to see what mattered to each person.

What are you and your children grateful for this year and in general?

Support your children as they express their feelings, which may be different than yours. Just being able to talk about things will make a huge difference.

Thanksgiving is a great time for slowing down, reconnecting and reflecting. Create and enjoy family traditions, grieve what was lost, and dive into meaningful time with your kids. Show them how to make the best of a hard year and how to get through the pain that often accompanies it. That is the wisdom they will share with their children one day.

My family and I wish you a blessed Thanksgiving filled with connection, love, joy and peace.

Traci L. Williams is the Founder of A Loving Way to Parent. She is known for her intuitive and practical approach to parenting. Schedule a free 15minute phone consultation to find out how she can support your family! (traci@alovingway.com ~ 951-240-1407 ~ www.alovingway.com)

MSJC Receives Funding to Help Struggling Students Succeed

Mt. San Jacinto College (MSJC) has been named one of 34 California Community Colleges eligible to receive funding from the California Community Colleges Finish Line Scholars Program designed to ensure students can stay on track to complete a degree or certificate, or transfer to a four-year college or university.

Over a five-year period, scholarships and emergency financial aid will be distributed to students at these colleges that are in three regions of California with the lowest percentage of adults who have college degrees. The Inland Empire comprised of Riverside and San Bernardino counties is one of the three regions.

Funding for the current 2020-2021 academic year will be distributed to students as emergency financial aid as they struggle to stay enrolled in the face of an economic crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. Grants of up to $150,000 will be made to the colleges by the Foundation for California Community Colleges. MSJC will be developing a process to distribute its funding.

In future years, the same colleges will be eligible for annual grants to support scholarships and emergency financial aid. • Scholarships of up to $18,500 per year will help students go all-in to reach the finish line of their goal, whether that is to complete a certificate or degree or transfer, and can be used to cover expenses such as textbooks, equipment, transportation, housing and food.

Emergency financial aid will be flexible to help students overcome short-term financial barriers. Up to 20 percent of funds, in future years, can be used for that.