Since the New Year always brings on resolution and lists of things we want to be better at, I have been thinking a lot about what I would like to do differently in 2014. I want to make it a better year for and my family and I than 2013 was. This is not to say 2013 was a bad year, because it definitely was not, but there is always room for improvement. I can honestly say that the thing that keeps coming back to my mind is: How can I be a better wife and mother?
I love my family dearly, and there is something that keeps nagging at me. It’s that I just don’t squeeze every last moment that I can out of the time that I have with them. I always find myself telling my little girl that “I am busy right now”, when she asks to play with me. I catch myself laying my son down to nap, often so that I can get stuff done. I have let moments with my husband slip by, because I have a million things I need to try to get done when I finally get both babies in bed. When I finally do seem to let things go long enough to have family time, I find my mind wandering to things that desperately need to get done, and even then, I’m not even fully focused and enjoying my time with them. Now, I do spend time with my family, and I do enjoy the moments I have with them. I just don’t feel like I am enjoying it to the fullest.
So, while I normally don’t jump on the New Year’s Resolution band wagon, I think that this year, I just might. I am determined to do whatever I need to do to make my free time with my babies and husband more fun-filled and memorable. And I thought I would share this with those who might feel the same as me, particularly parents. This is what I plan to do to make 2014 an even better and brighter year than 2013:
- The first thing I have decided to do is to have a cell phone ban from 5:00-8:00 every night. My husband and I are going to put our phones away in a drawer or basket and use this time to connect more with our children and each other. I feel that sometimes the convenience of phones and being able to access social media, games, apps, etc., causes us to lose touch with the real world, and the people we have around us. We get so caught up with the “relationships” we have on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, that all of this is vying for our time and it is easy to push aside the family that you have right in front of you. Sometimes, even when they’re practically begging for your time and attention. So by taking away the easy access of our phones (that seem to always be glued to our hands), I feel this will help us to get back in touch with our world around us.
- The next thing I want to do is set up one night a week, for family night. I want this night to be set aside specifically for having fun with the kids and bonding with each other while spending the night playing games, reading books, or snuggling close and enjoying a movie. I am a person that likes making schedules and having things planned. It seems to make things run more smoothly. But with my chaotic schedule, I haven’t really made time to get this mapped out on a schedule. This is another resolution of mine, to get my life a little more organized. This will help me to be able to make more time for the kids and my husband. I am going to make a schedule and plan out what we are going to do each family night. That way, I will have supplies needed for whatever activity we’re doing, and will be able to actually enjoy doing the different things together, instead of worrying about what we are going to need next, and then rushing around to grab this-and-that to, actually accomplish an activity.
- I also want to make it a priority to start having a date night with my husband at least once a month. I feel that in order for your family to be in a good place, your marriage has to be in a good place. If the marriage is tense, then your kids will feel the effects and (obviously), so will you and your spouse. I think a lot of people (including myself )do not take the time to nurture their relationships like they should, which can lead to unnecessary stress and tension. So this year, to show my husband my appreciation, and to nurture our relationship, I have decided that we need to date and enjoy each other’s company.
I feel that these simple steps will definitely improve 2014, and will help me stick to my New Year’s Resolution of being a better Mom and wife than I was in 2013. If you find yourself in the same rut as me, I encourage you to try taking these steps as well, and discover for yourself whether or not it helps your relationship with your own awesome family.