Moms everywhere rejoice [1] when a new school year arrives, because it means we can return to the structure [2] and routine of drop-offs, pick-ups, homework, and earlier bedtimes. The first few weeks of school [3] are always so refreshing and exciting, and whether they admit it or not, the kids are usually just as happy to go back as us moms are to wave them goodbye in the morning. It's a time of new beginnings, and just as our kids enter the school year [4] with a new set of goals, so should us moms. After reflecting on last school year and taking note of which of my behaviours (or lack thereof) created more problems for my family than necessary, I made a nice little list for myself with things I want to accomplish this year. It's easy to fall into bad habits and routines, so I'm trying to stay one step ahead of the game with some realistic mom goals. Who's with me?
Stock Up on Socks and Underwear
I wonder how many hours I've spent looking for socks and underwear in the wee hours of the morning. I can't keep up with my son's ever-changing underwear preferences, and socks disappear as if my home were the Bermuda Triangle. I'm stocking up this year, and everyone in my house will have 14 pairs of fresh, plain, white, easily-matchable socks. Hell, I'll even schedule in a sock and underwear inventory day in November to make sure we're still in good standing.
Just Say No
I promise that the words that come out of my mouth will loosely match the words I think in the privacy of own my own mind. So when the teacher asks for volunteers to lead an arts and crafts activity at the holiday party even though I just volunteered the week before, I'll say, "No, I can't" without an ounce of guilt. My sanity is a priority.
Lower My Expectations
My expectations of myself and others will be low this year. We're all human trying to navigate through life's chaos as best we can. It's unlikely that I'll be able to stick to all of my goals for the entire year, but I'll aim to at least be better than last year. When I fail, I'll simply dust myself off and try again. And if I don't? That's perfectly OK, too.