Goodbye, 2013! Hello 365 more days of being an awesome parent!
In 2013, we all agreed that a great parenting resolution would be to teach "Thou shalt not toss gallons of milk down the grocery store dairy aisle, even if my friends think it's hilarious."
Sheryl Pouls is the mother to teenagers Amanda and Samantha. Follow this Twitter account for more discussions on parenting.Now it's time to write our resolutions for 2014. I came up with a few I think could be on most parents' top ten list. Let me know if I missed any.
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Like Kate Middleton, my child will be a prince—but not household ruler.
All children are as special as royal offspring. But waiting on kids hand and glass-slippered-foot can create little tyrants.
I resolve to help my children learn to do things for themselves — fold laundry, make a sandwich, work for their own "can you buy this for me" money. When kids earn their own self-esteem, they feel like true kings and queens.
I will offer an alternative to Miley Cyrus as a role model.
Kids may say they adore actors, sports personalities and Bad Hannah Montana. But the people children look up to the most are the grown-ups under their own roof.
I'll try to be the person I'd like my child to be. I'll be honest and kind. I'll work hard, and I'll spend time with my family. I will not drive 90 miles an hour to catch up with some guy who cut me off in traffic, just to flip him the bird.
I will kick my kids out of the house.
Bickering kids, grouchy kids, kids with ants in their pants — nothing takes the stink out of a child like a good ole shove out the door and into fresh air. And no matter the weather, there's a thermal base layer, waterproof jacket and sunscreen with insect repellent to meet your parenting need, i.e. maintaining your sanity.
I will stop saying "I'm not a techy."
Pop quiz: Your 11-year-old daughter says she is tweeting Instragram screenshots from Vine videos she posts on Tumblr. Should you a) follow her on Twitter, b) say "I smell something burning on the stove" and excuse yourself, or c) move to an 18th-century reenactment community.
The answer is d) I need to understand what the heck my kid is talking about. Internet safety and know-how is part of today's parenting.
I will not compare my after-baby body to the svelte bodies of new celebrity mothers.
Unless I have access to a full-time trainer, housekeeper, nutritionist, cook and nanny, I will set reasonable goals for getting back in shape. "Nine months up in weight, nine months down" is the common wisdom for mere mortal women.
"Kids will be kids" is an explanation, but it will not be my excuse.
Even the most well-behaved kids will make choices that are crazy, stupid and downright dangerous. Hopefully, they'll grow out of their goofiness. Until then, I will continue to set limits and allow my kids to learn from the logical consequences of their decisions.
I won't be a dangerous sports parent.
I will take potential head injuries seriously. I will not allow myself or an over-enthusiastic coach to risk permanently affecting my child's brain for a sporting event. Not even the Very Important All-Township Mini Peewee Super Duper Deluxe Championship.
I will not overreact and wrap my kids in Kevlar.
Bike helmets, seat belts and hand-washing—I will be sensible and teach my children how to reduce risks. However, most of the United States is a pretty safe place for kids,and human bodies are designed to withstand childhood bumps and bruises. I will chill out.
I will learn to cook a few green things.
The future me will prepare three nutritious, well-balanced meals every day and not ever serve frozen pizza or chicken nuggets for dinner. Until I morph into Jamie Oliver, I vow to add at least one fresh produce item to each meal—cut carrots, steamed broccoli, a side salad. I will get good at this, and then set my bar of culinary awesomeness a little higher.
I will volunteer.
I work several jobs. I have a mob of kids. I need more hours in my day. However, I also know how much my children benefit from sports, scouting and community clubs. I will find an hour or two each month to help out, even if I have to paint numbers 13 and 14 on my clock.
