New Year's Resolutions

    New Year's Resolutions... It seems there are many viewpoints on New Year's Resolutions. Some people like to set goals and check the successes off their list. Others make the same resolutions year after year, but never quite reach them often finding that around February/March the resolution is forgotten or they've simply given up.

    I like goals, I like resolutions... and some of them have been big successes. One of my favorite resolutions was the year I tried new things every week (Read "Trying New Things" Here).

    In 2009, my husband and I have made a point to find times for one-on-one with our girls. With two girls, this was fairly simple. He took one, I took the other, and memories were made. Sometimes we went on outings, sometimes we had fun at home. Parent/daughter dates included: Roller Skating, Tea Parties, Movies, Plays, Puppet Shows, Baking Cookies at home, Bowling, Ice Cream, Shopping, Library programs, and visits to the park.

    As 2010 approaches, we are now a family of five. Finding time for one-on-one is touch more complicated and will become increasingly so as our girls grow older. And so, my resolution is to set aside one-on-one time for each of my girls every day. Sometimes this will mean fifteen minutes reading books, it might mean helping fix dinner together, or it may be a full-fledged outing. The goal is simply to be sure they each have time to talk, to cuddle, to read, and to nurture that relationship.

    The strategy: Staggering bedtimes for a little story time individually, take advantage of one or two napping to spend time with the other, encourage the oldest to do puzzles and activities on her own for a bit so younger sisters can have attention, and simply remember that even if it's only five minutes sometimes, it's still important and what kids want most.

    What is your Resolution for 2010? And, did you reach your 2009 goals?