After all the holiday parties and out-of-town trips, one of the first new yearâs resolutions that come to mind is to lose weight â whether itâs through dieting or hitting the gym. I can assure you that for every meeting I went to since work resumed this January, I met at least one person whoâs trying to lose weight! This year, why not create a resolution as well as a parent? Iâm sure it wouldnât only be beneficial for your child(ren), but also for yourselves as parents. Here are some that you can consider.
Quality over Quantity
Did you have many guilty moments last year, wishing you didnât miss your childâs school play or not being able to prepare for his birthday party? Then it might be a good idea to look at the time you spend with your kids. As they say, itâs not really the number of hours or days you spend with them, but the quality of time that really matters. Ask yourself what small and actionable steps you can take to make every moment worthwhile? It could be putting your phone out of sight during dinner time, sitting on the floor and really immersing yourself in playing tea-time with your princess, or planning special dates with each child every week. It doesnât have to be really big, it just needs to be sincere.
Love in their Language
Youâve probably heard of if not read Gary Chapmanâs book, The Five Love Languages. According to him, there are five different love languages: words of affirmation, acts of service, quality time, gifts, and physical touch. Each of us, including kids, has a primary love language which speaks more deeply than all others. Knowing the love language of your kids will help you better connect with them and improve your relationships.
Let it Go
For #ocmoms and #ocdads, it might be a struggle to let go. There is a constant need to be in control of things and situations whether at home or at work. This year, why not consider loosening up a bit and practicing the art of letting go? We think of too many things already and holding them all in will just cause us stress! Maybe you can choose to let go of not having perfectly ironed clothes or canned goods that are not alphabetically arranged?
Say No to Parent-Shaming
Parenting resolutions donât have to be kid-related all the time. Sometimes, we can actually be better parents, by supporting others who are going through the same challenges as we are. With social media and technology, parent-shaming now goes beyond just giving stares or whispering, but now, you can be popular overnight when someone posts a photo or a video of you! We all know how tough it is to be parents, right? So rather than share someoneâs misfortune or misdeeds all over the internet, why not lend a helping hand?
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