For the new year, I always make a long list of resolutions. I think it’s a good thing to have long-term goals. Some of my goals are ambitious, and some are very simple. But I don’t even want to go back and look at that list right now. I’m sure I would be sadly disappointed in this year’s performance.
One New year’s resolution was to bake a pie every month. I managed to keep that one until July. In July, I actually made two pies (two different blueberry pies, yum yum), and so I guess I considered myself off the hook in August. But then September came and went, and no pie. So, I am finally concluding that I am done with this year’s resolutions. I may, or I may not, make some more pies. But I’m through with trying to keep that resolution.
And this is why I like the new month’s resolutions so much. I still think the long-term goals are good to have, but short, tangible goals are a good thing too. Perhaps it could be a new habit that I want to try to develop, but most often it is simply what I need most for right then.
This month is baby month. There are some very mild housekeeping chores that I want to get done (putting away Oktoberfest decorations, for one). And I need to wash, dry, fold and sort my baby clothes and supplies – not an overwhelming task. And we need to play musical chairs with the car seats and move everybody around to their new spots and wrestle in the infant carrier. But that’s all I have to do.
I resolve that this month, if I don’t have to do it, I won’t do it. The boxes and boxes of photos that I’ve been vowing to sort through and maybe even scan? Not this month. Those Army stockings all cut out and ready to be sewn together? Not gonna happen. The closet that needs to be organized? Maybe next month.
Instead, this month, I will rest as much as possible both before and after this baby is born. I’ll take frequent baths. I’ll try to take daily naps. I’ll try to put my feet up often, and I’ll try to involve myself in the lives of some fictional people either by watching mindless movies or reading mindless novels. And I resolve to not feel an ounce of guilt for such idle behavior.
Do you have a new month’s resolution?
Reit This Way 
good luck with that… I bet you not only make a pie or two this month, but you also scan those photos, organize that closet and sew those Army stockings. Some of the best intentions to be restful and guiltfree come from mothers who are about to begin nesting… I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you.
Good for you! I think that’s a fantastic resolution!I think my October resolution is going to be to try to reeeeally keep the Sabbath a day of rest. Lately it’s seemed that my body has decided I’m either Jewish or Seventh-Day Adventist; Saturday turns into a nap-tastic day of rest, and then Sunday turns into a flurry of laundry and dishwashing and housework, because Heaven knows I won’t get it done during the week.
Yeah! Enjoy the babymoon to come! That’s the way it should be.
My resolution is to go ahead and do the semi-annual clothing swap. Poor Maggie is still wearing size 4 clothes when she will turn 5 this month-all because I am too lazy to pull out the bins from the closet and find her some new stuff.
Cris has a point.When I was 2 weeks away from Little Brother’s due date, I was just finishing up a freelance job scoring exams for ETS. I told my husband that the job was done and I was glad because my back was achy, and he said, “Great! Let’s go out to dinner tonight. And if you don’t want to cook or clean or anything for the next couple of weeks, don’t. Put your feet up and read and rest.”By dinnertime we were headed to the hospital (and having a brainstorming session on the way there, to figure out a name for the baby!)I hope you GET your rest time! 🙂
Amen! Best resolution ever!
Oct 3My resolution is complete, only need to buy Timmy some size 24mo pants. new resolution: to practice being gentle and kind to the children, EVEN when they are being horrid.This one might take a little longer than 3 days to achieve:(