Teaching Gratitude Through Flowers: Notes, Bouquets, & Giving
Nothing says nostalgia like a lunchbox note from mom or dad. Even before you could read, those little hearts or smiley faces had a way of brightening the whole day. Isn’t it amazing how such tiny touches can grow into some of our strongest memories?
As a mom, I try to recreate that same magic for my kids. These days, it’s as simple as drawing little Sharpie stars on their fruit bars- a quiet reminder that home is always with them, even when they’re away.
As a flower farmer, I see bouquets in much the same way: a personal touch, a way of letting someone know I’m thinking of them, and that I care.
One of my biggest hopes as a parent is to instill a spirit of giving in my children. I remember as a little girl, in the heat of summer, my mom asking me to take a glass of iced tea to a man working out on our back deck. My mom was always doing these little things, and never with explanation. I never needed one either! Her small, thoughtful gestures spoke volumes.
That lesson stuck with me: showing others that you care matters. Whether it’s offering a drink to a contractor, welcoming new neighbors, or showing kindness to someone in need, these everyday acts of giving make the world gentler. Now, I’m passing that same example to my children- teaching them that giving our bouquets of flowers is about more than flowers, when given properly.
Here’s one of the simplest ways to practice this with your kids:
Pick up a bouquet of flowers together.
At home, pull it apart and create a few mini bouquets. (Don’t worry about perfection- flowers are always beautiful, and the joyful experience is what matters here.)
Let each child choose one to give to a teacher or special person in their life.
Add a handwritten note if you’d like, even a scribbled letter from a little one will mean the world.
The heart of this practice isn’t in the flowers, it’s in the giving. That’s why I always encourage my children to hand their bouquets over themselves. When they see the smile of genuine appreciation on the receiver’s face, they learn something priceless: the joy of giving. And once they feel that joy, they’ll want to repeat it again and again.
Imagine what a more beautiful world we’d live in if notes, flowers, and little acts of kindness became part of our everyday routine. It starts with us, and it starts with our children.
