Another New Year!

I am proud to say that I kept my resolution about not making resolutions.

I do not really believe in New Year resolutions; I think every single day is an opportunity to make a fresh start; to try to do better; to have a somewhat clean slate. So, why not make resolutions on say January 23 instead of the 1st (granted, that is Chinese New Year...).

Anyway, last year I did make some New Year wishes and thought it would be nice to review them, and see if I can come up with a few more. Wishes are things I would like to happen, but are not a to-do list that will cause guilt if I do not finish before next year arrives.

1. Folding laundry quicker – well... I still have last year's laundry sitting in my dryer right now...

2. Cleaning the house – the house remains in a state of organized chaos, but we are all alive, no one died of food poisoning, and we do not have some weird fungus growing on us or our stuff, so I consider this a win...

3. Unpacking from the move – still have some boxes, but we did find some bed linens; so, it is a start!

4. Write more – I am writing now!

5. Read more – There is a book on my bedside table with no pictures in it, and I got to use my library card more than once this year (my daughter uses her card a lot)

6. Try be happier – I think I am a fairly happy person, most of the time, okay, some of the time, okay... occasionally

7. Worry less – probably never going to happen, I just find different stuff to worry about

8. Be the Best mother I can be – this is a goal I plan on working on for the rest of my life

So some new wishes:

1. Try to go to bed earlier

2. Try not lose my temper as much

3. Try to tell my little one I Love Her at least once a day, especially on days when she is driving me crazy, and when I want to give her to her grandparents. And, try to tell this to her when she is conscious, not when she is asleep and looking like a little angel.

4. Continue to try to be the mother my daughter needs me to be

What are your new year wishes?

Happy New Year!

Christmas time

Christmas is rapidly approaching, and I started thinking, which is actually not that often, as I am in a constant panic about not getting everything done on time. Anyway, I digress, I started to think about what Christmas actually means to my daughter.

I am guessing for her, Christmas means candy canes, decorated trees, lots of food, and of course Santa and presents. I am trying to encourage her to think of Christmas as a time to be good and kind to others (though this should be all the time), and an occasion to spend and enjoy time with people you care about and care about you. It is nevertheless hard to compete with presents.

We are not a religious family. I did not grow up in a very religious household, but when I was little, my parents did take my sister and I to church almost every Sunday – I vaguely recall making crafts and colouring stuff. When I was older, I enjoyed some of the pageantry and rituals associated with going to church, but I definitely did not like sitting through the sermons. Yet, even with my lack of attention during my 'religious' upbringing, I do remember the Christmas story.

My daughter has never stepped foot in a church, okay, that is not completely true, her school concerts take place in an auditorium inside a church, and I think we had to go to one to vote, but you know what I mean. (And, this blog is not really about how I am introducing, or in this case, not introducing religion to my daughter.)

Well, I figure the easiest way to find out what my little one is thinking about is to just ask her.

And here is what she told me: Christmas is time for family.

I think she knows exactly what Christmas is all about.