Happy New Year
Oh my goodness, it's been so long since I updated. Not for lack of material -- just lack of time. So many times over the holiday I thought "oh I have to write about this" and was too busy and forgot what I was going to write about. OK, so maybe I should amend "lack of time" to "lack of time and forgetfulness (due to lack of time)." Sigh. Just another in a growing list of things I want to do differently for the New Year.
Christmas came and went in a flurry and I still have no idea when it happened. Between my business, kikibOnan (shameless plug), to my little part-time job, to another freelance project I picked up...all thinking they would give me a little extra money over the holidays and who couldn't use that? Except I didn't count on them sucking away so much of my time that I wouldn't get the chance to enjoy the wonders of this season, and especially the wonders of little ones during the season. As a result, I've been thinking a lot about my resolutions this year. REAL resolutions to make life better. HEARTFELT resolutions to make both me and my little family happier. I'm seeking fulfillment, and enjoyment, and quality.
So here goes.
1. Raise my voice less. I don't like it, the kids don't like it, and it doesn't work. Well, sometimes it does. But only when it's not an every day thing. My daughter, who as anyone near and dear to me knows, is my challenging child. If I can get through to her best by being calm, firm and unflappable, then it'll work for my others too. No matter how frustrated I get.
2. Find quality family time. My kids are getting to an age of independence and curiosity. They can entertain themselves, they know not to touch electric outlets and household chemicals, they're not going to toddle into sharp corners. We have been slowly un-baby-proofing our house and it feels good. Now we have to un-baby-proof our family time. I'm discovering that I love just hanging out with my 8-year-old son, telling jokes. I love asking my 6-year-old daughter for her style advice (remarkably, she's never steered me wrong). My 3-year-old wants to be as big as the others, and he's getting there sooner than I'd like, so for now, I'm just going to hold him and carry him at every opportunity I can before he won't let me anymore. Sigh.
3. Pursue my passions. I have a great business that lets me be creative and independent, and we've grown so much over the last year (insert delighted shock and surprise). It's not the most financially lucrative of my projects (YET), but it's by far the most fulfilling and fun. Speaking of fulfillment, my biggest resolution under that category is to regularly and religiously update my blog. I don't know if anyone reads it. I'd like to find a way to get more people to, so maybe that's something to think about. But no matter -- this is my outlet. My high school English teach used to talk about catharsis. Now I understand what that really is.
4. Back. Away. From. The. Computer.
5. Let go of negative feelings. They bog you down. Enough said.
6. Nurture friendships. Everyone's so busy, it's hard to connect to the people who get you the most. I realize now that you have to make opportunities, and sometimes it's a struggle, but gosh, it's so worth it. The joy I feel when I'm with my friends...unmeasurable. I mean, I'm just speechless.
7. Exercise. C'mon, it could happen!
8. Renew magazine subscriptions. All my faves are dropping like flies and so I let all my others run out. GOSH HOW I MISS THEM. They're my escape...especially the decorating magazines. Besides, I want to redecorate my house some more, again. And I need to know which purse to buy. Well, which knockoff to buy.
9. Memorize every little detail about my children and give my heart the chance to just melt each time they look at me or speak to me. My son's little crooked smirk, my daughter's missing teeth, my littlest's chubby cheeks and still-squishy little body. I came across my son's school picture from last year, and compared it to this year's picture. Who IS that kid in the old picture? Where did he go? How quickly they change -- never were truer words spoken.
10. Be the best mom, wife, sister and daughter I can be. Love the people that I love the most...really love them. Treasure the times we have, because we won't always have them. Make the most of what we're given, because it could be less than what we already have. Find joy in the mundane trivialities of everyday life. Employ more patience, express feelings freely but watch my tongue, and snuggle more.
Happy New Year to you and yours!
-Jennifer
Christmas came and went in a flurry and I still have no idea when it happened. Between my business, kikibOnan (shameless plug), to my little part-time job, to another freelance project I picked up...all thinking they would give me a little extra money over the holidays and who couldn't use that? Except I didn't count on them sucking away so much of my time that I wouldn't get the chance to enjoy the wonders of this season, and especially the wonders of little ones during the season. As a result, I've been thinking a lot about my resolutions this year. REAL resolutions to make life better. HEARTFELT resolutions to make both me and my little family happier. I'm seeking fulfillment, and enjoyment, and quality.
So here goes.
1. Raise my voice less. I don't like it, the kids don't like it, and it doesn't work. Well, sometimes it does. But only when it's not an every day thing. My daughter, who as anyone near and dear to me knows, is my challenging child. If I can get through to her best by being calm, firm and unflappable, then it'll work for my others too. No matter how frustrated I get.
2. Find quality family time. My kids are getting to an age of independence and curiosity. They can entertain themselves, they know not to touch electric outlets and household chemicals, they're not going to toddle into sharp corners. We have been slowly un-baby-proofing our house and it feels good. Now we have to un-baby-proof our family time. I'm discovering that I love just hanging out with my 8-year-old son, telling jokes. I love asking my 6-year-old daughter for her style advice (remarkably, she's never steered me wrong). My 3-year-old wants to be as big as the others, and he's getting there sooner than I'd like, so for now, I'm just going to hold him and carry him at every opportunity I can before he won't let me anymore. Sigh.
3. Pursue my passions. I have a great business that lets me be creative and independent, and we've grown so much over the last year (insert delighted shock and surprise). It's not the most financially lucrative of my projects (YET), but it's by far the most fulfilling and fun. Speaking of fulfillment, my biggest resolution under that category is to regularly and religiously update my blog. I don't know if anyone reads it. I'd like to find a way to get more people to, so maybe that's something to think about. But no matter -- this is my outlet. My high school English teach used to talk about catharsis. Now I understand what that really is.
4. Back. Away. From. The. Computer.
5. Let go of negative feelings. They bog you down. Enough said.
6. Nurture friendships. Everyone's so busy, it's hard to connect to the people who get you the most. I realize now that you have to make opportunities, and sometimes it's a struggle, but gosh, it's so worth it. The joy I feel when I'm with my friends...unmeasurable. I mean, I'm just speechless.
7. Exercise. C'mon, it could happen!
8. Renew magazine subscriptions. All my faves are dropping like flies and so I let all my others run out. GOSH HOW I MISS THEM. They're my escape...especially the decorating magazines. Besides, I want to redecorate my house some more, again. And I need to know which purse to buy. Well, which knockoff to buy.
9. Memorize every little detail about my children and give my heart the chance to just melt each time they look at me or speak to me. My son's little crooked smirk, my daughter's missing teeth, my littlest's chubby cheeks and still-squishy little body. I came across my son's school picture from last year, and compared it to this year's picture. Who IS that kid in the old picture? Where did he go? How quickly they change -- never were truer words spoken.
10. Be the best mom, wife, sister and daughter I can be. Love the people that I love the most...really love them. Treasure the times we have, because we won't always have them. Make the most of what we're given, because it could be less than what we already have. Find joy in the mundane trivialities of everyday life. Employ more patience, express feelings freely but watch my tongue, and snuggle more.
Happy New Year to you and yours!
-Jennifer
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