Once again, Sarah’s post has reminded me that I did start doing new month’s resolutions over a year ago, but another month has begun with me completely forgetting.

The past few weeks have been difficult…but more on that another time.

However, in light of how overwhelming life with a starving underweight newborn can be, my resolution (outside of feeding my child) must be very very simple.

There are some cute stores in the small downtown area near where I live, and they are all within walking distance of each other: a toy store, a book store, other specialty stores. One day this month, I will go shopping and see if I can cross some Christmas gifts off my list (hmm, maybe I’ll need to write that list too?). I’ll support the local merchants, and maybe find some things that my online shopping doesn’t usually display.

And, I’ll definitely be looking for a “Made in America” label.

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?

I am so glad that we moved recently. The necessary clutter and disheveled closets that inevitably occur when one lone woman tries to stay on top of a household full of small children are still in the manageable stages.

I am so glad I started school three weeks ago. Routines are in place. If I say, “Go fetch the Solutions Manuel,” my son knows what I’m talking about. I understand all those cryptic abbreviations on my daily planner.

Topping this month’s to-do list are some pretty big chores. I could put them off, but I’ll regret it. One is stocking my freezer and pantry with at least the ingredients for some basic, easy meals. It would be nice if I actually converted the bricks of ground meat into homemade meatballs or hamburger patties, too, but I’m not going to push it. If I have meat, pasta, and a jar of Ragu, I can throw together dinner in short order. And heaven forbid we run out of frozen waffles and I have to listen to complaining after being awake all night with a baby.

And then there’s the big clothing swap: the dreaded chore of pulling out long pants and shirts and then lugging kids to stores or the thrift shop to find pants long enough in the leg but narrow enough in the waist. Finally, the temperatures are showing a bit of promise that they may go low enough that someone might actually want to wear pants. I’m not getting any skinnier, so the awkwardness of doing the chore with a big belly can’t deter me from this. I might gamble on decent temps through mid-October, it could happen, but doing this job with a newborn who must be held constantly doesn’t sound very appealing either. It’s really got to be done by the end of the month.

And then there’s our fourth annual Oktoberfest. Bill actually suggested not doing it. I actually considered his suggestion. But I think if we keep it simple, it won’t be too overwhelming. Of course, if you know me…or Bill…we don’t know how to do simple. The date is September 29th, so if you think you might be in the area, and you like German beer, bratwurst and warm potato salad, this is the place to be.

With such a busy month, who has time for a resolution, right? No, no, no. This is exactly the kind of month where one does need to resolve something to keep one’s sanity. For me, it will be my walking. I definitely feel much worse if I don’t go out and stretch those aching hips with a stiff waddle around the neighborhood. I’m aiming for three days a week, minimum. The dog is hoping for every day. That’s it: 20 to 30 minutes around the block.

Do you have a new month’s resolution?

It’s a new month, and time for a new resolution. Last month I resolved to cut up that extra fabric and get a head start on my Christmas stockings. I cut out about 50, which is about 1/3 of the job. Not too bad. The great thing about these resolutions is that they are just for one month, and I can forget about it now, and stop beating myself up for not finishing it.

This month will be busy enough with traveling and unpacking, finding the local shopping areas, locating the chapel on post, and just figuring out how to get from Point A to Point B. But I still think I can squeeze in a simple resolution. This month I’m going to get Pete a new bed and transition him into it. Usually, I just get a real twin size bed when it’s time for the baby to give up the crib, but his room will still need to fit the crib for the new addition. A regular bed will take up too much room, so I think a toddler bed will be best. There’s no way I’d buy a new one, especially since I see them for sale used all the time. I’ll have to be patient, and maybe do a little extra leg work – possibly even go out early on a sultry Saturday morning and hit some yard sales. Or I’ll just pray that the thrift shop on post had a nice one donated and I’m the lucky first person to spot it.

That’s it for me. Have you got a new month’s resolution? Nothing too challenging – it’s summer break after all. Let me know!

I am so glad it is finally June. May was a tough one.

Not that June will be much better! Next week is jam-packed, there is one long weekend we’ll be out of state, and then the movers come. Somehow, I’ve got to get this house organized, cleaned and pared down in between doctor’s appointments, parties and the Scout overnighter.

I could resolve to relax: take a few minutes every day to rest, have a cup of lemonade, read a book, maybe take a bath. Ain’t gonna happen. Recently I actually happened to be watching TV that wasn’t geared for preschoolers, and I saw a commercial for a drug for “restless leg” syndrome. First it showed a woman unable to fall asleep; next it showed the same woman, presumably having received an appropriate dosage, reclining on a lounge chair doing a crossword puzzle. I’m sure there are plenty of drugs (legal and illegal) that would give me a certain level of apathy enabling me to do a crossword puzzle this month. But my guess is that they’re not safe for pregnant women. Instead, I’ll just forget about taking it easy this month.

Besides my full plate, there is one thing I’d really like to do. Last Christmas I made stockings for soldiers and sold them for a handy profit. I have a ton of fabric remaining and would like to do it again this year. With the baby coming in October, there is no way I’d reasonably think I could do that in November. It must be done before the baby comes. If I do it in stages, it shouldn’t overwhelm my schedule, or so I theorize.

So this month, I am going to take that fabric and cut it into stockings shapes. That’s it. I think it’s only perhaps 4 or 5 hours of labor all told, but I’ll break it up into 20 or 30 minutes sessions. And with school finishing up today, the dining room table will be available at no inconvenience to anybody.

What is your new month’s resolution? Little goals only! Save the big goals for a new year; for a new month just pick one small thing that you want to do, and tell me about it.

I didn’t forget to post this earlier, I was just busy cleaning my house for a party. Now, why on earth did I clean my house prior to 25 to 30 children coming through it with handfuls of potato chips and cups of purple Kool-aid? I guess because I love that Dyson so much…

It’s the first of the month, and I love the opportunity that a new beginning affords. No big plans, just focus on one small thing for one month. This month, I’m going to concentrate on ending this school year and getting ready for next year. We’re plugging along nicely in our curriculum…well, I’m forcibly dragging my boys through these last few weeks. But we’re not behind and barring unforeseen emergencies, we should finish at the end of the month. I’ve promised them a trip to the National Gallery of Art on June 1st as our final reward, and I’ll even let them pick out something from the gift shop if they earn enough smiley faces in the next four weeks for cooperative behavior. It is so hard to get them to focus on math and handwriting when the warm, sunny outdoors beckons them (and me!).

Then in early June, I’m going to the IHM Conference where I can place a book order and get free shipping. I will finalize my shopping list this month, and be all ready to order next year’s supplies. I hope this will reduce the temptation to browse and splurge-purchase that awesome music program that I will never use or those really nice math manipulatives that will only be strewn about the schoolroom by the toddler on a daily basis.

Come July, we’re moving to Kansas. Strangers will come and box my things and put cryptic lables on them. There is no guarantee that all the school supplies will be packaged in their own boxes or have similar labels. I might open a box and think it’s only candlesticks, tablecloths and serveware…but buried underneath all that may be a math textbook and all the blank notebooks I stocked up on at some end of season sale. My husband begins classes on August 13th, and I plan to do the same with the kids. Not being able to locate school stuff is a sure-fire way to drive this homeschool momma bonkers. So when my order from the conference arrives, I will add to it the books I already own that I will need for Billy and Katie. These items will be carefully set aside with a clear label and will travel with us so I know exactly where everything I need is.

So, finish school, make a booklist, and set aside texts needed for next year. I’ll worry about moving next month.

Do you have a new month’s resolution? Last month, Cris resolved to have her baby, but it didn’t work out that way. I’ll bet she succeeds this month, though!

Yikes! I forgot that yesterday was the first of the month!

This is a tough month for me to have a resolution. I’ll be spending nearly half of this month traveling.

Well, actually that lends itself to a perfect resolution. Between the feasting of Easter and the necessary eating-out that accompanies a road-trip of 15 hours, I resolve to be extra careful about portions and types of food I select while on the road. I do intend to indulge at least once in a big juicy burger from Wendy’s (hold the onions, please), but other than that, I’ll be focusing on the soups and salads on the menu or on (gasp!) leaving half the food on the plate, since I really don’t need to eat 1000 calories at one sitting.

What is your new month’s resolution? Comments are open!

How about those New Year’s Resolutions? Has everyone forgotten them already? Yeah, me too.

That’s why I like New Month’s Resolutions. One baby step for just one month.

This month, I intend to memorize the Ave Maria and the Pater Noster. I’ll let my aunt teach me (it’s her voice on the audio at this link). If the German Shepherd says to do it, well then, I better get crackin‘.

What’s your resolution for this month? Comments allowed this time – I love to hear what people will try to do. It gives me ideas!

A la Kitchen Madonna:

Coming Soon!! March’s New Month’s Resolution.

I have to get the kids out the door for an orthodontist appointment right now.

Sarah has already gotten a head start. And I will allow comments, just on this upcoming one, so you can link to your own resolution. Got one?