Ok, I said it! Happy New Year. There… I said it again!
I don’t actually have much else to add other than to ask about your 2008 resolutions. Do you have any? Please share. I boldly stated mine in an earlier post, but to reiterate it, I am going to print this out and keep it with me as a reminder…
I want to be a better Mom than I have been this past year. I’m going to focus less on the mess and more on the girls. I want to be more fun. I want to give more of myself and demand less of them. I want to focus more on playing and reading, crafting and baking cookies with them… and less on worrying about making sure they don’t make a mess. Toys are for playing with, kids are for playing with and Moms are for playing with. I want to have more “yes” days and less “no” and “don’t do that” days. Of course there will be some times that won’t be too practical, but I’m going to try to make it a habit instead of automatically saying “no”.
We’re working hard with Abby and I’m actually reading a great book right now that has already helped me incredibly. What I’m finding is that she can’t control what she does 100% of the time (so maybe we’ve been doing a bit too much fussing and not enough “explaining”). Go check out the book and online resource group that I’ve found and see what you think.
All in all – I have 2 sweet little girls whom I love very much and I want to remember them at this very moment… as the fun, quirky little people they are. Heaven knows they grow up way too fast. Before long, Maggie won’t fit in the refrigerator…
Bravo to you in your pursuit of seeking a different path!
Trust me, I know how difficult it is to seek out and implement various strategies for dealing with a more difficult child. Plus, not to mention the consistancy of trying to implement, then losing it and blowing the calm to the wind! Been there, done that, trying to do better, failing, trying to get back on and starting over all over again. Oh, yeah, I know the drill! It’s a tough, lonely/miserable-at-times road and you have my sympathy, no question. Kudos to you for finding the strength within and modifying the current path!
Feel free to e-mail and we can rant together!