I’m trying out a different newsletter platform. We’ll see how it goes.
Tip Sheet ☑️
IF you do New Year’s resolutions (and I’m not saying you should), make a few resolutions that have to do with rest, taking care of yourself, enjoying leisurely pursuits.
See: 5 Ways to Reject the Hustle in ParentingIF (and only if) you do New Year resolutions, think about where there’s a pattern of disappointment and discouragement. Do you need to possibly give up some of your expectations of others?
On that note, don’t have too many expectations of January 1st. The date is not inherently more magical or dynamic than December 31st. Maybe it’s better for you to start a resolution halfway through the month.
Maybe just finish the resolution you started in 2020. Attack a new goal or system on January 28. Don’t give up Tastykakes until February 15. Stuff like that.
If you have no resolutions, that’s ok, too.
Back to the regular tipsAs appropriate, assign children a day of the week to be the main meal person. My children have long had kitchen chores, but several months ago our family started this official structure. A 7-year-old can help with meal preparation and set the table. An 11-year-old might need to figure out what to create from leftovers you set out, or what he can reasonably make from available food in the refrigerator and pantry. It could be that the teenager whips up a large batch of waffles to freeze for upcoming breakfasts.
Establish a quiet time in your household. (You might have heard me preach on this before). I have been asked in several places to give more detail more about this. For now, read more here and here.
Comment below: What’s something that works well for your family that you’d like to share?
Tackling Turbulence
KID QUOTES 💬
Actual Kid Tip (from one boy to his constantly whiny brother by the same mother):
“Go gripe a tree.” 🌳
CAPTAIN’S LOG 👩🏼✈️
On the off-chance you hadn’t heard the news…
This Holiday Break, I Let Go and Lived on the Edge
🎄 On Christmas day, while the house slept, I ran the dishwasher on the express cycle (instead of the usual three-cycle, four-hour setting). THE DISHES DID NOT DIE. After my normal exercise + breakfast routine, I went rogue and played an actual game on my iPad. A GAME. MOM PLAYED A GAME ON A DEVICE. (A game, I’ll add, that I was tricked by the internet into downloading this after a hilarious session earlier in the week playing Crossy Road surrounded by my three boys. I’ve never felt so inadequate in all my whole life.)
Anywho, as my boys came down, they each watched and helped me out (IT’S A WORD GAME, YES!!!), and so did my husband. Who says quality family time can’t happen organically around a device?
I set out food for the kids to graze all the day long. (Turns out, it made no difference on the STATE OF THEIR STARVATION.)
At some point, I double-dipped with my finger into Kahlúa-laced whipped cream that we had with pie. And then did it a few more times.
By then (and after presents), I was on such a glorious and ridiculous roll. I ate two pieces of pie, one RIGHT AFTER the other. And then, while my children were in the other room, I literally licked my pie plate clean.
And for most of the day, I gallivanted around in a snug tank top and leggings with new furry house boots (simultaneously breaking them in while making sure I wanted to keep them). Me, having nailed the dressed-down-celebrity-caught-on-camera-look.
How’s your holiday? What’s your unexpected fun family time activity? What have you been wearing? (You don’t need to answer that last one.)
Happy New Year to ya.
Enjoyed the newsletter. Still working on my Word for the year.