I am not what you would call a person who makes resolutions each year. I get far more excited about setting goals or creating a One Word for the year. However, when I set S.M.A.R.T. goals, there are just some things that you can’t measure and a resolution is a better way of incorporating a change into your life.
As a parent I fail everyday. I lose my temper, patience, and sometimes control of what comes out of my mouth. I’m not proud of it. It’s something I work on constantly, as many parents do. Instead of setting goals for more hugs, kisses, and extra snuggles, I decided to create 10 Parenting Resolutions I will be working on in 2015.
- To never ask the question, “How was school today?” My kids have two answers for this question. They are “good” and “ok”. I will now be asking a specific question such as, “What was the funniest thing that happened at school today?” or “What was the worst thing you ate for lunch?” Questions like that are far better to initiate conversation.
- To spend quality time each day with my children. Being a stay at home mom, we have a lot of quantity time, but not necessarily quality time. There’s a difference and I vote for quality.
- To listen more and talk less. I’m a “fixer”. When someone is upset, instead of hearing what happened, I quickly start running my mouth and need to fix a situation that I haven’t heard everything about. This is a resolution that I need to work on with everyone, not just my kids! I also want to listen more before I discipline, yell, or criticize. Those are traits I want to be known for.
- To print more pictures. I take a lot of photos of my family. I print photos one time a year- after our county fair, when the kids send thank you cards to whoever purchased their livestock at the auction. That’s sad…I know it. I used to print a photo book each year to celebrate the highlights of Maddie’s life (back when she was an only child). She still looks at those books. The others have never gotten done. In 2015, I want to make each a photo book of their own for Christmas and to print more photos.
- To pray specifically and individually for each child. Like everything else in life, sometimes my prayer life is rushed. In 2015, I will pray specifically for each child individually.
- To put down my stuff and greet the kids at the door when they get home from school. This isn’t hard and it means a lot.
- To give hugs, kisses, and say “I love you” every day, multiple times.
- To yell less and whisper more to get their attention. I’m a natural yeller. I really don’t like it. This year I will find different ways of getting my point across.
- To stop rushing bedtime. Even though I’m tired, have things to do, and am ready to crash myself, it’s an important time of day. It’s a time to say prayers, give snuggles, giggle, and be happy.
- To continue to have supper every night as a family. This is a big deal in our family. As the kids get older and in more activities, it messes with our family time during meals.
These are my 10 Parenting Resolutions For 2015. Do you set resolutions? Which resolution resonates with you the most? If you have made resolutions, please link up and visit some of my great friends’ posts below!
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This are some wonderful resolutions, many I need to incorporate into MY life. I especially like #3- to STOP being a fixer. I, too, talk and “fix” things that if I just step away, they figure out. I love the photo book idea, too. I found that lately I take a lot of photos of my teen daughter, but not as many as my tween son, it’s just the nature of how it works, but I’m going to work on that more. I really like your goals for the next year.
I definitely resonate with the shouting less! Or moan I should say, I don’t shout too much! The time with my boy is definitely quality as I work full time but sometimes he likes to push me and it’s really hard to enjoy that time! I’m going to try my hardest to moan less when he is pushing me so he doesn’t continue! He’s only 2 🙂
Oh goodness, these are good. And I could certainly stand to work on ALL of them. Thank you for sharing; I’m going to borrow them all 🙂 Well…#7 we do pretty well, actually… 😉 But I think more is better here, too 🙂 Thanks again and good luck to you on your path this year!
These are great resolutions. I should do some of these, too! I especially love having supper together every night. It’s so important!
Hi Joanie! I hope they work well for you! 🙂
I love your focus on parenting! I can really relate to #8 because as a former teacher I can tell you it works! I knew a teacher who did the whisper brilliantly. She never had to raise her voice and her students were always sure to pay close attention to her words. Happy New Year!
I had thought of #5 as well: To pray specifically and individually for each child. They need it and so do I!
–Gena
I love whispering to get their attention!! I’ve done it a few times, and it totally freaks the kiddos out! I’m reimplementing it! Great list 😀
It really does work! 🙂 Good luck with your whispers!
This list makes me excited for when my 6 month old is older. Happy new year!
I definitely agree with not rushing bedtime!!! I’m so tired by the end of the day, but I know it’s an awesome opportunity for quality time with my son :):) Happy New Year!
I am right with you with #9. My son is only 10 months old, but I find that by around 7-8pm I am rushing to get him to sleep. It doesn’t help that I’m not a morning person, but I regardless I need to work on enjoying every moment with him.
I’m a yeller too. I’m going to try to whisper more… maybe that will help. And I agree… it’s easy to rush bed time to get everyone in bed. I’ll work on that too.
Whispering is actually really working well! Best of luck trying it in your household!
These are great goals! I am also a natural yeller, and I am trying to curb that. I also tend to rush bedtime. It is something I am working on. I think my temper overall could use and overhaul 🙂 Cheers to a great 2015!
Those are some really inspiring resolutions. I especially liked the one about making a photo book of each child. I make a yearly album, but it would be really special to make one of each child too.
I don’t have any children, but I love #8! I could use this when communicating with my husband and family. When I get frustrated, I need to remember to speak calmly. Thanks for the reminder!
These are great!
We have started asking how our son helped someone at school that day. It gives him a chance to give us some specifics.
That’s a super idea! I love it!
What great goals! And…don’t beat yourself up to much, Parenting is a learning experience and is never the same two days in a row! Good for you in recognizing the places where you could grow a bit!
I love your list and your blog. I am now an “empty nester” with four young adult “kids” who are married (3 out of 4), ages 25 to 33. I also have two grandchildren. But I pray for all of them every day – and I am trying to listen more and talk less when we do communicate.
This is so me!! I really related to what you wrote, the rushing bedtime, the quality time over quanity, so true!!!! loved it, tweeted it!
Love Mac xx
Thanks! Hopefully we can all improve on these this year! 🙂
OMG I never print pictures and I think I take about a1,000 a year. It’s horrible, I’m going to add this to my list as well! I’m stopping by from The Happiness Blogger link up! I love your parenting resolutions, they are filled with so much love! It’s funny when I started reading that you weren’t going to ask your kids about their day, I was confused and reading on I had to laugh. My son is only three so we haven’t hit the monosyllabic answers yet, luckily.
I am so with you on goal #2. Even though the I am home with my 2 boys all day every day, its like I barely spend time just enjoying them.
Im hoping to work in some balance with them, time together and time apart with each one individually.
Love all your goals, they are REAL.
All the best for 2015
Thank you, Mirika! 🙂
I am guilty of needing to do these things, too. In fact, yesterday I told my husband I need some more ‘me’ time. Not because I’m being selfish, but because I’m with the kids 24/7 that I’m losing focus of the joy of being a mom and starting to feel like it’s a job. If I get some more time from the kids (occasionally, not a regular basis), I won’t get overwhelmed as easy and there will be less tension in the home.
Thanks for sharing your post at Mom’s Morning Coffee linky party!
Brandi, my husband I and have a date night once a week just to get me out of the house! It’s been great for our marriage and my mothering 🙂 If you can make that work, I’d totally recommend it!
I love this! I agree with these and am working on doing them with my own children. I must admit that it takes an inordinate amount of my energy to “do crafts” with my kiddos, but I think it is so important – not only quality time, but allows them to freely and openly learn to express themselves. I just have to give up the perfectionistic part of me for several moments! Great post and thanks for the resolution link-up!
Great List!I especially want to work on number 5 myself. We tend to at times say those general bless my children prayers but I agree that praying specifically for each child in their differences and uniqueness is definitely needed.