Real-Mommy Resolutions

Some food for thought, if your new year's resolution list is still empty...as is mine...I didn't make a list this year. More peace of mind during the holidays, something to look forward to now that the festive spirit is nearly over.
(From Parents.com)

1.Don't Say "Don't"
I want to reduce how often I use the word "don't." That means I'll say, "Please be kind to your brother" instead of "Don't talk to him that way." I think it's better for our relationship for me not to always be the source of negative reminders. When I do say "don't" for an important reason, maybe it will stick more since they are not barraged by "don'ts" constantly.

2.Put a Cap on Your Work Day
I try never to check e-mail after 6 p.m. -- even though it never stops coming in. I let the day's tasks, hassles, and responsibilities slowly melt off me as I become present for my daughter. The computer got my attention all day -- now it's my daughter's turn.

3.Make One Dinner
I'd like to be better about letting the kids have what we're having for dinner (even though we eat it after they're in bed). If we're having French lentils with carrots, they can, too -- no real reason why I can't prepare and assemble that in kid-size bites and portions, too. Sometimes I use the justification that I just want them to eat, no arguments. But then sometimes they don't eat the peas and pizza anyway! May as well be trying for something a little more adventurous and expanding their palates.

4.Everyone Goes Green
I've recently committed to being more eco-conscious and would really like to share that with my children, as it's their future world that will be affected by this.

5.Make Exercise More Than a Game
One son is a jock but the other is not. I want to make sure he doesn't learn to dislike physical activity just because he's not the pitcher on the Little League team. I want to try to find more ways to sneak non competition-related exercise into my days with the boys -- more bike rides, more walking scavenger hunts, more silly relay races, more dance contests.

6.Go Domestic
My resolution is to create a clean home environment for them -- to be a cleaning lady, stay on top of laundry and all household chores. I want the baby to have an area to crawl around in without clutter, my 4-year-old to be able to play with his trains, and my husband to be happy, which will lead to a more pleasant home environment for the kids.

7.Go Bilingual
I resolve to begin speaking more English around our home. Since I am the bilingual parent in the home, it's up to me to raise our children speaking more than one language. We will sing, dance, and play our way through this mission of mine.

8.Mother and Wife
I'm making a promise to not give all my time to being a good mom but make sure to save some of "me" to share with My Super Fantastic Supportive Husband. Giving my children a good example of a healthy and loving marriage will hopefully help them feel secure, confident, and blessed.

9.A Little Patience
Every mommy probably makes this promise -- to be more patient with my kids. I hate when, at the end of a long day, I start snapping at them and issuing ridiculous threats ("if you two don't calm down, I'm not doing the bedtime routine tonight!").


Quite a full list, I think!..

Happy 2009

Happy New Year cyberfriends.

I hope you had a smooth transition to the new year. We followed the X Factor TV show during count down. I did my best to make everyone join in and it worked. J was asleep though, and he woke up at 1 am, asking me to let him know when we get to midnight.
Food wise we had a simple yet nice meal, now that we didn't have visitors and I didn't have to do the full elaborate meal. We had ham and fresh pineapple, baked mushrooms with a little olive oil and lemon, and a Trappist beer.
The most memorable do of the evening was that we all had a proper bath with fizzy salts from Fresh Line that C had bought while I was at home baking. It felt so nice to have all the people in my family smelling great, clothed in brand new nightgowns, gathered around, kissing and wishing.
This was the first year my girls realized that we buy the presents. I didn't ask who told them, we just said we'd keep the magic for J. So we sneaked the presents in once we put him to bed.
He woke up just after me while I was dressing for church. He went to the tree and came up all thrilled because Santa had brought us presents and could he wake everyone up?
Let's say I am thankful for all the lovely gifts Santa got us to get for our kids and our home. F's first i-pod. Palymobils for J and D. A little scanner and printer for our home office, a book and a pipe for C, a Lilly Pulitzer Monopoly for me, and, hold your breath, a mini notebook for me, to use on the go.
We let the kids enjoy their presents in their pyjamas and we left for church. Only the car's battery had died. C stayed with the car while I walked to church. I really enjoyed it. The air was fresh and crisp, as it must be in the morning of a new beginning.
It was a nice service and I listened to St. Basil's prayer calling for the blessing of the new year's crown:

"Grant us seasonable and healthful weather. Send gentle showers upon the earth so that it may bear fruit. Bless the crown of the year with your Loving-kindness. Stop schisms among the churches, pacify the ragings of the pagans and quickly destroy the uprisings of heresy by the power of your Holy Spirit. Receive us all into your Kingdom, showing us to be children of the light and children of the day. Grant us your peace and love, a Lord our God, for You have given all things to us.

And grant that with one voice and one heart we may glorify and praise your most honorable and sublime Name, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever.

Amen".

Outside the church there were gypsies begging, as always , only today there were lots and lots of them. I made the mistake of giving one a five euro note, some five dollars, and I found myself followed by them, until I had given every penny out of my purse. C who was meanwhile waiting for me outside the church with the engine on, had seen the whole scene and I could tell he was cross as he drove while the gypsies were following us. He was silent all the way and well into the evening. I was pretty scared myself. I couldn't get out of my mind the possibility of the gypsies pestering us at the shop or even at home. I can get pretty sentimental and silly sometimes...I pray that Christ will protect us.

At home we had St. Basil's pie. The coin was at the center of the pie, so we are all considered winners, though J got to take the coin as his was the last slice C named. Contrary to what happened in previous years, this year my pie was a great success. Everyone got to eat their slice and ask for more, as we didn't have the in laws to tell us how much to eat and how much calories each slice has.
After breakfast we spent some time looking at the gifts and picking up stuff here and there. C went to sleep and I followed him. I wanted to read from a new book he bought for me, but fell asleep. We woke up at 6p.m. The kids were busy playing all along. We made a lovely dinner of sausages and cheeses, plus some more mushrooms and my Christ bread that I was supposed to make for Christmas, but I hadn't. It was great, with the characteristic flavor of aniseed. We also opened a tiny campaign. So, it wasn't turkey and stuffing, but oh how lovely! It was home and a new year our way.

Then I got to sit down and write and surf. I didn't do either, as we spent most of the time trying to build an internet connection for my notebook, but didn't manage to. So I'm now typing on my laptop which is going to be our family computer, because as C said our 10 year old computer isn't fast enough and it's too expensive to upgrade.

Meanwhile we watched 'Scent of a Woman'. Al Pacino -and Jack Nicholson- are C's favorite actors. And that is a good film, I am never quite bored with it. By the end, everyone was asleep, apart from me and J who were pulling a couple of crackers, having a Pepsi and some truffles, while I was trying to put a few words together. I try not to think of the phone bill, right now.

Tomorrow we are going to the slopes with a family of friends. I am not really into snowboarding, but I'll try to keep up with the more enthusiastic lot. I hope to post some photos, too.

Here is to a lovely, healthy, blessed new year.