Resolutions!

There are 5 broad categories in which people statistically resolve to improve in the coming year:

 

Health and Wellness

Home

Finances

Family

Faith

There are many "anti-resolutionists" out there, but the thought of a beautifully typed out list of all the ways to better myself, complete with boxes just waiting to be checked, makes me absolutely giddy! 

So without further adieu, here are my 2013 Resolutions:

Health and Wellness: Like most of you, I've got plenty of room for improvement in this category. 

You'd think one's daughter constantly asking if one has a baby in one's tummy when one is NOT pregnant would be motivation enough...

...or perhaps pulling out one's "fat clothes" bin, replacing all "skinny clothes" with said "fat clothes", would light a fire...

...but alas, I am forcing myself into this resolution, kicking and screaming,

out of nothing more than sheer necessity!

 

Get a gym membership, gather some friends, and try my darndest to get my money's worth!!

Home: With 7 years of wife-hood under my belt, I should be a pro in all things "home". 

Unfortunately, this couldn't be further from the truth... just ask my husband! 

As the queen of "all or nothing", I either have an immaculate home, a monthly meal plan, and a perfectly set routine...

...or I am surrounded by chaos, scrounging up dinner at the last second, and unsure of where my day went!

So, while keeping my "all or nothing" tendencies in check, I resolve to:

 

Set up an attainable meal plan and cleaning schedule that I can stick to without giving up!!

 



Finances: We've made a lot of headway in this category, but have more work to do!

 

All the hustle and bustle of the holidays has messed with my budget, and there is nothing I hate more than changing my spreadsheets to accomodate excessive spending!! (I'm so lame!)

 

We are planning to buy a house late summer/early fall and we'll have to be on our best financial behavior until then!

 

One specific way we resolve to improve our finances is to:

 

Be more intentional with our day to day spending!

Family: I've been blessed beyond measure with a loving husband, two adorable kids and and an awesome extended family.

The holidays bring out the best and worst in families.  Thankfully for me, more of the former than the latter! 

But a busy 22 month old who seeks danger and learned the art of escaping from a pack 'n play while staying at Grandma's, doesn't always bring out the best in mama.

I want my kids to remember the times we spent together, not their mama having no patience!

So, my family-based resolution is:

 

Always remember how lucky I am to have the time I have with my kids and husband 

and to use it wisely!

 

Faith: I've saved the best for last! 

 

I'm guilty of constantly failing to give God the time he deserves in my life.  I somehow think that He's the one missing out on a relationship with me, when in reality it's the other way around.

 

In my prayer life, I often play the role of the whiner who only calls when there is a imminent need, instead of taking advantage of the direct line of communication I have with God.

 

I've more than once made the goal to read my Bible cover to cover and have sadly never accomplished it.

 

But this will not be the case in 2013!  In fact, thanks to an inspiring testimony from a friend of mine, I started my Bible reading resolution early and have made it through all four gospels before the New Year has begun!

 

In short (or long) I resolve to:

 

Make my relationship with God the most important aspect of my life - starting my day with Him, talking to Him throughout the day (not just quick prayers before meals and bedtimes), and reading through His Word, in its entirety, in the year 2013!!

 

 

 

 

Breaking the rules

The other day my son was being very quiet and was nowhere in sight... a near guarantee that trouble was brewing.  After a quick sweep of the area he was found hiding out behind the island in our kitchen, marker in hand, surrounded by a masterpiece of squiggles on the linoleum. 

I started trying to edit out all the dirty spots on my kitchen floor and gave up! 
Don't judge me!!

My initial reaction was to snatch the marker from his long piano fingers and silently scream "you little stinker"... but then he smiled so big and pointed to his drawing as if saying "Mom look what I made you!"  I wet a washcloth and ran it over one section, found that it completely wiped away with little to no effort, and handed him back the marker. 

These days, Teddy is usually found near outlets, in toilets, playing with appliances, or banging computer keys, and this easily cleaned up artistic display was a welcome change.  When his mother Natalie saw what he had done she immediately began reprimanding him, "Teddy boy, that is very naughty.  We do not write on the floor with markers, ok sweetie?  Only on paper."  I explained to her that she was right, we don't usually color on the floor, but that mommy said it was ok this time.  She gave me a confused look as I handed her a marker which quickly gave way to a smile as she popped off the top and began drawing suns and flowers on the floor.  On a rainy day when our apartment's cement porch was too wet to draw on with chalk, this impromptu art session on the kitchen floor was the perfect fix.

On a side note, I do recommend explaining boundaries (you CAN draw on floor, you CAN'T draw on carpet, doors, your legs, etc) and making sure to wipe it up shortly after so that you don't have to scrub :)  I gave Natalie a washcloth and said "Cinderella you have chores to do! Just look at this dirty floor!"  She had it cleaned up in 30 seconds and had fun doing it!

Note the marker all over her right leg.  I may have neglected to explain the boundaries...

Because our weather has been consistently gloomy, we have come to embrace this activity over the past few days.  It's like a giant white board of endless possibilities, and Natalie has been tracing letters, shapes and numbers to her heart's content.  We even took it to the cabinet doors, (which I don't recommend if you don't have apartment quality white laminate ones like we do) and Natalie's big eyes conveyed a combination of wonder, disbelief and pure joy!

The moral of this story is based on a piece of advice my mom gave me: Pick your battles.  You could fight with your kids all day long in an effort to get them to do everything right, or you could major on the majors and not sweat the small stuff. 

As the cliche goes, "rules were made to be broken",
so go ahead and let them break them once in while! 

Here are some of our favorites:

Jump on the bed
 

Splash in the tub
 

Eat dessert before dinner
 

Ride a bike (tricycle) in the house

Stay up past bedtime
 

Skip instead of walking
 

Zoom your cart down the aisle like a race car at the store
 

Use outside voices inside
 

Wear dress up clothes outside the house
 

Jump in puddles

Stand at the dinner table

Blow in your straw to make milk bubbles

Throw a ball in the house
 

Climb on the furniture
 

Wear PJs all day and dress up clothes to bed