It’s the second of January and my New Year's Resolutions are mostly still half-baked ideas kicking around inside my head, along with the rest of my infinite To-Do List. No-one has asked me for them, so technically I'm not accountable. After reading Karen's NY Resolutions (see below) I've been inspired to commence my list. Resolutions like painting my toenails more regularly and having a professional family photo taken make the list. The family portrait you see above is the ONLY photo I have that contains all four family members. I took it myself on New Years Day exactly a year ago. A bit sad, really (poor Master Liam barely got a look in). Superficial resolutions aside, I'm acutely aware that my role as a parent is so overwhelmingly important that I MUST get some (meaningful) New Years Resolutions in order.
One of my Parenting New Years Resolutions for 2011 will be to remember to model good behaviour. I’ve learnt last year with Liam (aged 7) that I can say all I want (“don’t stress about being late to school”, "dont worry if it's not perfect" and “dont forget to thank x”) but it’s my ACTIONS that speak so much louder. In fact, I might as well quit the parental advice and just model the behaviour, as THIS is what I see both of my kids learning from.
Another resolution for this year will be to just BE with my kids. One way of just BEING with them is to get out in the great outdoors for picnics. With no agenda (and sans-i-phone), picnic-ing opens up many doors for spontaneity, creativity and old fashioned together-ness. Must. Picnic. More. Starting NOW.
SHARE YOUR PARENTING RESOLUTION & WIN A SKIP HOP OUTDOOR BLANKET!
We’d love you to share your New Years Parenting Resolution with us and other members of the bebe community. It can be anything - something as profound as empathising with your kids, as practical like reading a daily bedtime story, or fun like taking time to visit Sillytown on a daily basis!
Share with us one of your Parenting Resolutions for 2011 and go into the draw to win a Skip Hop Outdoor Picnic Blanket valued at $89.90. The Skip Hop Outdoor blanket is available in Uptown stripe (shown above) or Wave Dot. We love ours and so does 2010 bebe road tester Emma. See her Skip Hop Outdoor Picnic Blanket road test here…
To enter you just need to post your response as a comment under the post on 2/1/10 on the Bebe Online Facebook Page, OR post as a separate post on our facebook wall. Finish this sentence: My parenting resolution for 2011 is to…..
All entries posted will be eligible and drawn at random this Friday 7th January at 6pm. Please note this is a contest of luck rather than skill. Good luck and Happy Parenting in 2011!
7 Comments
To get out & about more with my little ones and capturing those wonderful moments with a cheesy grin!!
To stress less and take less time to appreciate the small things that won’t be so small forever
start playgroup and socialise my 10 month old and give him the best of experiences
…make some curtains for my bedroom and let my children see the pleasure attained in keeping a lovely (tidy) room!
To keep my sense of humour with the kids!
My parenting resolution for 2011 is to… slow down and enjoy every day moments, every day. To have more patience, not sweat the small stuff, and to appreciate every little thing my beautiful family has to offer.
To never say “not now sweetie, I’m too busy”, I want to stop & listen & take time, life’s too short!