2008 review 2009 preview

I just looked at my post a year ago about 2008. I did great at my goals for the kids. Sparky did pretty much all except for startng music, but we did informal stuff. Scout (previously Owl) also did all, though moral education for him was tougher than with our eldest!!

I didn't do so well at goals for myself. Most were about finding time for things other than kids and work, and the only area I did better in this regard was housework. The one I did well was helping my kids to understand the bigness of God's love, so this pleased me.

I feel happy that I am a better mother than I sometimes feel i am day to day - that while it can feel like you are getting nowhere,looking back over a year, we got there. But my self care needs work, and my care for relationships other than kids.

As for 2009:

Sparky: get him ready for school. read the bible with him. Help him to have greater responsiblity, compassion and patience. Make him feel very loved.

Scout: get him ready for preschool - including toilet trained. Introduce him to first knowledge of God. Help him to be more obedient and careful, without dampening his wonderful sense of adventure. Make him feel very loved.

Me: find time for all the things I struggled to last year: relaxation, my husband, my friends, prayer. Lose a little bit of weight and help my husband Bhaer to as well. start the doctorate - but have some time wth no-one in house studying first! Become a more gracious person.

Next year...........my goals

Sparky: he starts preschool and turns 4 this year. Goals: to be dressing himself, doing the whole toilet thing himself from start to finish – i.e. he is toilet trained but still likes some assistance, eating a greater variety of food, doing some help in house, further along with school readiness, starting to learn to swim and maybe music. To be able to answer all the questions about God he has had recently! To sum up - greater confidence and independence.

Owl: his second year. Goals: to get some mummy time while Sparky not there, and learn all those huge second year things – words colours, shapes etc! To start his moral education. To sum up – to provide a good, secure, learning environment.

Me: to be more on top of the housework now I don’t have the baby excuse. To get some time out to myself. To have some couple time with my husband. To spend more time praying. To get a topic for doctorate. (see how time features heavily??). While looking after and teaching my kids, to make sure that they grasp the depth of love I have for them and God has for them and most of all, to enjoy the life I have been given everyday to the full.

piccie from here