Rexanne's Web Review
Web Sites & Insights

Issue #103 - November 1, 2006

Brought to You By: Rexanne.com

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Welcome all newcomers and faithful readers!

November brings the holidays around full force. This month, in the U.S.A., we are celebrating Thanksgiving Day on the last Thursday of the month. I decided to write about gratitude in our parenting topic of the month and will bring the discussion to our forum as well where your input is needed. Our children are being labeled the "entitlement generation" and I'd love to try and turn that around. Do you have ideas and feedback on this month's topic? Please join the conversation and contribute: Entitlement & Gratitude

And everything you'll need for Thanksgiving feasts, fun and blessings is on my Thanksgiving page: Rexanne's Thanksgiving

Wishing all my American readers a very Happy Thanksgiving and a great November to everyone!

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Reader's Comments:

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Dana wrote:

"Dear Rexanne,

I (sadly) just found your site today. The only reason I am sad, I can't believe I have been missing this GREAT site!!! Oh my gosh, this is the best! I can't believe I have never seen it. I either need new friends or sadly they are missing this site too! This is so well done, fun, informative and just a blessing! Love ya! Thanks for your hard work, you should be proud.

P.S. Feel free to send this to your mother!"

Dana, you made my day with your very sweet email. Thank you! And I did send it to my mother ... she replied that with fans like you, I didn't need relatives! LOL

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Responses and reader comments from our topic of last month (bullies) can be found here: Bullies & Bullying

Please continue adding your input to all forum topics!
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OK, here's the scoop:

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Quote of the Month: Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others. - Cicero

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Supporting the sponsors and advertisers in Rexanne's Web Review keeps this newsletter alive. A portion of revenue is donated to various charities and each advertiser has Rexanne's Seal of Approval. Please visit them today.

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This Month's Web Review Sponsored By: Uncommon Goods

For a great start to your holiday gift shopping, visit Uncommon Goods for truly unique, fun and very cool gifts for men, women, children and babies. I love this store and always start my Christmas shopping at Uncommon Goods. You'll also be happy with their selection and great customer service.

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Parenting & Family Topic of the Month: Teaching Children Gratitude

I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s heard people say we’re raising a generation of children with entitlement issues. And yes, I’ve noticed it, too. Why do you suppose our kids have this label?

I think it comes down to their expectations. When children are handed everything they want, without regard for the complexities of where these possessions and/or advantages came from, they are going to naturally feel entitled. I will freely admit I have contributed to this generational snafu … I can’t give my kids enough and they are regaled with things and advantages as best I can supply.

So how do we counter the entitlement attitude? I think we need to teach our children gratitude. Maybe we even need to learn gratitude ourselves.

Gratitude can take many forms. From learning to recognize and appreciate life with a spiritual viewpoint to teaching children that sending thank you cards for birthday and other presents is essential. Children need to learn basic humility in order to understand that life doesn’t owe them everything they could possibly want or desire. They need to understand that when they are given a gift or an advantage, there is a sacrifice made by the giver, be it small or huge and they need to recognize that these gifts are not their birth right. If Mom or Dad buys Sally a pricy but coveted doll for Christmas, Sally needs to understand the value and intention behind the gift, not that she will always get what she wants just because she wants it. I suppose the tradition of Santa’s naughty and nice list was meant to teach children this important lesson … expectations of good behavior, integrity, honesty, kindness (whatever) need to be met in order to reap the rewards of being “good” or meeting parental and social expectations.

This month, in the U.S.A., we celebrate Thanksgiving Day on the last Thursday of the month. The tradition is an excellent example of gratitude and of the importance of being grateful for our good fortune and for everything good and rewarding in our lives. While we do not normally say grace before meals in our home, we always say grace before Thanksgiving dinner. Our tradition is for everyone at the table to hold hands and each person has an opportunity to say what they’re grateful for. For the very young, this could manifest in “I’m grateful for my puppy” or “I’m grateful for having passed my math test last week.” It doesn’t really matter what children choose to be grateful for, it matters that they learn to be grateful and to appreciate good fortune and benefits when they occur. In essence, they learn that life is not all about just them and that life and life’s goodness is a gift, not something to be expected or taken for granted. This teaches kids humility, which is not the same as false modesty or denial of how wonderful and special they are. Humility is a sense of gratitude for life’s blessings, awareness that life can be difficult at times but that the good times, family and loved ones are to be cherished.

I would like to challenge all our parent readers to counter the attitude of entitlement in our children today. Teach them that life and life’s bounty is to be cherished, appreciated and honored for the gift it is.

Your input and ideas on entitlement and gratitude can help us and parents everywhere get handle on this issue. Please contribute to the discussion on our forum this month: Entitlement & Gratitude

Copyright – 2006 – Rexanne Mancini
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Rexanne Mancini is the mother of two daughters, Justice and Liberty. She is a novelist, freelance writer and maintains an extensive yet informal parenting and family web site, Rexanne.com -Visit her site for good advice, award-winning Internet holiday pages and some humor to help you cope. Subscribe to her free newsletter, Rexanne’s Web Review, for a monthly dose of Rexanne: Rexanne's Web Review
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Add your ideas and input about gratitude and entitlement issues in our kids in our forum's topic of the month:

Know of a good parenting or family site your fellow readers might enjoy or do you have a topic you'd like to see covered in this section? Please send your ideas in for possible publication in an upcoming issue:  Parenting Site

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Food & Cooking Site of the Month: Oreo Turkeys

Pumpkin pie is great but a special Thanksgiving treat for the munchkins is fun and these Oreo turkeys are so clever and cute, I wanted to feature them in this spot. Besides, you'll find plenty of recipes and cooking site links on my Thanksgiving page.:-)

All you'll need to make these darling, delicious treats is Oreo cookies, candy corn and Hershey chocolate kisses. They'll look great on your desert table and little kids will love them!

Bon Appetit!

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Advertisement: Thanksgiving Tableware and Party Supplies

Find Thanksgiving paper plates, table covers, napkins, cups, guest towels, etc.

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Kid's Site of the Month: Autumn Jigsaw Puzzles

Kids of all ages (yes, even adults!) can work these classic fall scene puzzles online. Each puzzle can be customized for any age, starting with the easy 20 piece mode for our littlest puzzlers and up to 247 pieces for the more experienced puzzler:

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Freebie of the Month: Thanksgiving Place Cards

I use these every year. My kids cut them out and fill in the names so we'll have designated seating before the rush for the table happens. They're super cute and will add an additional touch of colorful decoration to your Thanksgiving table:

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Advertisement: Sur La Table

If you haven't yet discovered this great kitchen and home store, visit Sur La Table today and fall in love with their awesome table, kitchen, home decor, serving and kitchen merchandise. I used to shop this store by traveling 20 miles to the nearest Sur La Table but now I can find all their great merchandise online and save the trip and the price of gas. Online shopping is the best! :-) 

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Tip or Trick of the Month: Thanksgiving Help Lines

These are great to stick on the refrigerator while preparing and cooking your Thanksgiving feast. If you get into trouble, there are live helpers available to ease your pain and help you avoid kitchen disasters:

- Butterball Turkey Hotline - 1-800-323-4848


- Reynolds Turkey Hotline - 1-800-745-4000


- USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline - 1-800-535-4555


- USDA Poultry Hot Line: 800-535-4555


- Land O'Lakes Bake Line 1-800-782-9606


Have a tip or trick your fellow readers would enjoy or could use? Please send it in for possible publication in one of the next issues: Tips

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Time Waster of the Month: Slingo
(Because life is supposed to be fun!)

Anyone who's been an AOL subscriber probably remembers the popular Slingo, a solitaire game combining the excitement of slots and bingo, and that was exclusive to AOL members for far too long. Now, you can play the ever-addictive Slingo on Pogo with all the same features and fun..

Feed the kids first ...

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Featured Site of the Month: Thanksgiving Gracious Graces

This page features a collection of graces for Thanksgiving. Pick one to add to your tradition or re-word one to fit your lifestyle and beliefs.

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Advertisement: Rexanne's Christmas Mall

It's time to begin buying Christmas gifts and putting a dent in that shopping list!

My Christmas mall is designed to make your gift buying as easy and fun as possible, with gift guides for men, women, babies, children, teenagers and general gifts suitable for anyone, including teachers and pets. All featured merchants and stores are secure, honest and guaranteed to offer outstanding products, service and secure online shopping.

As always, if you have an irresolvable issue with any merchant found on my site, I can help you resolve it usually much easier than not and I absolutely want to know if you are not completely satisfied with any online transaction made through my site.

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