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22 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • November 2025 family money WRITTEN BY NIKKI DUCAS With the holidays quickly approaching, what better time is there to talk to children about what they are thankful for and how they can show their gratitude towards others. Teaching children gratitude helps them to feel happier, more satisfied and able to cre- ate more meaningful connections with others. "Paying it forward" keeps the holiday spirit alive by allowing children of all ages to give of themselves in-person or financially. Meriam-Webster defines gratitude as the state of being grateful. It is said that the best way to teach children is to lead by example and to model behavior. Throughout my sons' lives they have seen their father and I volunteer at our church and in our community. They helped serve at our church's senior luncheons before they could read. I believe that because we have instilled servant hearts in them at an early age, they seek volunteer opportunities and are eager to give to charities in their teenage years. Seeing first-hand how grateful people are to receive help really feeds their giving spirit and makes them want to go back again to volunteer or give more finan- cially. Even more so, a note of thankful appreciation or a verbal "thank you" carries so much more meaning to young children. When we give, we do it out of the goodness of our hearts, not for accolades. However, it is still nice to be acknowl- edged when you give of your time and talents or make a monetary donation. Being a boy mom, I have seen first hand how important it is to have positive male role models in their lives. Teens often learn gratitude by observing the actions and attitudes of people in their lives, so their father, grandfathers, uncles and male leaders/mentors in church and scouts have been para- mount to model gratefulness. It is always nice when I am stopped by another mother or father to acknowledge how much my boys show their readiness to display appreciation for and return kindness to others. Gratitude matters most during the holidays because getting wrapped up in the gift giving aspect often puts financial and/or budgetary strains on parents and unnecessary stress on children as they see what others receive that they don't. Alternately, emphasizing the importance of experiences over gifts and encouraging volunteering or donating to the less fortunate in your community will help children to focus on others and be grateful for what they have. So instead of going into 2026 in debt, gather as a family, align your family values, choose an organization or cause to support, and reminisce about favorite experiences you've shared together over the past year. Lastly, be reminded there is no monetary cost of gratitude. The Cost of