Small Acts of Kindness You Can Actually Follow Through On

As a mom with a full house, a full schedule, and a to-do list that never seems to shrink, it can feel almost impossible to find time for meaningful gestures of gratitude. It can feel even harder to model them for our kids.

I used to picture myself as the mom who always had a homemade casserole ready for every new neighbor, with little hands beside me crafting gifts for every teacher and coach. After a few years of burnout, and a whole lot of guilt, I finally admitted the truth. There simply is not enough time for all of that.

Our days are full. Feeding everyone, getting them dressed, finding missing shoes, and making it out the door mostly on time often feels like all we can manage. When life is this busy, all the extras fall away, including the thoughtful, giving rhythms we hoped to pass on to our children.

Here’s what I’ve learned; gratitude doesn’t have to be grand. Small acts count, and they count more than we realize. Even in a full season, we can still sprinkle small moments of kindness into our routines in ways our kids can participate in and understand.

Simple Ways to Show Thanks This Season

1. Thankful Notes

A scrap of cardstock with a simple “I am thankful for you” can brighten someone’s day. It’s even sweeter when it’s written in that wobbly and precious kid handwriting.

2. Mini Gratitude Bouquets

Visit your local nursery or flower farm and ask what’s in season. A few stems can be divided into several petite bouquets. They become simple and heartfelt gifts that feel personal without requiring hours of crafting.

3. Doorstep Drops

Pick up a friend’s favorite snack, drink, or coffee and leave it at their doorstep. It’s a quiet and thoughtful gesture that says “I see you” in a way that a delivery service never could.

4. Bonus: Acts of Empathy

If you see someone waiting on the roadside for a tow truck, grab snacks or coloring books for their kids. This one is not exactly a thank you, but it models compassion, and our children absorb that instantly.

A Small Gesture From Our Own Field

This year the kids and I wandered out to the quiet, nearly bare flower field and cut the last stems of eucalyptus before winter claims them. We made only a few small bouquets, nothing elaborate, just simple and fragrant stems tied together.

Each child wrote a tiny “Thankful for you” card for their teachers. Watching those small hands carry bouquets alongside their lunchboxes made me tear up. It wasn’t because the bouquets were fancy. It was because the kids were eager to give them. They woke up excited to share their notes.

It did not require a big project. It took only a moment. A few stems. A handwritten card. And a lot of heart.

Let Kindness Be Easy

If you want even more ease, this is the reason I created our seasonal bouquet memberships at Hive Five Farm. Fresh bouquets delivered straight to your door mean you always have something beautiful on hand. Whether you are gifting a few stems to a neighbor or keeping them for yourself during a busy week, it adds a gentle rhythm of beauty to your home without adding extra tasks.

Gratitude does not need to be grand. Small acts go a long way, especially in the busiest seasons of your life.