A Thanksgiving Lesson from The Sneetches — and from My Mother, Maria...
In an odd way, Dr. Seuss’s The Sneetches; a children’s book about star-bellies, outsiders, and the ridiculous ways we separate ourselves, carries a lesson that’s
painfully human. “Us” and “them.” Stars or no stars. Welcome… or not.
I never read it as a child. I first heard about it from my childhood friend Tia while we were standing in a VIP line at an event. I joked, “I’m not sure we get any better service in this line,” and she smiled and said, “You mean… like the Sneetches?”
“Who?” I asked. And just like that, she introduced me to the book — later sending me a copy to read.
What surprised me most wasn’t the story, but how deeply it reminded me of the home I grew up in.
My mother, Maria, never cared who had a “star” and who didn’t. She believed every person deserved a seat at the table, literally. If you showed up hungry, she made room. If you showed up lonely, she made room. If you showed up with nothing but the clothes on your back, she still made room.
That wasn’t hospitality.
That was her heart.
And it became the heart of Maria’s Italian Kitchen.
This Thanksgiving, make room.
In The Sneetches, it takes chaos, confusion, and an empty wallet before the characters finally understand; our differences don’t matter nearly as much as the way we care for one another.
This season, that message feels more important than ever.
So here’s my Thanksgiving wish; from my family, from our team, and from the legacy of one remarkable woman who taught us all how to love:
Make room at your table.
Make room for someone new.
Someone different.
Someone who needs to feel seen, fed, or simply welcomed.
It doesn’t take a star on your belly to belong. Just an open chair and an open heart.
From our kitchen to yours — Happy Thanksgiving.
May your table be full, and may no one sit alone.
With love and gratitude,
Maddy Alfano
Maria’s Italian Kitchen
