We make all sorts of New Year’s resolutions but what about a parenting resolution? I’m not talking about being a better parent or a happier parent, but rather taking a year to transform into the parent you want to be. Join me on the journey to make this year the best parenting year ever!
Conflicts. Raised voices. Slamming doors. Frustration. Disappointment.
Last year wasn’t the best year in our home. I started the year off right by creating a detailed parenting vision but my eagerness waned. While I yearned to create a home of peace, I did little to make my wishes come to fruition.
In fact, it was such a rough year that I mastered strategies for how to make amends after I’ve lost my cool with my kids.
I’m not exaggerating when I say that I’ve struggled over the past year. Perhaps you could tell as my parenting posts have dwindled.
I’ve tormented myself with thoughts like:
“How can I write about parenting if I, myself, have no idea what I’m doing?”
“Why am I doing things I don’t want to do?”
“How can I give advice about parenting if I’m doing things that I shouldn’t do?”
However, I’ve come to realize something: Whenever I’m brutally honest, I discover that there are other parents who are struggling as much as I am. I’ve found that this parenting journey, although it feels solitary, it isn’t so lonely after all.
I want a change.
This year I’m making a parenting resolution to become the best mom I can be for my kids.
BECOMING A BETTER MOM
I’m not so naive to think that this will be easy. In fact, I’m certain this resolution will take a lot of work, but this is my work. Parenting is the most important job I will ever do, and I want to do my best.
As I contemplated my goals for the year, I realized that much will have to change. I have bad habits that I need to break. I have new approaches that I need to practice. This journey is going to be epic.
Change takes patience, time, and effort. Every month I want to make small changes that will breed new, good habits, and encourage a compounding growth in myself.
I’m not talking about striving for perfection, but rather improving and becoming a better mom. This resolution is for me and my children.
I want to do this. I need to do this. Maybe you need to do this too?
That is why I’ve decided to make a series out of my parenting resolution.
Every month, I’ll publish a new challenge/focus for the month, and I would love it if you could join me. Let’s start a dialogue. Let’s be open, share, and make a change!
I want to become the parent I know I need to be. My #parentingresolution begins here! Click To TweetWHEN DOES THE PARENTING RESOLUTION BEGIN?
Please come back in a couple weeks for the first challenge. Don’t worry, since it’s mid-month, I’m making it an easy one. In the meantime, if you haven’t created a parenting vision yet, maybe now’s the time to do so. Download your FREE parenting vision planner and start working on your parenting vision for the year.
I hope you’ll join me on this journey. If you share anything related on social media related to your parenting resolution, please use the hashtag #parentingresolution so that I can easily find and reshare your posts. Let’s do this… together!
THE PARENTING RESOLUTION SERIES
This post is part of the parenting resolution series. The entire series is here:
Introduction: The Parenting Resolution: Make this Your Best Year Ever!
SHARE WITH OTHERS
Cannot wait to see what the first challenge will be as like you I am definitely still learning and trust me make my fair share of mistakes daily as a parent. So can’t thank you enough for starting this challenge. Now wishing you a wonderful week ahead xoxo :)
I’m glad you’ll be joining me in the #parentingresolution Janine! The way I look at it, is there’s always room for growth… and right now I need lots of growth. I want to make a change this year… for the better and it starts here, in my home, with my kids.
Love this! One of my resolutions for the year was to yell at my kids less (I decided “No yelling” would be a total fail for me so I was starting small) I told my son that was a goal of mine and he said to help me out he would try to stop doing things that make me yell! ha! So it is a joint goal.
I’m glad this resonated with you Lauren! “Stop yelling” will be one of the twelve challenges this year. Hopefully we can figure it out… together. I need my kids to make that resolution too *wink*.
Change does indeed take patience and it seems like motherhood takes even larger doses of it. The 2 year old is potty training in our house and I am pretty much late everywhere I go. It bothered me at first, but I really need to change that. Parenting is what it is.
If anyone can meet a goal, I know it is you. Good luck and hugs my friend!
It’s been such a rough start to the year. With the loss of my grandma over a week ago, I haven’t been off to the best start but I’m beginning now (and heaping grace and forgiveness on myself, as grief does freaky things to our personalities).
Thanks so much for the encouraging words my friend… and happy new year to you and yours!
I love this. And I so hear you. I’m working to be the best parent I can be as well.
I’m delighted you enjoyed this Amber! I hope you can join in some (if not all) of the #parentingresolution challenges! I’m excited to make a change this year… and it starts here, in my home, with my children.
Hi Jennifer! I love your new design! What a lovely blog space you have. Great new image too! (Is this the one your FB fans voted for??)
We all fall down in parenting, and having the grace and strength to get up is one issue. The other is being willing to be taught. To chance. It sure sounds like you have both of those requirements. I think you’ll be hitting home runs this year.
Easy? Never. But definitely worth it. Best of blessings on every step my friend.
Ceil
Happy New Year Ceil!
Yes, I revamped The Deliberate Mom so that the theme would match my other, new site, Deliberate Homeschooling. It was a bit of work but I’m super happy with the way everything turned out. As for the photo, this isn’t the one my fans voted for. I had that one on for a couple weeks and felt really blah about it. My hubby convinced me to use this one because I have the biggest smile (and this is how I usually smile). He thought it looked more natural. After a bit of consideration, I took his advice and now I have to say this is my favourite profile picture ever.
I’m excited about this parenting resolution and I hope I can encourage and support other moms as we take on the monthly challenges.
Thank you so much for the words of encouragement.
This is wonderful, Jennifer! We are so similar in our goals this year. And I love how you want to make small changes gradually. That is so smart! :) I’m with you!
There’s so much I want to work on and improve when it comes to being the mom I want to be – it just seemed most logical to do it bit by bit. I get overwhelmed easily if I make goals too big… but this makes it more manageable. I’m delighted you’ll be joining me Kristy! I think it’s going to be an awesome year.
I’m looking forward to this challenge. Thank you, Jennifer. My one word for 2016 is family so this falls right in line with my goals :). Parenting is hard. There is no truer statement than that!
I’m delighted you’re joining me for this challenge Candace. I’m really excited to make these changes but I realise that I need to be intentional and prayerful about each step I take (that’s why we’re doing the small challenges).
we went through some rough times with the teenager this past year. I am also hoping 2016 is a little calmer
Hoping the coming year is a lot smoother for you Jeremy. This parenting gig is a tough one. Make sure to extend yourself some grace and TLC in the midst of it.
Honestly, that’s how I feel after writing about marriage or love? How can I do this if I’m struggling?
Although I think that even when you’re struggling, you still gain wisdom. You still are a writer who can share what you’re learning. Maybe even more so. Probably even more so.
I’ve been putting the phone away when I’m with the kids. I’d be lying if I told you I see a huge difference in how they react around me. And losing my temper less helps.. maybe it has to do with the phone.
Putting the phone away is a biggie and something I want to do more often this year.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the #parentingresolution! I’m so excited for this and I can’t wait to see the changes it brings about in myself and parents all over the world!
Great idea, Jennifer. As a Mom, I’m constantly trying to be better and do better for my kids. They definitely know how to push my buttons, and then nobody wins. I know they are just kids, so it kills me when I’m the one who loses my cool. I’m supposed to be the adult. Ha! Have a great day! :)
LOL – I think EVERY child knows exactly what their parents’ buttons are and how to push them!
I’m so excited for the parenting resolution! I hope you’ll join us for the monthly challenges, Jenny.
Yes, patience, time and effort . . . that’s the hardest part about change! We want to decide what we want and then push that button and have it appear. Breaking down what we want to see change into small, workable goals helps us get there one small step a a time. Appreciate your honest encouragement.
I’m all about the small, workable goals. I get too overwhelmed (and quit) otherwise. I’m so excited to see what this does for my parenting. By God’s grace I pray it helps many parents.
Okay I really like this Jennifer. I feel like there’s so much more I could do to be a better mom. Excited to see your monthly posts on this topic!
xoxo
I’m so excited about this series Tiffany! It’s been stirring in me for a while and it was time to make some serious changes. I’m especially anxious to share the monthly challenges. I pray it impacts many parents and inspires them in their parenting journey. I’m delighted you’ll be joining in for this!
Thank for sharing, Jennifer.
Never thought of creating a parenting vision planner, never had one.
I do want to have a go…God help me to make 2016 the best parenting year, so far.
I think we sometimes just “do” parenting because that’s what is commonplace but I really think intentional parenting can make a huge difference.
I hope you enjoy the vision planner my friend!
I’ll join you! My 4 children range from 19 to 8 months. I am trying to learn the “language” my children respond best to, my middles are 3 and 5 but I would love to have a home where everyone is heard and kindness is priority. Some days are easier than others.
YAY! I’m delighted you’ll be joining the challenge! I agree that some days are better than others – that’s why we’ll work on one aspect of parenting every month.