2011 – Planning Ahead
I like making goals for self-improvement, and now’s as good a time as any, so here I go.
1. I resolve not to have a baby or get pregnant in 2011. This will be different from 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010, so don’t ever say I am not capable of change.
2. I resolve that I will do a better job of separating family time and study time. Conflating the two leaves me feeling like I’ve failed at both. If I have the boys, I have the boys, and that is that.
3. I resolve to reduce my consumption of cheese and sugary drinks in 2011. This shouldn’t be too hard, and it’s more focused than saying “I will eat better this year and lose lots of weight and get back into my super skinny jeans from 8 years ago, woo!” Though that’s the end goal.
4. I resolve to take our library books back ON TIME EVERY TIME, so I can continue to get Jack new books without feeling shame at the hugeness of our fine. (I will also stop checking DVDs out at the library, since I am categorically incapable of getting them back on time and we could just buy the DVDs for all the fines we end up paying).
5. I refuse to give up the resolution to do daily yoga, though I’ve had it for three years now and never done it. How can I make myself do this? Quiet stretching and meditation, even for five minutes . . . why won’t I squeeze it in? Is five minutes of sleep really that much better than taking a deep breath each morning?
6. The fun one! I resolve to run another half marathon. And to take our bicycles out for at least one long family ride together.
7. And finally, with the nice, even, round number of seven, my last resolution is to find a way to have more family time. Last term it was always one parent spelling the other – each of us taking turns with kid duty while the other parent worked. I can count on one hand the number of hours we spent as a foursome, taking a walk or playing a game. It was relentless and exhausting, and I didn’t like it, so we’re going to find more ways to avoid it, even if it means paying out the throat for child care.