Happy New Year, Parenthackers!

Ah, a new year and a fresh start! I'm not generally one for resolutions, but I do have plans for organizing and simplifying my life, establishing some simple home routines, and kicking back and enjoying my friends and my family.

Amazing how easy it can be to get lost in the work of parenting -- forgetting to have fun along the way. A friend of mine, whose son is a freshman in high school, was stunned by the sudden realization that he'll be moving out, as in LEAVING HOME, in three years. Never seemed a possibility during those toddler and preschool years, and yet, here she is, mother of a person who strangely resembles a man.

Whatever your hopes are for 2008...why not take a step toward them today? Perhaps we can do it together.

Comments

[Healthy Moms]

Happy New Year to everyone! 2008 will bring many new and exciting adventures for everyone. I am planning on getting organized and attempt to spend more time with my kids.

I have two children under the age of 2 and I need to treasure the time when they are little. If you have little ones you should understand. Take more pictures of them. Make a journal recording their milestones and funny interesting things your kids might do or say. My little girl is just starting to talk in sentances and it is so funny the things she comes up with! For 2008 I am going to start writing down what she says.

I also need to try to find more time and activities to do with my 10 year old daughter. I need to pick one day a month to spend with just her. If you have older children you should try this too. Make a Mommy/Daughter day or Daddy/Daughter day or Mommy/Son day or Daddy/Son day. If you have younger children have your spouse stay home with them for the day while you go to the mall, movie or sporting event with your older child. In 2008 I will make more time for my older child.

I wish you all the best in the new year!

http://thehealthymoms.blogspot.com

[Duane]

Happy New Year, everybody! I hope this year to get each of my kids more individual play time, geared toward their own needs. I often get the feeling that my oldest is held back by my younger two, my youngest is left out on his own when the older two play, and the middle one is stuck, well, in the middle and never gets her own time.

I will teach my wife more about how to work the kids' computer games, so they do not rely on waiting for me to get home. I am barely home for dinner (long commute), so if they only get to play in the wee evening hours they are getting ripped off.

I will try to be more organized and complete what we start. We started Wizard of Oz (chapter book) and never really finished it. We find a computer game, play it for a day, then never come back to it because there's so many other things to do. I'll come up with some system so that they always know what options are available and can make an informed choice about what they want to play or do, instead of so often feeling like they've forgotten or left something out.

Duane
http://www.shakespearegeek.com

[linuxgrl]

Happy New Year!! I share the same resolution, in hopes of organizing and getting a handle on our stuff, I've finished reading "It's All Too Much" by Peter Walsh of TLC's "Clean Sweep" Amazing!