STILLWATER OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE / 9
TURKEY ON THE TABLE
Having a grateful spirit is a good thing .
Teaching the practice of gratitude to kids – that ’ s much harder .
But April George and Kerry Maunus decided that ’ s exactly what they wanted to do with their product , Turkey on the Table .
Now that product has been featured in People magazine , on Good Morning America and almost two dozen other news channels and magazines .
The two moms met when they both lived in California . After dropping their kids off at preschool , they began making a habit of taking a morning walk together .
“ Through those conversations , ( we ) found out that our favorite holiday was Thanksgiving ,” Maunus said . “ There ’ s no gifts to be given or received , and it ’ s more about being with the people you love , being around a table together and pausing .”
And during one of those walks in October 2013 , they both realized something else : they wanted their kids to grow up with an “ instilled gratitude .”
“ When they ’ re growing up in this day and age , and they have immediate gratification on so many things , and we have the means to give them these things , how do we still raise them with a sense of gratitude ?” Maunus said .
They began researching the practice of gratitude , and found that scores of health studies show that practicing gratitude – even for only 15 minutes a day – reduces depression , lessens anxiety , supports heart health , relieves stress and improves sleep . Not to mention making people happier .
George and Maunus ’ goal was to turn thankfulness into a daily routine for themselves and other families . The result was Turkey on the Table – a decorative turkey that can be used as a table centerpiece or holiday decoration .
Each knitted turkey comes with attachable double-sided cardstock feathers for written messages of gratitude , a marker and a companion book , Turkey on the Table : Start a Tradition , Give Thanks & Give Back .
Each day , family members can write on paper feathers that are added to the turkey as Thanksgiving approaches . It ’ s an activity that the whole family can use to express and display their gratitude .
“ We would buy that if it was on the market , and it ’ s not on the market , so ( we thought ) why don ’ t we do that ?” George said .
For two years , they worked on their idea . George and Maunus tried multiple times to create their own turkey , but found that they needed a professional designer . But it wasn ’ t until George ’ s husband came up with a prototype that their idea began to – literally – take shape .
“ My husband saw all the materials laying around our house for months , and he said , ‘ How about I give this a try ?’” George said .
Along with creating the turkey prototype , Maunus and her sister wrote the illustrated children ’ s book Turkey on the Table : Start a Tradition , Give Thanks & Give Back that explained how to use Turkey on the Table during the Thanksgiving season .
Their product went to market in 2015 . That first season , people said they were too
STILLWATER OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE / 9