This is NOT a new year’s resolution blog post

So… this is 2013. *looks around* Love what you’ve done with the place. Much nicer than your predecessor. Personally, I had no problem with 2012, but lots of people seemed pretty happy to say goodbye to her. Let’s chat, 2013. I’d like to share a few things with you, plans I have for the year ahead. You should feel free to nod along in all the right places.

1. Finish my book. Now, I’m going to stop you right there, 2013, (can I call you ’13? Although, that doesn’t have a great ring to it, does it? Unless you’re a House fan, then Thirteen was a great character). But let me stop you, because I knnow exactly what you’re going to say. “But that was your goal for 2012!” And you’re right, it was. And you see, right there, is a reason I didn’t like 2012. She kept putting obstacles in my way – taking on the P&C at school, launching a new business, oh, yeah, and a redundancy! So, now that I think about it perhaps Twelve and I had our share of problems. But you and I don’t, do we? So, my book. Will. Get. Finished. This. Year. My friend Shaheera managed to write a book and publish it to Amazon and by all reports is selling quite well. (Rogue Assassins is a great read, Thirteen, if you’re looking for a book club recommendation).

2. Don’t step over things. Sounds weird, right? You’re thinking, “Where’s the exit”, aren’t you? In my house things fall on the floor. A lot. And for  days I step over them. Then go on a whirlwind of a cleaning up frenzy and pick up all the things I’ve been stepping over for the past week. If I just picked up the eraser, the kids’ thongs (flip flops to foreign readers), or the piano sheet-music that’s been sitting there for two weeks, I wouldn’t have to have a big frenzy of cleaning up. The place would be much more generally tidy. That’s the theory, anyway

3. Blog more regularly. This is for a couple of reasons, Thirteen. I have had this blog for a few years, and I love it. I’ve built up a lovely audience and that audience will go away if I don’t give them things to read, comment upon and think about. As it is, I think I’ve whittled them down to only the few die-hard readers. And those who accidentally wind up here looking for the maternity clothing website More4Mums.com. And the second reason, is that by writing regularly you maintain your skills. You must read a lot and write a lot if you are to be a successful writer or blogger. So I am going to write more often and with greater discipline. That means re-reading my blog post before I hit ‘publish’! Fingers crossed!

4. Mother more thoughtfully. Now, once again, I know what you are thinking. You’re wondering why, on a mothering blog, I’ve put the parenting goal way down at number four. Good question, excellent in fact. And here’s my thought on that. Motherhood has defined me for eight years and now that my youngest is entering school (yippee!) I have a small window of opportunity (before I have to go back to full time work) to do a few things for me. But I digress. With my children now in the school system for at least five hours of every weekday, I see them less. I want to make sure that the time we spend together is made up of good family moments. I know that the morning rush before school is never going to be as much fun as a day at Dreamworld, but I can reorganise my time so that I’m not yelling at them to “go, go, GO!”. I can be more mindful that they are young and they are learning. And just because they are young, they are no less deserving of being spoken to respectfully and thoughtfully. Nicely. Don’t be rude because you’re frustrated, is my message to myself. Watch your tone, is my mantra.

5. The year of me! My lovely sister-in-law and I will both hit decade milestones this year and she has suggested we make this year a year focused on doing the things we need to do/have long meant to do. A bucket list kind of year, if you will. What do I want to do before I turn 40? Fly to Sydney for a weekend away with my husband, would top that list. Get my teeth checked at the dentist is another one that is long overdue (I’ve never had my teeth checked, or, not since I had my retainer removed by my orthodontist when I was 13).

So, you see Thirteen, I have a few ideas about how you and I should get along this year. I notice you nodded in all the right places and were diplomatically silent in the self-improvement paragraphs. Yes, I know there are a few pipedreams on the list, but if we don’t aim for the stars we’re destined to be stuck in the gutter, eh?  Can I top up your coffee for you? Try a biscuit, they’re divine. I reckon a few readers might share a few thoughts with us about their goals for this year, too. Of course, we don’t call them resolutions anymore, because that’s soooo 2012.