Ask your kids to give "thanks" at Thanksgiving.

Children can have fun giving thanks - and it's a great habit to learn.

At Thanksgiving try to get your kids involved in the spirit of Thanksgiving. Perhaps this is a good time for your child to write a than you note to her teacher of her coach for the positive influences in her life.

Or maybe even write a close friend to say nothing more than, "thank you for being my friend." The idea is to teach kids to appreciate the wonderful things in life - perhaps the things they otherwise take for granted and say, 'thanks.'

This 'spirit of gratitude' can be made into a fun project with scissors and colored paper for the younger kids and/or try calligraphy pens or a computer designs for the older kids. And no, try to send it snail mail and not email. A physical letter of thanks is not only appreciated more, but it is increasingly rare.

Saying "thank you" is free. But the benefits are worth millions.

Have fun and make it an adventure!

Segway into Family Fun!

One of the biggest attractions to hit the holiday and vacation scene is the Segway Personal Transporter.

What is this? It is a motorized scooter on two wheels that you ride standing up. You might have seen them in a few new movies or for rent at your favorite resort, theme park or holiday spot.

You can ride around an area - peddle-free, and take in the sights and sounds of destination (tours are typically two hours). The Personal Transporters are small enough that you can stop and take a break for a while and then jump back on.

Typically young kids aren't allowed to ride them, and helmets are suggested if not required at most locations.

This is a fun especially for mom and the kids will love it,too. The experience is non-stressful and exciting. Currently segwayguidedtours.com is offering tours in over 350 locations around the world - from Paris and Spain to Chicago and Las Vegas.

Maybe this isn't the year to splurge, but it's always time for an adventure. If you and the kids haven't tried a Segway Human Transporter then you're in for a happy surprise and a great new adventure.

Our Mothers & Grandmothers and the creative spark

"And so our mothers and grandmothers have, more often than not anonymously, handed on the creative spark, the seed of the flower they themselves never hoped to see - or like a sealed letter they could not plainly read."

- Alice Walker

Where would the world be without the undeniable 'creative spark' at Halloween time and the fantastic costumes and creations mothers and grandmothers make.

A big Thank you at Halloween!

The Kids are Alright - The book

Looking for an interesting new book as we head into the chill of November?

Check out, "The Kids are Alright," by the four Welch children. Their father gets killed in a car crash and then three years later their mother gets diagnosed with cancer. After a heroic and horrific fight (on the part of the mother and the children) she dies. The kids end-up being separated and sent to different foster homes (the oldest was 19-years and was considered an adult). The separation was to be worse than the the deaths of their parents.

The story is about love, loss and the power of family. The kids eventually find their way back together and bond over shared and 'unshared' experiences.

Visit their website and look at their family photos. The book is a good case against dividing sibling when they are sent off to foster homes. Perhaps, the book is a great lesson on how children should be treated when tragedy strikes.

A great read for any mother (or non-mother).

The Welch kids web site: http://thekidsareallrightbook.com

Old enough to be my Mama's Mama: Motherhood over 40 years.

Women are having children later in life. In fact, the birthrate for women between the ages of 40 - 44 years has doubled in the last twenty-five years.

One reason is the economic incentive to establish a career first and then settle down to raise children. Or perhaps its a yearning to sow 'wild oats' before committing to long-term motherhood. Whatever the reason. Here are some women who are not only in the 'public eye' but are raising children when may women their age are raising 'grandchildren.'

Beverly D'Angelo is 57 years and is raising twins. A year before turning 50 she had the babies with former Godfather, Al Pacino. Desperate housewife, Marcia Cross, now 47 years, had twins when she was 45-years. Geena Davis also had her first baby after 45 years (and two more). Holly Hunter also had twins at 47 (she is now 51).

Brave? Crazy? Blessed? Only these mothers know for sure.

Rent "Dracula" for the kids

With Halloween around the corner nothing beats the classic, 1931, movie, Dracula. If this old fashion film doesn't get the kids in the spirit for the holiday try other Bela Lugosi movies, such as, the Bride of Frankenstein (1939) and the Bride of the Monster (1956).

Pop a bag of popcorn, grab a cup of hot chocolate, and crawl under the blankets to watch this trilogy of frightening horror movies.

What makes them ever scarier today? It's Bela Lugosi's bithday (born in 1884), and maybe his ghost will come to your home screening, and sit next to you during the movie.

Now that will make a 'memorable' movie night. Spooky, eh Mom?

Parenting by Bette Davis

"If you've never been hated by your child, you've never been a parent."

- Bette Davis (who died today in Paris in 1989).