Admit it. You have felt that tinge of jealousy when you see the picture-perfect family while you are holiday scrolling on social media. You wonder in awe and disbelief—how is it that hair and makeup are perfect, the house is stunning, the presents are plentiful, and all the kids are smiling for the holiday picture?
In your very everyday world, this picture of bliss feels utterly unattainable. The clutter in the kitchen multiplies every hour. Your children are wearing last year’s winter clothing, now a size too small with hems ready for the next flood. The cookies are store-bought, and no one is smiling under the crush of holiday deadlines, last-minute school projects, or remembering those presents you forgot to buy. Thank goodness for the grocery store gift card wall.
As parents, we vow to do better next year. Next year will be the year we get our act together. After all, New Year’s is here, and a few good resolutions can fix everything.
To lighten your load and give you some comic relief during these busy days, we offer you the following resolutions to help win at this parenting game:
1. #MessIsMore.
If we all post pictures of the mail piled up, the overflowing baskets of clothes waiting to be washed and folded, and stacks of dirty dishes in the sink, we can make messy trendy. A clean house is so overrated.
2. Give up on sleep.
Think of how much more you could do if you shaved off a little time each night. Who says we need eight hours of sleep each night? That is such an arbitrary number.
3. Caffeinate regularly.
Caffeine is a busy parent’s best friend. This will help you tremendously when you give up on sleep. Think about adding that espresso machine to your wish list.
4. Embrace that perfect is always the enemy of good.
If you have a roof over your head, dinner for the evening and something to smile about, you have a lot.
5. Believe the chaos is there, even if you cannot see it.
From AI and Photoshop to knowing how to take excellent cell phone photos, the nitty-gritty realities of family life often fall out of the frame. We promise it is there, just like Big Foot.
6. Crowdsource your parenting.
I promise your friends have great ideas, and you can learn from their disastrous mistakes. And they love to give advice. You have to be good at the nod and smile while thinking of what you need at the grocery store.
7. Feed your kids the rainbow.
Have you ever noticed that so many foods your kids like are shades of brown and beige—French fries, chicken nuggets, cheese pizza? Get some color in their diet with apples, spinach, and chocolate ice cream. For good measure, throw in some Skittles now and then.
8. Perfect your delivery of “no.”
It has been said that no is the most important word in time management, and the same could be said for kid management. Say no to candy bars for lunch, drinking grape juice on the white couch and to teenage drivers.
9. Put your phone down and spend time with your kids.
Because one day, they’ll be teenagers, and the only way to communicate with them will be through text messages.
10. Enjoy that less is more.
Less stuff in your crowded house, less time on your phone, less stress, and less worry. Embrace that you and your parenting are enough and exactly what your kids need.
In all seriousness, whatever resolutions you choose (or not), be compassionate with yourself. Wanting a healthy relationship with your kids and for them to thrive is a brave and honorable desire. You’ve got this.
