Memorial Day isn’t just about a long weekend or backyard BBQs—it’s a powerful opportunity to teach our kids about sacrifice, honor, and the true meaning of freedom.

This holiday invites us to pause and reflect on the courageous men and women—both American-born and immigrants—who gave their lives in service to our country. It’s a chance to show our children what it means to live with gratitude, to remember with reverence, and to honor those who came before us by living with compassion and purpose today.

At Fresh Start Family, we approach Memorial Day with reverence and gratitude—for the lives lost, for the families left behind, and for the opportunity we all have to live in a country where courage, dignity, sacrifice … and the compassionate treatment of all, still matter deeply.

Many of us want to celebrate this day by teaching our kids about patriotism and service. While at the same time, many of us feel conflicted—grieving not only the loss of soldiers & lives that war & fighting brings, but also feeling heartbreak over the state of our nation and the struggles we face as a country.

If you’re in that tension, you’re not alone. It’s possible to honor what’s beautiful about America while also acknowledging where we hope to see change and healing in the future. This is the power of the AND we teach here at Fresh Start Family.

One powerful read this Memorial Day is Sharon McMahon’s article, “Memorial Day Was Born From Grief — and Immigration.“ It’s a heartfelt reminder that the history of this day is rooted in mourning, diversity, and resilience, which are TRUE American values.

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Memorial Day Parenting Tips: Teaching Gratitude, Honoring Sacrifice & Embracing Empathy

In addition to remembering fallen heroes, Memorial Day is a meaningful time to model and teach timeless values to our children. Here are three ways to help your family honor this day with heart and purpose:

1. Model Gratitude

Show your children how to express sincere appreciation for those who’ve served—and especially for those who’ve given everything. If you attend a memorial service, visit a military cemetery, catch a special service on tv, or even pass a tribute on display, pause together. Say things like, “We’re so thankful for the people who sacrificed their lives for our freedom,” and explain why it matters.

2. Teach Why Military Sacrifice Is Honorable

Help your kids understand that serving in the military is an act of care for others & one of the most profound forms of bravery. Talk about how military service reflects values like courage, devotion, and love for one’s community. Use “AND” statements to teach nuance:
“It’s okay to feel conflicted about certain parts of our country’s history or modern day decisions AND still deeply honor those who died fighting for its future.”

3. Educate with Inspiring Stories

Share stories of individuals who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect others. These stories can help kids develop empathy and understand that Memorial Day is about real people, both American born & Immigrants – with families, dreams, and hearts full of love for their country.

Here are a few to explore as a family:

• Desmond Doss – A WWII medic who refused to carry a weapon yet saved dozens of lives during the Battle of Okinawa. His bravery was later depicted in Hacksaw Ridge.
• ​Dorothea Dix​ – A fierce advocate for wounded soldiers and mental health reform during the Civil War.
• Joseph Pullitzer – a 17-year-old Hungarian immigrant who came to America during the Civil War, joined the Union Army to fight for his new country, and later became one of the most influential figures in American journalism, founding the Pulitzer Prizes.
  • (***many who fought and died for the United States weren’t born here, but believed deeply in the American dream. Sharon McMahon’s Substack piece, Memorial Day Was Born From Grief — and Immigration, shares powerful history about immigrants who served and sacrificed during the Civil War and beyond.)
• Adrianna Vorderbruggen – a Commander of OSI Expeditionary Detachment who also died in Afghanistan, leading an Airforce team focused on force protection, counterintelligence, and criminal investigations. Adrianna is was the first openly gay American female officer killed in combat.
• Pat Tillman – a young, bright NFL football star who left his lucritive pro-football career to join the military & was later killed in an unfortunate “Friendly Fire” accident that the US military tried to cover up with a false story of hero-ism to promote the war (covered in this documentary). Pat’s story, no matter how he died serving our country is an important one for kids to know about.

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Supporting Families Who Still Serve

As we honor those who gave all, we also want to support the families who are still serving and sacrificing every day. Through our Fresh Start Family Gives Program, we offer FREE tuition to our Foundations Course for active-duty U.S. military families.

Military life can be tough—long deployments, frequent moves, and the emotional toll of service can wear on even the strongest families. This program is our way of giving back and equipping military parents with tools for connection, emotional regulation, and peaceful discipline that work no matter what stage of military life you’re in.

Here’s how to participate or support this initiative:

• Military Families: Join the Gives Waitlist here to receive 100% free tuition to the Foundations Course (valued at $497).
• Supporters: Purchase the Foundations Course here and use coupon code MEMORIALDAY40 through Saturday 5/31 to receive 40% off your tuition—your enrollment helps sponsor a military family in need.

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Why Positive Parenting Tools Matter—Especially for Military Families

We’ve heard from so many military parents who’ve shared how the tools from our Foundations Course helped them:

• Stay connected during stressful times
• Navigate transitions (like moves or deployments) with more grace
• Find practical ways to set boundaries and discipline with compassion
• Rebuild relationships when parenting felt strained or reactive

Here’s what a few ‘Fresh Start Family Gives’ parents had to say:

• Carley: “This course gave me the confidence to start positive parenting regardless of where we were stationed. It works no matter what life throws our way.”
• Megan: “With my husband just back from deployment, life was chaotic. This gave us a framework that helped bedtime battles and daily stress feel more manageable.”
• Sarah: “After moving to a new country, these tools helped me reconnect with my son during a really hard transition. We found our rhythm again.”

This Memorial Day, let’s hold space for the grief, honor the fallen with our hearts wide open, and commit to doing what we can to raise a generation who values courage, compassion, and connection.