Goals for 2012

On New Year's Eve we were eating dinner and started talking about new year's resolutions. Everyone in the family came up with a few. Ainsley (being the go-getter that she is) wrote hers down on a sticky note and put it on her bathroom mirror. Her goals are to 1) use less electronics 2) be more independent and 3) be more positive. John and I may or may not have suggested goal #2. And I would have to say that Ains has worked on her goals more than anyone else!
Owen's goal is to exercise more. I think the kids learned about that at school because they are both a little obsessed about what is exercise and what isn't. His exercising usually involves running and jumping on the couch or diving off the couch or doing some other weird movement. Since Owen is smart, he will also use his commitment to his goals as an excuse to get out of work. It's very convenient to declare a sudden workout when asked to clean your room.

Emmie has developed an aversion to her bed. So we will declare her goal....learn to sleep in your own bed. Occasionally she'll start out in her bed, but sometimes she insists on sleeping on the floor, or in her tent. She wakes up crying most nights and ends up in our bed since we have a desire to keep the two children that ARE sleeping, asleep. I don't know if I can say that she's been working diligently on her goal.
I think we also might have to add to her list, quit being afraid of the dark and the toilet. She sleeps with a nightlight AND a hall light on and even complains about the dark if' we're driving at night. This has been a first for me. And I'm convinced that Emmie will be my child who will wear diapers to kindergarten. If I even mention the toilet she gets mad. And lately if someone leaves the lid up she stands in the bathroom and says, "Scawy." Just what every mother of a 2 year old loves to hear!

Among other things, John and I are going to hone our parenting skills. We've finally admitted that we have no idea what we're doing and could use some help. I've been to a love and logic class in the past and liked what it taught. And since my children are far from perfect, and many times I just want to throw my hands in the air and give up....we bought this book. That will hopefully give us some practical strategies for dealing with our difficult moments. (I wish I would have bought the book for kids 0-6 when Ainsley was born...that would have been smart.)