What are your parenting goals for 2010?

I’m not big on resolutions but I do think goals help to motivate us into action.  The end of the year is a time we reflect on the previous 12 months and celebrate successes, milestones, and major events.  We also look at what didn’t work out for us or challenges we had that we couldn’t seem to overcome. 

If you’re a parent, it’s the most important job you’ll ever have and you only get one chance.  You’re responsible for helping  a person  become a well-adjusted, secure, responsible and loving human being.  Everything you say and do, works towards that end.  There isn’t a parent among us who is not going to struggle at some point or question their decisions or say or do things they later regret.  It just goes with the territory. 

If you’ve decided you want 2010 to be a better year than 2009 and you’re going to work towards a more peaceful, harmonious home environment, here are a few things to consider:

1. Your children want your presence much more than they want things.  Things provide short term happiness but nothing lasting.
2. Figure out if the challenges you have belong to you or your children.  It may be their behavior is perfectly normal for their age but your lack of patience is more related to your own personal frustrations.
3. It is not our job to ensure our children are happy all the time.  We all have to learn to deal with disappointments, set backs and hurts.  It’s  part of life.  You are not a bad parent if you don’t give your children everything they want.  Indulgence doesn’t make anyone happy in the long term. 
4. If you’re a new parent, all the latest gadgets and equipment are not going to make your baby smarter or happier.  The most important thing to give your baby is your love and nurturing. 
5. If you tend to be a yeller, and don’t want to be, put yourself in your child’s shoes.  Imagine what it’s like for him/her to be on the receiving end.  Always know that tomorrow offers a opportunity to start fresh. 
6. Honor and nurture your primary relationship.  If you don’t, you put your children’s foundation at risk.  They don’t ask to be brought into the world.  They have a right to grow up in a peaceful home.  It’s our job to create the best environment possible for children to feel safe, secure and loved.