I’ve said over and over how much I’m not really a fan of New Year’s Resolutions, mostly because they feel more like chores than anything else (and chores that will be immediately abandoned come January 2nd, at that). But another reason why they’re so not-especially-fun is that they’re all about “no”s. Don’t do that. Or that. Definitely stop doing this.
You know that thing you love? STOP DOING IT.
Ugggggh.
Anyway, in the spirit of adventure that I’ve been talking about all year long, here’s a list of some of the things I’d like to say yes to in the coming year.
- Yes to dates. Towards the end of my pregnancy Kendrick and I realized that we’d been seriously deprioritizing date nights (oh, it’s too expensive to get a sitter; oh, we’re too tired; oh excuse excuse excuse)…and promised that once our daughter was old enough to be left with a sitter we’d commit to having someone come on a regular basis so we can go out alone. Guess what? She’s old enough now. And every single time we go on a date, it’s like giving our relationship a shot of adrenaline. So: yes to regular, non-special-occasion, just-because dates. Yes yes yes.
- Yes to relaxing. Sometimes it feels like I’m performing a role in a play called Let Me Show You How On Top Of Things I Can Be, and even though what I really want to do is drink a glass of wine and let my son watch cartoons I end up whirling around our house making homemade meals and keeping the kitchen perfectly tidy and teaching my son piano before giving him a bath and reading educational stories and it is too much to do all the time. I’m going to start letting myself say yes at least once a week to a night off with takeout and a movie…because taking a break is sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself (and your kids).
- Yes to breakfast. When your mornings are spent running around getting two children dressed and fed and out the door, your own breakfast falls wayyyy down on the priority list. There are many (many) days when I don’t consume anything other than coffee until noon, and this makes me feel terrible. Obviously. And for real, how difficult is it to pour a bowl of cereal? Not. (Fiber One Honey Clusters is currently stockpiled in my cupboard, because it is DELICIOUS and brown sugar-y and oaty in addition to being full of…fiber. And everyone can use more fiber in their life.)
- Yes to Sunday Morning Pancakes. We’re constantly rushing around on weekends trying to pack in as many fun experiences as possible, but you know what’s really fun? Sitting around in your PJs and eating pancakes (and Fiber One’s Buttermilk mix has 20% of your daily fiber requirement in them, yay). Yes also to splurging on fresh fruit all year round; it can be expensive in the winter, but pancakes just aren’t the same without blueberries on top.
- Yes to knitting. I’m constantly passing yarn stores and petting the baskets of yarn and fantasizing about buying some, but then I tell myself that it’s a waste of money; we hardly need more blankets, and blankets are the only thing I know how to make. But you know what? I LOVE knitting. Love it love it love it. And when you take into account how long it takes me to make one of those blankets we’re talking about a pretty cost-effective extracurricular activity.
- Yes to us. I’m always so freaked out about how little time there is in the day and how much there is to get done that I deprioritize time just sitting with Kendrick, not doing anything but enjoying each other. Once the kids are in bed I instantly open my laptop, or flip on the TV, or start running through my to-do list…but I remember how wonderful it was back in the days before we had all these millions of things to do and could just lay there, talking or not, just…being together. So a big yes – maybe the biggest yes – to that.
Disclosure: This post is part of a collaboration between Fiber One and SheKnows.
