Resolutions

"Sudden resolutions, like the sudden rise of mercury in a barometer, indicate little else than the variability of the weather." - David Hare

When I used to be disciplined enough to work out at the gym regularly, I used to hate turning into the parking lot a day or two after the first of the year and having to settle in to circle for a spot for a half an hour. I would go in and hand my card to the girl, and then judge all of the people in there who would be gone in 2 weeks. The people who spent a fortune enrolling and hiring trainers and adding on members, to make themselves feel better about what they were unlikely to do regardless of what month it happened to be. 

 And while I still get mildly irritated at the memory of this, I can identify with wanting to be a better person, I just think there is a more subtle, resolute way to go about it.

I am not going to draw up a laundry list of things I should have been doing all year long, but now plan to do with such diligence and stick-to-it-ness that it would put Prometheus to shame. Not this year. This year I am going to baby-step it. My resolutions this year will focus on a shift in behavior, not a pipe dream of an unrealistic outcome - because after all, who wants to be set up to fail?

I don't plan to lose weight this year, but I do resolve to be healthier.
I don't plan to stick to a budget and update it weekly, but I do plan to buy less things.
I don't plan to see my girlfriends regularly or set up play dates on a regimented schedule, but I do plan to be intentional about making time for those who mean the most.
I don't plan to be the best parent, but I do plan to have more patience and tell my boys I love them more. After all, they will go to school one day, and as we all learned this year, no one is safe, anywhere.

And along that same thread, when I was thinking about those poor parents in Connecticut, and what advice they would give me if they could - I can't begin to speculate. I have heard some amazing stories about random acts of kindness that people are doing in honor of the memory of those little ones, and it is truly touching. I decided I would think about 10 things I can do better as a mom, and when I do them I will think why I am doing it.

Allison and Emilie - Take more pictures
Benjamin and Avielle - Hug them every morning and every night
Jessica Rekos and Caroline Previdi - Not say no to go fish
Noah and Jack - Tell them 5 things good things they do every day (at bed time)
Grace and James - Keep my promises
Jesse and Chase - Remember to pray with them
Catherine and Madeline - Blog more often, so I can remember how wonderful this time is
Dylan and Ana - Slow down and cherish these years at home with them
Josephine and Olivia - Set aside time with each boy by himself
Daniel and Charlotte - Say yes to "one more story" at least once a week 

Love my two boys.

 As far as blogging more often, I did a terrible job blogging in 2012, so this year I plan to carve out more time, to log the memory of how happy I am with little boys underfoot. And in the spirit of all good New Year's Resolutions .... I plan to start tomorrow.