Many people make resolutions for the new year.  A new year is a great time to start to work on something new.  Why not give it a whirl? Especially after the Christmas season and all the snacking and eating we tend to do… it seems like a good time to resolve to make a change in lifestyle.  A promise for ourselves!

I confess that I have yet to hold true to any resolutions I have ever made for a new year.  I don’t remember any that I have made, actually, so I’m sure that I haven’t kept them going!  This year, my family resolution started with a Christmas gift to my kids.  We made a stack of kid-and-parent dates and put them all into sealed envelopes.   There is one envelope for each month of the year and each envelope contains three slips of paper each, a date for each of my kids.  We are promising to take the time to treat each one of our children, individually, each month.  That means that each of them get a special treat to look forward to.  We will open our envelopes on the first of the month and then pick a day for each child’s date to happen.  I’m looking forward to it already.

In thinking about the New Year, I put the call out to parents in Kamloops and to  the KP Been There Done That Squad to see what they had come up with for their Resolutions, if they have them!

Here’s what they said…

Jackie

I would like to learn how to cook healthier meals for my family.  Even if it cooking class for parents or even with my 8 year old working together would be nice in the new year.

Jennifer

Well, there’s always a healthy eating and better fitness goal!  Since I returned to work from maternity leave back in September, my poor dog is packing on the pounds again so I have a resolution to walk him every day of the week, rain or shine!

Amanda H

We are going to have a month free of eating out.  We often like to eat on the go or get take out about once a week.  For Jan. or maybe longer we will be eating all meals made at home, not only will it be healthier but it saves money

Wendy

Get the house organized and unpacked before January is done.

Alison

This year I decided rather than have “New Years” resolutions, I would just change things for the better!

• Lose my attachment to my iPhone (this is easier said than done)
• Limit eating out/take out dinners to once per two weeks
• Meal plan (even loosely) for the week ahead on Saturdays, and try to grocery shop accordingly
• Make sure the whole family gets “me” time, and “our” time
• Run the 5K Boogie The Bridge with my hubby, and have both kids do the mini run
• Keep work time separate from family time
• Cut down screen time for the whole family

Gerry

Our family resolution this year is to make more good memories.

Miranda

This year as a family I have pulled out a stack of books I would like to read together though out the year. All my children love to be read to even the babies will snuggle in and sometimes even fall asleep.

Carissa

We don’t have any family resolutions. Just me with the same old, same old, try a little harder to lose some weight. I also want to take more time to live in the moment and try not to worry about the little things. Housework isnt going to go anywhere so I want to spend more time enjoying my family while they are young.

Joshua

Coming up with New Years resolutions is harder than fulfilling them.

Erynn

Personally and as a family we’re looking forward to being more active.  My husband and I both need it,  baby girl loves it and it’s important to model that sort of behaviour for her

I’m also really, really looking forward to finishing her bedroom.  I know, I know she’s almost two…
When I was pregnant we never made her a bedroom, there was a room in the house already decorated as a nursery and that just became her room, we were broke and it was cute and I knew we’d be roomsharing anyway and so it stayed that way.  It wasn’t until after she got here that I realized how sad I was to have never gotten to make her a room.  Now she’s older and we know her personality so much more so I know exactly how I want to finish her room.  We just need to make the time!

Krystal C

New years resolution:
Family: BE PRESENT at all times with my kids. Through nap time battles, teething, temper tantrums, and all else, remember that these days do not last long, and they need all of the love I can muster especially when I have nothing left to give. For my husband, ensure that we have enough “us” time, and be there to lighten his load, not add to his stresses.
Business: 2012 will bring 4 new products I’ve been working on for a while. We have 35 retailers, up from 6 in 2010. I want to grow my business as much as I can, while maintaining family balance, because they are the reason that I do what I do.

Jesica

I’m not one for New Years resolutions, for some reason I also feel like starting new goals in september rather than January. With that said I think I will make 2012 about making the most of everyday and enjoying all the people in my life!

Melissa

Our big goal this year is to spend more time with our extended family. We hope to take advantage of the fact that I won’t be working weekends anymore so we can make more fun family day trips to spend time with relatives. Most of our family lives at least a 3 to 4 hour drive away!

Krystal

Eating whole foods. I am constantly updating out diet to exclude the over processed, refined, ‘Western’ foods that are finally being outed as the culprits of our poor health. Living in the society that we do this is a never ending struggle but one that we make ground on with every passing season. Cutting out the crackers and cereal has been a big one for us.

Jen

New Years 2012….big things that will happen in the next year, if everything goes as planned, are that we will be diaper free, soother free, and running a weekly pre-school program.  All things kid related but isn’t everything?!?

Tracy

To be in photos together more.  I often step out of photos, or always take them, but I need to be in more photos with my boy.

Myles

I have never really been one for resolutions in the past. However, I am contemplating some personal ones for this year. One of them has to do with personal prioritization (don’t worry, it’s not supposed to make sense). The goals will just be to focus on key elements in life; family and friends. While still following and contributing, in some form, to the world of music and politics. Simple ones; read more, write more.

Tamara

We don’t generally make New Year’s Resolutions, but I would like to spend more time outside doing active things together as a family.

Sarah

My personal resolution is to keep up (or improve) my physical health.  I am still trying to lose those last few pounds and I have a goal to run a 10km run at the Vancouver Sun Run in April. As far as my family resolutions I would like to stop yelling. I find I get frustrated too quickly and I THINK it has to do with lack of sleep. I’m going to try to get to bed by 10pm every night, get up at 6am and get on my elliptical for some “me” time before the kids get up.

Crystal

I don’t really believe in resolutions because I don’t want to have anyone to account to if I fail at them. As far as goals for 2012, the most important one is my daughter forming a bond with her father now that he has chosen to be in her life after 19 months. Its a long slow process but one that will benefit both of them in the end.

Sean

We don’t have any set resolutions that we’ve made up. For me the end of the year is a good time to reflect and look at what I want to improve, change or redo in general.

Holly

Ahh! Resolutions – so many things I want to accomplish this year! But, I narrowed it down for success sake! One specific: Less t.v. for the kids, – I don’t really have a strategy yet, only to up my interaction with them and have a better plan for quiet time!

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What is the Been There Done That Squad?

A team of over twenty-five parents who have all sorts of parenting experiences. From the Mom of thirteen with one on the way, to the first-time Dad of one. From the experienced parent, to the rookie! If you want the truth…. we are all rookies. Each day presents something new, somewhere we have not already been, something that we have not already done. So, why not look to someone who has?!
The KP BTDT Squad will be sharing their experiences and answering two questions per month. Each parent will answer the questions if they can and their answers will be compiled into a feature post to share with readers. These will be general questions that many parents will wonder about as they raise their children. The BTDT Squad will be talking about subjects like potty training, how they dealt with picky eaters, their most favourite family adventures, and how they managed to ever sleep through the night!

About your Author | Elizabeth

Elizabeth is a Kamloops lifer. Born at RIH, she is happy to be raising her family here. Married with three wonderful children, Elizabeth is a full-time teacher and enjoys working with parents as she learns more about this "Mommy gig". Elizabeth is passionate about parenting and enjoys networking with other parents. She has been running KamloopsParents.Com since March 2010.