New Year, new leaf

As another year ends and a new one begins my mind always runs over what we’ve just been through.
I start to replay all the memories we’ve made as a family, all the things we’ve accomplished, how much each child has grown, how much I’ve aged (hahaha), and on and on …
A year really does pass by so quickly, when we look back at photos (on my camera because of course I haven’t printed them out yet!) I see squishier faces and shorter legs, I see experiences we’ve had and places we visited. Lots of smiles and tears from this past year and just so much to appreciate and cherish.
As we look forward to 2018, many of us have goals, wishes, hopes and dreams. Good luck pursuing them.
Below are some common doable New Years Resolutions for parents. Have a look and see if maybe one of these applies to you. Maybe you have a different resolution to share with us or maybe you’re searching for one, either way we’d love to hear from you on our Facebook page.

1. My 2018 goal is to put my phone away. I seem to always have it, checking messages from family and friends, checking emails and just always on the hook available.I try to think about life when my parents were my age and it’s hard to think of a time when people weren’t always available. I think it’s important to be in the moment with your children, experiencing every day and special moments, witnessing expressions, gestures and special moments between children. To do so I have to be present. I have to remember that messages, texts and emails will still be there when the kiddos are in bed.
2. Let your workday end when you leave the office. With phones and tablets so ever-present in our world, employees and employers are always available. My husband tries not to answer text messages from clients or emails from work related people until he gets to work. The beeps are easily muted and everyone will still be there for you in the morning. It helps you to be present with your family when you aren’t thinking about or composing emails.
3. Saying yes more often. Sometimes at the worst moments children ask to play games, or go sliding or colour a picture together – trying to say yes more often might mean that one night instead of cooking supper you’re going to play kerplunk (perfect night for cereal). However you choose to say yes, embrace it.
4. Having more patience. Probably every single parent has this on their resolution list. Kids certainly can try your patience, it could be the constant fighting with siblings, asking the same question tens of thousands of times, forgetting their chores or leaving dirty dishes on the counter. We all resolve to have more patience in the new year. Maybe try counting to 10 before you blow up. It’s a tough one that’s for sure.
5. Making time for more than mom/dad titles. Resolving to ensure you take care of you is a very important, often forgotten resolution. Carve out a chunk of time for you weekly/monthly/daily whatever is possible and stick to it this year. You’re just as important as the other members of your family. Equally important is making time for each other as a couple and not just parents. Hard to find time for everything but balance is key. If you make it your resolution you will work harder to make it happen.
6. Healthy lifestyle. Most of us start out with good intentions whether it be healthier eating or deciding to begin exercising. For some this goal becomes a healthy part of a new lifestyle, for others it gets dropped by the wayside when it doesn’t actually fit into your lifestyle. If this one resonates with you, take the time to change old habits and create new ones to help make your family healthier in the new year.
7. Spreading kindness. There is always someone out there that needs cheering up, needs a pat on the back, goes unnoticed, has no one in their life that could use you. Each week/day/month do something kind for someone else. Done as a family this is a wonderful way to teach respect, empathy and kindness to your children. Not to mention all the feel good moments you’re sure to share doing these good deeds.
8. Okay, I saved my favourite one for last, one of the cutest/coolest resolutions I found is also starting a new tradition. It works like this, in January you start with an empty jar, each week the family sits down to add a note of something good that happened that week. On New Year’s eve you empty the jar and read the good things! How great is this as a way to reflect on each week as a family and sit back and remember all the wonderful moments of the year? We are going to try and do this one this year!
Try to stay away from fad resolutions that aren’t actually going to fit into your lifestyle. Whatever resonates with you that needs a change in your life or you want to change in your life, put your mind to and jump for it this year.
Write it out and stick it on the fridge as a daily reminder and make it happen. We wish you a Happy New Year full of love, good health and many treasured memories.