This time last year there really wasn't time for resolutions or big declarations, we were just trying to survive being parents of a newborn. Our life was nothing but sleepless nights, swaddles, breastfeeding, rocking, changing and occasionally remembering to feed ourselves (showering was considered a luxury). Inevitably as the year wore on and our newborn turned into an infant and then a baby we created a workable routine for all of us. And it's been serving us well this past year. We sleep well now, eat more than one meal a day and some days are even able to surprise each other with our level of productivity. It's familiar, it's good and one would even be tempted to say that if it ain't broke why fix it. And yet...
And yet this year I'm looking to shake things up. If last year was about surviving then I want this to be the year I challenge myself. Nothing major but little tweaks here and there. We've gotten to a great place as a family of three and I'm rather satisfied with how the last year was spent. Although there certainly are handbooks on how to be a parents, some even go as far as to claim that one can be taught the fine art of being a "great" parent, but we all know that the biggest lessons and most valuable secrets are learned by simply diving in and finding what works for you and your family. Every child and parent is different and I feel like that first year is akin to dance classes where you all learn exactly how to shuffle all those feet just so.
This year I want to challenge myself to be a better mama. To slow down more often, to listen more and see the world through my little girl's eyes. I want to challenge myself to be a better wife - to find more opportunities for us be able to focus solely on each other and listen with both ears (as opposed to having one always be on the lookout for sounds of ripping, breaking, smashing or other general naughtiness). I want to challenge myself to focus on whatever it is that I commit myself to - to stop waking up late, getting distracted and to stop putting things off. I want to...