A New Year - A New You?

As parents, we want the best for our children, but tend to forget ourselves.  I’ve been thinking about New Years Resolutions and about whether or not, parents of young children should even consider making resolutions.   

It’s not like we’re not under enough pressure every single day.  Why do we need the added pressure of having resolutions to meet?

We already work hard and strive to make sure our kids are not watching too much television (if any), eat the right foods, drink enough fluids, change diapers, potty train, pay the bills, clean, cook, do laundry, the list goes on and on…not to mention, just keeping everyone alive!  No pressure, right?

Why on earth do we need to make resolutions?  For me, it keeps me in check.  I like to feel organized, surrounded by checklists.  I think I get this from my Mom.  We both love to strike things off a long list of “to do” items.  What a great feeling!

Before I write out my checklist, I ask myself questions, like: 

• ‘Am I doing everything I want to do in my life?’
• ‘Am I working toward any goals and have I met my goals from last year?’
• ‘Am I happy?’
• ‘Can I do anything to make my life richer?’

Then I make my list of what I want to accomplish throughout the year.  I try to have only a few, but my list typically grows.  If I put down too many goals, I can’t keep track and forget the whole list all together.  I try to add things that are more or less, fun.  I write down ideas for family trips, when to take time off, things to do in 2011 (events), and even some not so fun things, like cleaning out the basement. 

I realize I may sound a little narcissistic with all of these questions directed at myself.  But in my opinion, we need to ask and direct these questions to ourselves in order to feel healthy, stay strong, positive, happy and be able to share those uplifting feelings with our children.  We need to take care of ourselves first, so that we can take care of others in the best way we know how.  Not to mention, be a positive role model.

I like to think of it as a domino effect.  If I’m happy, maybe it will rub off onto others, like my family, friends and hopefully, our customers!

So this year, I have the same goals – I have the same excuses that I’ve had in the past about why I have not achieved these goals, but I am not going to beat myself up.  The obstacles that I had in the past are just that – obstacles in the past.  Time to look forward to a great future and time to dive right into those goals!