Moms Talk: Improving in 2012

New Year's resolutions are in full swing as promises to quit smoking and lose weight pile up by the mass. 

Does your family set goals for the New Year? Do you have individual goals, or ones that encompass the whole crew? How do you set (and follow through) with resolutions that your kids develop? 

Jenny Wescoat
My husband announced that he was getting in shape this year. My reaction was, "Oh, no— do I have to join you?" It's great, though. I'll be excited to see what his specific plans are for reaching his goals. 

With our newborn home, I am really sandbagging it. I'm just hoping to get everyone to school on time and keep them all fed and in clean clothes for the first couple of months. I do hope to get running again in a few weeks, but even some slow walking would be acceptable at the rate I'm getting things done right now! 

However, I am setting some goals for our family. I sat down with my kids over the break and we brainstormed a few family rules to help navigate some of the sibling squabbles. I am also setting up a new system for chores and hoping that will help them take ownership of a couple of things and let them earn a few nickels and dimes.

I've also decided to stop trying to have cash on hand for allowance and set up a little fake bank. I bought our little bank book at Target yesterday so we will see how that goes! Hope everyone has a happy new year!

Lisa May
Happy New Year to all of you. My children did not mention any specific goals, except my son. He wants to get straight A+'s in fourth grade. I mentioned that he would be in fifth grade as well this year. He is not ready to set those goals yet. 

My husband usually does not have anything specific. I think we both hope to eliminate negativity in our house and learn other, better ways to deal with problems. 

I tend to set personal goals every year. I think one reason is that my birthday falls at the beginning of the year, too. I will continue to simplify our life and organize my time better. I want to focus on writing (I feel I can lose it, if I don't do it often). Continue in my fitness goals, meaning continue to do something. Lastly, both my husband and I wish to keep saving more money for various things. 

Something we do every year with the children on New Year's are yearly questions. Ours are: 

I am lucky because.................
If I had 3 wishes, they would be.............
I am a little afraid of.................
Favorite color...............Favorite toy................

It's interesting to see the answers through the years.

Jennifer AuBuchon
Well, my husband doesn't have any resolutions.  My son asked him today if that was because he's perfect...ha ha!

My daughter has resolved to set aside more "quiet time," while my son has resolved to "annoy his sister less." I have resolved to spend less time on Facebook and more time at the gym, working on organizational projects around my home, and on actually doing projects that I've been "pinning" on Pinterest!  That's about all at our house.  Can't wait to hear the others!