Feb. 24, 2025

How to Practice Gratitude for Your Child’s Health and Life Every Day

This post expands on the key concepts discussed in our podcast episode, #300 Practice EXTREME Gratitude for Your Child’s Life & Health: A Sobering Message. In today’s blog post, I’m diving into the life-changing power of expressing gratitude and how it can truly transform your parenting.

How Expressing Gratitude Can Transform Your Parenting

As moms, we can get caught up in the whirlwind of daily life—feeding kids, running errands, managing tantrums, and juggling a hundred different things.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and frustrated by the constant to-do list.

But what if, instead of focusing on the chaos, we shifted our perspective?

What if we made a conscious choice to focus on what we’re grateful for, especially when it comes to our children?

A Wake-Up Call: Life is Fragile

Recently, a close friend’s one-year-old child became critically ill.

It was a sobering reminder of how quickly life can change.

It made me reflect on our own experience when our daughter was in a serious car accident fifteen years ago.

The fear and shock we felt in that moment made everything else feel so insignificant.

Suddenly, the little frustrations—like spilled milk or missing shoes—didn’t matter anymore. All that mattered was the health of our child.

These experiences remind us that our time with our children is precious.

Life is fragile, and we never know how much time we have. We can get caught up in the stress of daily life, but we must remember that the most important thing is our children’s well-being.

Re-evaluating Priorities: What Really Matters?

When faced with the reality of life’s fragility, everything seems to shift. The things that feel urgent—like the messy kitchen or an unfinished project—don’t hold the same weight. The things that truly matter? Our children’s health, happiness, and the love we share with them.

It’s easy to get irritated with your child’s misbehaviors or to feel frustrated by the little things.

But when we remember how precious life is, we start to appreciate our children for who they are, not just for what they do (or don’t do).

That shift in perspective makes all the difference.

Action Step: Next time you’re feeling frustrated with your child, pause for a moment. Take a deep breath and remind yourself how grateful you are for their health and presence in your life.

Cultivating Extreme Gratitude: A Conscious Choice

Gratitude isn’t just about saying “thank you”—it’s about making a choice every day to focus on the positives, even when life feels hard.

Extreme gratitude means actively seeking out what you’re thankful for, even on the tough days.

When we approach parenting with gratitude, it changes how we interact with our kids. It shifts our responses from irritation to appreciation. It helps us discipline with love, not anger, and to guide our children with kindness, not frustration.

Disciplining with Love: A Gratitude-Based Approach

When our kids misbehave, it’s easy to snap or react from a place of anger. But practicing extreme gratitude allows us to discipline them with love and respect, instead of frustration.

When we correct them with gratitude, we’re not only teaching them better behavior—we’re also reinforcing the importance of love and appreciation in our relationship. This approach builds trust and strengthens the bond we share with them.

Action Step: The next time you need to correct your child, pause and choose love. Instead of reacting in frustration, respond from a place of gratitude. Remind them that your love for them is unconditional, even when their behavior needs to change.

Lessons from Loss: Cherishing Every Moment

We’ve all heard stories of families who faced the devastating loss of a loved one, and those stories often bring us back to the importance of living with intention.

In the podcast, we shared a touching story of a family who expressed deep gratitude for their child’s short life.

While heartbreaking, it serves as a powerful reminder that we can’t take our children for granted. The time we have with them is a gift.

Action Step: Start making intentional memories with your kids. Whether it’s a simple activity, a meaningful conversation, or just some quality time together, don’t wait for the “perfect” moment. The time is now.

Living with Intention: Making Every Moment Count

Intentional living is about making choices that reflect what we value most.

For parents, that means showing up for our kids in meaningful ways, creating special moments, and prioritizing what truly matters—our relationship with them.

It can be easy to get distracted by the busyness of life, but when we live with intention, we’re creating the foundation for deeper connections and lasting memories.

It’s not about doing more—it’s about doing what matters most.

Action Step: Choose to be fully present with your child today. Whether you’re cooking dinner, playing a game, or simply chatting, make it count. Put your phone down and engage with them. Let them know they are your priority.

Suffering: How We Choose to Respond

We all experience pain, loss, and challenges in life. But what matters is how we respond to those challenges.

Do we let them overwhelm us, or do we choose to find meaning and strength in them?

Gratitude can help us navigate life’s difficult moments with more peace and resilience.

When we choose gratitude, even in the midst of suffering, we begin to heal. It helps us turn painful experiences into opportunities for growth and connection with our loved ones.

Action Step: The next time you face a challenge or struggle, take a moment to reflect on what you’re grateful for. Use this practice to guide you through tough moments and help you find strength.

A Call to Action: Start Expressing Gratitude Today

Life is precious, and it’s easy to take our time with our children for granted.

But by practicing extreme gratitude, we can transform our parenting and create a deeper connection with our kids.

Action Step: Start today. Make a list of things you’re grateful for about your children. Then, find one small way to express that gratitude to them—whether it’s through a simple thank you, a hug, or a quiet moment of appreciation. Let this daily practice shape your parenting.

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