I often say that I think of the New Year as a time to set goals rather than resolutions. My goals change every year. Sometimes a goal gets renewed for another year. But the most important thing is taking the time to evaluate and see how I can create the best life possible for myself and my family.
My boys are a huge part of that goal setting process and this year in particular, spending time with them is a focus for me. It’s so easy to get caught up in the busy routine of our lives and not realize that time, and our children’s youth, is quickly slipping away. As part of the Playtex Mom Trust program, I was asked to share my goals for the coming year and hopefully provide some inspiration to other parents setting their own goals. So to ensure that my boys and I are both enjoying their childhood, these will be three of my goals for the coming year:
1) I Will Make Time for Fun
My boys and I got to have all kinds of amazing experiences last year, from our first trip to Disneyland to a fabulous vacation at the Beaches Resort in Jamaica to a road trip to the West Edmonton Mall. Those are memories that will last a lifetime, but they were interspaced by weeks and weeks of routine. Some of life’s best experiences are ones we have at home, so one day each weekend, I will be exclusively planning a fun activity with my boys. Whether we head to the kitchen to make cookies together or pack a picnic and spend the day at the park, I will be making consistent quality time with my boys one of my top priorities.
2) I Will Get Offline…Sometimes
I love the social media world. I wouldn’t do what I do for a living if I didn’t. But it never sleeps and it can become immersive very easily. I’ve learned in the last four years that there is always more work to be done and that planning to shut off my phone or close my laptop after I’ve finished just doesn’t work, because I’m never really finished. So I’ll be setting a schedule instead to ensure I stick to my goal. For three hours in the afternoon, every single day, I will shut down my electronics and give my attention to my boys.
3) I Will Create Celebrations
The wonderful thing about life is that almost any event can be a cause for celebration. So at least once a month, I will find something to celebrate with my boys. Just like I once celebrated their first tooth, first haircut or first time using a sippy cup, I will celebrate their current accomplishments and do so with creativity. Whether we throw a party in honour of Zackary’s great spelling test or Benjamin learning to spell his name, I want my boys to learn to embrace their victories, to celebrate them and to know that I’m as proud of them now as I was when they reached those baby milestones years ago.
Daily, weekly and monthly goals, all designed to ensure that I spend quality time with my boys and give them the attentional, recognition and love that they need. Because in the end, spending more time with my children is one of the most important and worthwhile goals I could possibly set for myself. Do you have goals to increase your time with your family in 2014?
It’s just the two of us right now. My son just got his own place. But believe it or night with my hubby’s hours we have very little time together. So I have made it a point to get up in the mornings with him while he is getting ready just to have some time together.
Nothing beats family time. As my daughters have grown up and don’t need me as much as they used to, and have lives of their own, I have started to really miss that family time. At least I do know that I always gave 110% for my girls and hope I’ve instilled my values with regard to family in them.
This is a great area to improve and one I plan on improving too.
such good ideas; love the celebrating celebrations; each new ‘step’ is there for us to celebrate and welcome it.
Definitely! I will be on maternity leave this year to take care of our new baby, so excited!
Getting offline to spend more time with my kids is something that I am working on too. It is so true that the world of social media never sleeps! I should probably go put my kids to bed…
doing the offline thing much more now
awesome thoughts, goals, plans, post!
I like #3. SO far that reason I have set a certain time frame for myself to be online, when the kids are asleep or napping or at school.
love your goals, my girls are older now but I always try to have time with them