New Year's Resolutions

I've never been one for New Year's Resolutions, although I do love to set goals. I set them all the time.....I've just never used New Year's to do it. My sister Hill had a great blog post on Resolutions, and my other sister and I were discussing it. When I asked Kiran if she had made any, she replied that she had not, I replied the same....

So I thought a little about what I really wanted this year. And the thing that I came up with the most was having a happier family. You see I feel like I've been really stressed being a mother for say.... the last two and a half years. I see everything as a check list, homework, bath times, practices, 10 minutes of reading, laundry, feeding the dog, getting kids down for naps, doing piggy tails, packing lunches. And I feel as if I've been just checking off this list. Not enjoying the process.....

So my New Years Resolution is to be a happier Mom. To sit down and relax more with the children, talk more to them and not just at them, to listen to their words and not cut them off in the middle of a sentence with something they need to be doing.

So in my effort this evening (with Bri working late) I thought we would make chocolate chip cookies together. I gave each one a job (usually I do it all because it's cleaner and quicker, getting my list checked) and they worked together.

We sat on the couch and read a book they got for Christmas (thanks Mom) while they were baking (I didn't fold the laundry, pick up toys, or get the folders ready for school for tomorrow) I just sat and read.

When the cookies were done they each got one.....

Then when Jake was not looking, Grace took a huge bite of his cookie, Avery went running and everyone else started screaming like they had broken a bone. Grace wouldn't say she was sorry and that landed her in her room, with Jake still crying like a baby.

How's that for a Happier Family???? Well at least I tried!