8 Mommy Resolutions for the New Year!

We all tend to make major, sometimes drastic and/or borderline ridiculous, New Year's resolutions around this time of year, but I feel there are a few resolutions we can make as Mamas this year that will actually do us some good physically and emotionally and will keep us going all year long!

1. Perfection Doesn't Matter

I will embrace the fact that I'm not perfect.

You can be cranky, you can lose your patience, and yes -- you can even move the clock ahead an hour just so the kids will go to bed early and give you some peace and quiet. You don't have to bake everything from scratch, make Halloween costumes out of scraps lying around the house, or coach the soccer team. Children don't need you to be perfect. What they really need are reasonable limits, lots of hugs and kisses, and a happy Mommy. 

2. Find Time to Play

I will get down on the floor and play with my children every day. 

Babies -- and older kids too -- need regular face-to-face time with the adults in their lives. And while it can be difficult to get involved in their fantasy world -- especially when you're busy or tired -- it's vital that you do it. Why? Because play is your child's way of expressing himself, and you being there boosts his emotional intelligence. Even if the floor isn't your forte, fake and follow you little one's lead. 

3. Practice Healthy Habits

I will take care of my body.

When's the last time you put your needs first? Even if you have to force yourself, carve out 30 minutes a day, several days a week, to get some exercise (Luckily, I have a hubby who is already on top of this and just got us a gym membership with a daycare center last week! Love him!). It improves your mood, blasts far, and boosts your immune system. And we're not talking spin classes (which I now avoid after twisting my ankle on one of the spin bikes, haha!) or complicated step aerobics here -- even a simple walk around the neighborhood will do the trick. While you're at it, try to eat a balanced diet and get as much sleep as you possibly can each night.

4. Accept the Reality of Motherhood

I will learn to love the chaos.

Family life is full of unexpected turns, contagious diseases, occasional humiliations, laundry, and more work than you'll ever see an end to. It is also full of moments of great beauty, tenderness, sticky kisses, and a miracle or two. Remind yourself that children are your excuse to lower your standards. As comedian Phyllis Diller once said, "Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing."

5. Connect at the Dinner Table

I will make the family dinner a priority. 

Sure, it's easier to grab pizza and eat in front of the TV than to arrange a meal at the dinner table. But the food isn't the focus -- the family is. Sitting down with your children each night allows you to connect and talk about your day. And research has found that kids who regularly have dinner with their parents are more likely to do well in school and stay out of trouble. 

6. Don't Forget the Romance

I will focus a little more on my marriage. 

Marriage is a living thing that needs to be watered, fed, and nurtured. But raising children takes so much time and energy that chances are you see less of your husband now than you did when the two of you were dating. The solution? Hold hands whenever you can, and hire a babysitter (or enlist a grandparent) once a week, so you can spend time as a couple.

7. Stay in Touch

I will make time for my friends.

You can live without friends, but why would you want to? Setting aside just 15 minutes a day -- to send a text message, dash off an e-mail, or make a phone call -- will do more than keep you connected. That's because friendships not only nurture you emotionally, they also help you combat stress by allowing you to blow off a little steam -- which in turn may actually lower your blood pressure.

8. Appreciate the Little Things

I will remind myself daily that time with my children is precious.

In just the past year, I've watched my baby girl go from a newborn who needed me for everything to an independent almost toddler who is borderline walking and wants to play and do on her own, and I'm about to watch it all over again with Little Man.

Motherhood never ends -- but childhood does. You have a tiny baby, you blink, and suddenly there's a 3-year-old standing in front of you, announcing, "I'm big now." The magic years are unbelievably brief, and every day that little girl or boy is changing and growing, edging a little closer toward the door. Remember the essence of parenting isn't in the milestones, but in the everyday moments. So stop, pay attention, and make sure you celebrate them every chance you get.