The New Year

I'm not big on New Year's Resolutions. I've always said that I believe that if you see a change that you need to make, just do it NOW...don't wait for a magical day in the future like January 1 to do it. I live by that creed also. I always have.

For some reason, this year is different. I didn't plan it that way, it just happened. Somewhere between the hustle and bustle of the holidays and New Year's Eve I had a crisis moment--or series of moments--when everything seemed to be falling apart, including me emotionally, and I realized that change must happen, the sooner the better.

My meltdown crisis just happened to conincide with the New Year this year. So for the first time in many, many years, I am making some New Year's Resolutions! But to me my "resolutions" differ from typical resolutions, like "eat less sugar" or "go to the gym" or "lose 20 lbs" or "read my scriptures daily," because rather than making task lists, I'm changing the way I live my life. My heart has been stirred and I have been moved to change the way I live. Changing the way I live will involve task lists, but those are incidental.

So here goes. Here are some of the ways my life is changing in 2012.

1. I am now a better listener. To my husband. To my children. To those around me. To wise council, to toddlers who are distraught, to my elders. To my son who has anxiety, someone to listen to him is one of the most important aspects of his life.

2. For the past week as I have been praying for inspiration pertaining to how to more effectively run my household, I have felt the quiet whisperings that I have come to know so well repeating again and again, "Stay home. Take care of your family." So, while I recognize that I AM already home a lot, that I don't work full time or take weekend vacations often, perhaps I can more effectively BE home when I am here. Be present. Attend to the needs of my family. Be the mom.

3. Be proactive as a mother. I have only a few years to equip my children with so many skills and values, such as house cleaning, time management, communcation skills, relationship skills, organizational skills, etc. I will be more proactive at teaching them what I can about these things and involving them in the processes of the home.

4. De-junk. It's time. It has been neglected ever since I got pregnant with the triplets. I can ignore it no longer. Yesterday I took two trash bags full of junky toys to the trash can. Today I loaded two full that will go to charity. It's a start. I have a long way to go. I still have so much brain fog from my pregnancy, but I think that decluttering my home will help to declutter my mind. I need order here. It's time.

5. Be inspired. Not that I haven't done this in the past. But I feel a need to recommit.

6. Be gentle to myself. I am definitely my own worst critic.

7. Get more sleep, and don't feel guilty about it. I need it!

Here we go. Inspired, I look forward to a year of growth and changes. I'm only one mom, but I am the only mom my children have. Every day is an opportunity to choose my path and create the home I want to live in. Some days I will most certainly fall short of what I would like, but I will continue to strive for the best I can be. It feels like a fresh start. There is much work to do.