I know some of you parents have JUST started your school year, however I have been in it for around 5 months and counting (yes huh). I rejoiced 5 months ago with the end of summer “Cheers” celebrating the glory days of summer gone by. See this: https://www.themomcafe.com/happy-new-year/
Now with our New Year half way through, (what, it isn’t?) I have quickly realized that I absolutely need to claim some very critical New Year’s Resolutions in my style of parenting. The vicious cycle must stop with me. (Really it should stop with them, but I’m trying to be all “hero-mom-like”)
Here are my vows:
1. I resolve to not criticize any outfits my children pick out every day for school. That goes for hair accessories and hair-dos of both my SON and daughter.
2. I resolve to not yell at my kids for at least 20 minutes after pick up…even if they are whiny and disrespectful, negative and already fighting. (Okay, make that ten minutes) (five)
3. I resolve to wake up earlier every morning, so that I have MY act together in order to get THEIR act together. (sure)
4. During the dreaded homework time, I resolve to not immediately lose it the second they do something really, really stupid.
5. In fact, I promise to pretend my kids are someone else’s kids, during that grueling hour to three hours of homework time every day. Therefore, I may act much nicer and be much more patient.
6. I resolve to not judge the friends they make or how they play with them…(ie: never asking if the “new friend” is in special education classes, after I meet them) (yes, I did that).
7. I resolve to be a kinder and gentler mom in the mornings, so that my children don’t leave the house feeling cursed for the day.
8. I resolve to pack wholesome and healthy lunches every day for my children. I will leave that very vague, so there is freedom of interpretation. (Fruit snacks are fruit.)
9. I resolve to counsel my children with utmost insight and maturity on any issues that arise at school, before I blame them.
10. And lastly, I resolve to tell them I love them at the end of every single treacherous day, and ask forgiveness for not following through on any of these parenting resolutions.
Any I missed? Please add more to my list, as your school year gets under way!!!!
truthfully the last one is most important. I now make it a priority to tell my kids when and how I’ve made mistakes. Never in a self deprecating way but just calling it out for what it is and showing that life goes on. Sometimes it needs followed by an apology, sometimes followed by a laugh.
I made this mistake with my first born and he as an adult is totally unable to say “I screwed up” so there you go…. one more way I can say “I made a mistake”
WOW. Such an insightful and wise comment, which is always a blessing on my site!!! Thanks so much Becky, for your honesty! Interesting how things played out with your first… such a great reminder for me and every reader that we need to be accountable for all our actions and our children will learn from US. Thanks SO MUCH Becky for your comment!!!!! 🙂
Love this! I can so relate! Especially to homework time! That’s a killer for me!
YES! It’s awful, maddening and ugly!! 😉 Should I add “no freeballing”?? LOL
I don’t resolve to do any of those things. Oh, my heck! I could never keep all those.
I resolve not to beat them and yell at them and to tell them I love them as often as I remember. That’s the best I’ve got today.
Happy Sharefest! And good luck with those resolutions.
HAHAHAHAHA!!! I am SO with you on that!!! And yes, I will need all the luck I can get!!! Here’s to keeping our kids safe from US!!!! 😉
How on earth did I miss this one!!?? I think it was because it had a similar title, and I skipped it!! OOPSY!!
My resolution to add is when my kids tell me they have no homework, I will actually investigate that by looking at their logs…last year, I trusted them, but not really trusted them…I ignored the obvious!! I DESPISE HOMEWORK!! Not to mention, 5th grade and 7th grade is HARD!!(to be read very very whinny!!)
HA! I knew you of all people would totally appreciate my list of resolutions!!! Yes- Cass told Derek the other night when I was out of comission with my back, that she had done all her homework. Uh, no. The next morning I had to franticly help her finish her spelling prep for a test she eventually failed. Nice. I HATE HOMEWORK TOO!!! (just as whiny of a voice!!)
I have NO idea what you are talking about. My 4 children were expelled in first grade and sent to jail.
SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!!!! You must have had some pretty terrible children.. 😉
Some of those “fruit snacks” have a little bit of actual fruit in them. A little bit is better than nothing, right?
EXACTLY!!! AND vitamin C I might add!!!! LOL We get it, don’t we!! Thanks so much for reading and commenting Jennifer!!! 🙂