Don’t we suffer enough? Is it really necessary to put extra demands on ourselves just because we flipped another page in the calender? Personally, I have given up such luxuries as sleep and sitting down while eating since 1999, and I have the feeling I’m not alone. Did you miss the memo confirming that we’re doing the toughest job on the market – parenting small kids?
Every January 1st we set ourselves up with irrelevant and impossible goals, leaving us feeling like failures when we don’t achieve them. Mamas should really be exempt from this “resolutions” tradition. In fact, maybe we should take it one step further and have some anti-resolutions. I think two biggies on the list should be:
1) I will not diet.
The notion of depriving oneself of food when we indulge in so few pleasures is bordering on cruelty. Sure it’s good to be healthy but there’s nothing unhealthy about having the well-earned muffin top. Worry about that later and for now put a sign on your fridge door that says “Can you pinch an inch? Do you give a shit?”
2) I will not get suckered into a gym membership.
Time to get real – women who don’t even go to the bathroom alone are not likely to become regulars at the gym. Gym memberships are only wise investments once you no longer have a small child handing you toilet paper and flushing for you. Until then, build up a sweat the good old-fashioned mama way – chasing kids around the park, pushing double strollers through the neighbourhood, and hauling around a toddler, baby and three bags of groceries all at once.
If you just can’t start 2009 without some sort of plan for change, try these on for size:
1) I will not feel guilty.
Cut yourself some slack already. Chances are you’re not the perfect mother, partner, friend and sister because she is a mythical creature. Just try to be patient and do your best. When you screw up, just try to do better next time. Guilt takes up a lot of energy and energy is something we mamas need to conserve.
2) I will not care what people think.
Easier said than done, but worth every bit of time and energy you sink into it. You’re the mama and the boss of your little peeps. Who is better suited to call the shots – you or your meddling in-laws or the nosey neighbour? Go with your gut and to hell with the rest of them. You can even say that to them if you like.
So mamas, here’s to us for 2009! Let’s agree that we’ll consider 2009 a success if we get through it with our last few strands of sanity still intact.
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Hear, Hear!! Love the two suggestions for resultions – they are bang on.
Happy New Year!
Oh the classic new years gym membership! There should be a service that allows you to sell off your membership in March to someone that will actually go.
It sucks to be stuck having to pay for it when you can’t even find the time to go!
I totally agree, you can’t ever care what people think about the way you live your life. In the end, people can say what they want about what you do, or what you should do, but you are the one who has to actually do it!
You are so right Julie.
I have never made New Years resolutions, and never will.
Why would I make a resolution to do something just because it is Jan. 1st. If I couldn’t do it for the rest of the previous year, I’m not going to be able to do it now. LOL!
My only resolution might be to go easier on myself and not to feel guilty. We’re all doing the best job we can, and isn’t that enough?
Well, I might make a resolution this year to:
a. Sit down and eat dinner with the family while my food is still hot.
b. Read a book I want to read, that doesn’t have pictures.
c. Try to have at least one uninterrupted conversation with my husband per week.
I could probably come up with a couple more. But then again…why set myself up for failure. Right?
OK – I wanna know where this blog got a hit yesterday morning that there were several comments within the same time frame! Can one of you anonymous folks email me and let me know? julie@mabel.ca
wow crazmom – good plan on the uninterrupted conversation….let me know how that works for you!!
New Year’s resolutions date back to 153 BC when Janus, a mythical Roman king from whom we get the name for January, was named at the head of the calendar. Janus had two faces and so could look back on past events and forward to the future. Janus became the ancient symbol for resolutions and many Romans sought forgiveness from their enemies and also exchanged gifts before the beginning of each year. This tradition has spanned over two millennia as we all find ourselves promising to change our lives come January 1st.
~Yahoo! Canada Answers Blog
Goal setting is all well and good, but the last thing I need is an over-idealistic agenda from another two-faced political leader. New Years Resolutions are a thing of the past, Janus … (American) statistics show that New Years Resolution Usage has plummeted from 88% down to 45%.
My new year’s resolution was to spend more time with my friends. I figure that it’s a good one – one I can’t fail at, and that will make me happier. Everyone wins when mama is happy.
You said it sister! My res is to have more fun!
And congrats on going for the family size you want – i am sure you’ve gotten some remarks about THAT!
Linda
http://www.linda.mabel.ca
And I was just doing a periodic scan of http://www.mabel.ca to stay up to date whe I saw your too-true post.