10 Ways I Vow to Be a Better Mom in 2012 (Come Hell or More Dora)
I'm open to improving myself when it comes to raising my girls
I’d rather become the Kardashian’s third dog than go out on New Year’s Eve or make resolutions.
New Year’s Eve is like the prom — expectations are high, much money is spent, and someone always cries at the end. Resolutions are similarly amateurish.
However, with both of my daughters under the age of 4, let’s face it, I’m kind of an amateur mom. Which means there’s room for improvement. And in 2012, I promise to try. Like, really.
Here are the 10 ways I vow to do better next year as it relates to my girls, even though I know that no matter what, one (or all) of us will still end up crying anyway:
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I Vow to Stop Hiding the Kids Books I Hate Reading
Reading is totally fundamental. But some books are less fundamental than others. In other words, some children’s books just plain suck. And it’s the sucky ones that my 3-year-old seems to pick when it’s my turn to put her to bed. Her happiness is critical, but not much more so than my sanity. If I have to read Ladybug Girl and the Bug Squad one more time, someone or something will feel the wrath of my flyswatter. Oh wait, this is about turning a new leaf. Let me start again:
I vow to stop hiding the books I hate reading as soon as we donate Ladybug Girl and the Bug Squad to the library. -
I Vow to Stop Skipping Pages in the Kids Books I Hate Reading
It’s hilariously adorable how much my toddler loves Dora. So cute! Not so cute? The Dora books, which are shockingly long and painful. I mean, how many times will this little girl be called upon to save a kingdom? Who knew so many kingdoms existed? Is no one else capable of preventing imminent doom besides a little girl and a monkey? What kind of bad luck do you have to have to need to overcome obstacles just to make it to the goddamn toilet in one piece, day in and day out? And why is that stupid fox not roadkill already? And yet. My older daughter can now count to 12 and say “owl” in Spanish. So I’ll stop skipping pages. Even though it just might kill me.
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I Vow to Pick Up My Preschooler Before 3:59 pm
Preschool pickup is anytime between 3:30 and 4 pm. I wait until 3:59 pm. Not because I don’t adore my toddler. But because between the hours of 4 and 7 in my house, life sucks. And it’s mostly because of her. To delay the inevitable isn’t a bad thing. But I vow to man-up and grit my teeth a little harder to make it through the witching hour without losing my voice and/or my patience in 2012.
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I Vow to Bathe My Children More Often
It’s not like my kids are dirty. Or at least their clothes are clean. But the whole bathing thing is a ritual I kind of dread. Still, it wouldn’t kill my kids to be cleaned more frequently than our town's streets. Besides, that’s one of the main reasons why I have a husband.
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I Vow to Take My Toddler Outside More Often
I promise I’ll play with my daughter outside more in 2012 than I did in 2011. It’s not that my daughter watches that much TV. But I feel a bit bad when she asks to go outside and instead I ask her to watch TV. She just always seems to want to go outside at the most inconvenient times. Like when it’s sunny out. Or when she's awake.
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I Vow to Stop Illegally Drugging My Toddler
No more will her nighttime bottle be filled with scotch. After all, that’s what Benadryl is for.
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I Vow to Stop Telling My Older Daughter She Can't Have the Last Piece of Chocolate
Instead I’ll just keep our stashes separate. And mine secret.
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I Vow to Preserve My Toddler’s Artwork
Or at least be a little discriminating and not throw away each and every piece. Just the ones that are oddly sized (read: bigger than a bread box, or made out of a bread box), and the ones she swears are masterpieces, even though they are actually only pieces of paper that she used as a napkin while eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
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I Vow to Lift the Play-Doh Ban
My toddler may start using Play-Doh again in 2012. As long as it’s at someone else’s house and the mess gets trapped in the fibers of their carpet.
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I Vow to Stop Writing About My Daughters
Ha ha. Who are we kidding? How else will their future therapists earn a living if I don’t keep writing about them?
Take pictures of your kid’s artwork. That way you have it forever without having a TON of papers forever. Keep only the MOST special pieces.
LOL about the bathing. I have 8 month old twins and they get bathed once a week. That’s it. I can’t manage it any more often! Re: the chocolate. Mine aren’t old enough to know about my chocolate addiction and they shall never find out. I’ll keep it in a lockbox because I eat expensive chocolate and noyoumaynothaveany.
At least you have girls and are not stuck reading books about trains, trucks, airplanes, and other machinery for years on end, LOL!
Ha I do all these things lol but I have a 6 year old and a 4 month old the age difference makes everything easier but for the most part I have done or do most of these things lol Oh and our Dr. said to give him benadryl at night so if the Dr. says so right?
lol
Oh my son knows way too much about chocolate allready, “Thanks Grandma”…
I swear he can smell it if I try and eat a peice behind his back, he knows, and makes sure I know he is aware of my failed sneakery.
In 1012 I promise to… not mute the baby monitor in the morning when my son wakes up and wants out of his crib, while I still want to squeeze in another 30 minutes of sleep because I stayed up too late the night before.
Thank you. I could have written this. But I didn’t. Not because I was busy bathing my 9 month old twins or my 3 year old. But since I am sitting up at 12:45 with one of the babies, I am very curious about the Benadryl. Good night.
HAHA! This is brilliant. My two girls are both under four as well and it’s like you’re reading my mind
I love this! I always resolve to be a better mom, but then something shiny catches my attention
Nannies4hire.com Helps with New Year’s Resolution to be a Better Parent
We at Nannies4Hire (www.nannies4hire.com), an online nanny, babysitter and family database, understand we all have “those” days. You’re tired, frustrated, and harried. Your child is having a difficult day of her own, and she’s being a little difficult to handle as a result. In that weak moment, you blurt out hurtful words to your child. Immediately, your conscience goes to work. “Why did I say that? Why can’t I have more patience? This is not how a loving parent should act!” So, in the midst of your hectic Holiday schedule, you settle on your new year’s resolution: to be a better parent. Here are some things you can do to fulfill your resolution.
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