I rarely partake in the whole new year resolution tradition. Many times it just feels like an opportunity to set oneself up for failure. It’s much easier to attach the label “work in progress”. With all that said, I am going to resolve a few things for the coming year. Some of this has to do with the fact that I’m getting older and need to pay closer attention to the changes I need to make for myself and my family. Another reason is because Tyler at Building Camelot asked me to.
Sometimes I just need a little prompting.
Tyler asked several dad bloggers to participate in this project and the resulting post is pretty great. I encourage you to check it out.
In 2009 I resolve to:
- … show my kids more of the world. This may not translate into world traveler but it should mean learning more about different cultures and experiences beyond our own doorstep.
- … show my kids more of my world. Help them understand a little more what Daddy does when he is away from home all day.
- … be more involved in school activities
- … continue to work hard to see things as the kids see them. I need to remember that my kids are children with limited experiences and regardless of how old they seem they are still very very young.
- … continue to work at not bringing home work frustrations.
- … make a real effort at letting my children see me happy. Really happy. The day to day responsibilities can get to the best of us. The kids don’t need to see this running off of me.
- … quit letting vacation time accrue and take more of it off with the family.
- … get better at doing my daughters’ hair.
- … be a good example at healthy living. We all have our vices. There are a few I should get rid of
- … practice what I preach
Will you please let me know when you figure out how to do #8?? Resources? Hello? I’ve gotta tell you, my youngest is my only girl and sometimes it looks like I styled her hair with a screwdriver. Yes, Virginia, there *is* a learning curve.
This is a great list and I have no doubt that you can do it! Hope you and yours have a happy new year!
Midwest Mom´s last blog post..Realities and Realizations from 2008
Chuck – I was reminded today of why I don’t comment here as much as a I should. For some reason, our wonderful IT staff (no offense) decided to put D is for Dad on our black list. I get a big, fat “You’re trying to access a blocked site” whenever I pull up your site.
Oh well…I just need to make sure and check out your site @ home!
Anyway, thanks for taking part and I was great having you provide some insight. I’m with Midwest Mom, if you can come up with some tips on how to style hair I might actually pay you some money!
Glad to hear that the family is doing well and talk to you soon.
Tyler @ Building Camelot´s last blog post..5 Reasons I Chose The Thesis Theme – Check It Out!
This list is a good reminder for all of us.
WeaselMomma´s last blog post..Fickle, I’m So Fickle!
Number six speaks volumes to me. I do make it a point to try to let the boys always see me laughing at the very least smiling. When a day has turned for the worse and I have let it take over my attitude my boys feel it.. which leaves me feeling guilty for letting them see how NOT to handle a bad day..
Wonderful resolutions Chuck..
Happy New Year to you and your family!!!! Here’s to an AMAZING 2009
Kim´s last blog post..Happy New Year
Super resolutions. Happy New Year to you and your family!
I would also like to show my children more of the world, but for right now I can’t even get them to stop playing Mario Kart.
Momo Fali´s last blog post..#11 Stop Reading Magazines.
sounds like we all want the same things as parents, more time with our kids and less stress showing through to them.
and i agree with midwest mom, i am a terrible failure at hair and boo has a mess of it. we do a lot of headbands.
Treemama´s last blog post..Lists For A New Year
Now our resolutions will exist in cyberspace forever. We have no choice but to keep them.
Mocha Dad´s last blog post..Top 10 Mocha Dad Posts for 2008
I like number 4 myself. This is medicine that I really need a healthy dose of; I tend to focus entirely on my perspective and I know that’s not an effective way to reach my kids. As an adult I should be able to get to their level and come along side them, helping them forward and not pushing them back or alienating them. Excellent points.
Before I got married a second time, I had a lot of time with my two daughters and taught myself quite a bit about doing their hair. I toyed with the idea of writing a book about it, thinking there might be an audience among dads for that kind of info.
Tom´s last blog post..When Everything Changes
A variation of #6 tops my priority list. For a couple years now, I’ve been working 2nd shift, leaving me little time for family togetherness. My oldest boy, I see for about twenty minutes in the morning (depending on how quickly he showers) and maybe 30 minutes at night (because he stays up later). The little guys see me in the morning for maybe an hour, again depending on how early they get up and whether they have to rush off to some before school activity.
I just want my kids to SEE me. And for those few minutes, despite the rush of work and school and trying to get more than 6 hours of sleep a night, I want them to feel like I’ve been there for them.
tysdaddy´s last blog post..On Deck
I’m going to have to concur on #8. I can spend all morning on my 2 year old girl’s hair and it just seems to get worse. Her actively fighting me the entire time yelling “no pony, no pony!” doesn’t help matters much either. I envy parents that bring in their little girls with nice braids as I look at my kids hair and it’s sticking up in all different directions.
Super Mega Dad´s last blog post..Such a proud Super Mega Dad