I’m not one to make concrete resolutions for the new year, but over the past couple of years, I have used early January as a time to reflect and to look forward to things to come.
I have some personal goals for this year, like actually using a daily planner (instead of relying on my Mommy Brain to remember everything [which is not exactly foolproof…ahem]). Really, though, most of my “wish list” for 2012 is centered around my girls.
I did the same last year, and it’s been interesting to look back and see where I was this time a year ago. In hindsight, I realize most of the “goals” I outlined were developmental milestones, things the girls should have done regardless of Mommy’s list. Maybe that’s my way of banking on having some success…to put the onus on Mother Nature to tackle my resolutions…I like it!
For 2011, for example, I wanted the girls to become proficient with utensils and with navigating the stairs. Check! I had a few other items on the list, things I had to actually work towards…like leaving the girls with a sitter and taking a family trip. And while I can’t necessarily mark those as really “going out on a limb”, I’m glad I set those goals…and that I can check them off, too.
For 2012, my list has a number of developmental items on it. By this time next year, surely I will have transitioned my girlies to big kid beds, and taken down the remaining baby gates. [I’m being honest here…don’t judge!] And I have a stretch goal or two [a stretch for me, at least], including enrolling the girls in an extracurricular activity.
I am quite certain we will figure out the bed transition. And I’m hoping by writing some of my other goals in my trusty daily planner, we can record some more fun adventures in the new year.
Do you set goals at the beginning of the year? Do you write them down? For those of you with older children, do you get them involved in making the commitments?
Mandy, mom to almost-three-year old fraternal twin girls
