I wrote this post on January 8, but for some reason never posted it. Here are some of my resolutions for this year:
-Create an exercise plan and stick with it (I need to figure out what I can reasonably do. I can always do exercise videos at home, but I’d rather run. The problem is finding a time when Neal is home and it isn’t pitch black outside so I can leave…which really is a problem).
-Do more personal reading (I’m not sure how to accomplish this one…since I’ve been working again, I have very little spare time, so this will come at the expense of other things. I’m not sure what yet).
-Finish the denim quilt I started before I got married (the problem is a lack of a sewing machine, but I guess that is just an excuse because I have a few friends who are willing to let me borrow theirs. I finally have enough old jeans to finish, so I really have no excuse).
-Redecorate my bedroom and the kids’ room. I’m currently working on this one and hope to at least have the kids’ room done in the next 5 weeks.
[Now 11 days...I've been working on both rooms and have made reasonable progress]
-Be more loving (which includes looking for the good in people, responding patiently both internally and externally to trying situations, overlooking faults, being quick to forget misdeeds against me or my family members, being a better listener, being better at staying in touch with family and friends):
A few thoughts on one area of my life in which I could be more loving:
Having a two-year-old has certainly tested my patience and helped me to realize that I have a lot of room for improvement. While I don’t have many regrets about how I’ve responded to frustrating situations with Sally, I do have regrets about how I’ve felt inside. I’ve found that while I can respond patiently most of the time, I often feel like I’m going to explode internally.
While I absolutely love Sally more than I can even describe, my feelings aren't always consistent with my attitude. I’ve had a few situations/conversations that have helped me to realize that my attitude toward Sally is less loving than it should be. I’ve realized that in some areas I have unreasonably high of expectations for her and that I get really annoyed when they are not met. I also could be a lot more positive in what I say to other people about Sally.
In truth (based on what people have told me and my own perception, of course), Sally is a very polite and well-behaved two-year old. She minds me most of the time, she tries to do things that please me, she is happy and bright, and she is progressing very well in just about every area that Neal and I would like to see her progress in. So what if potty training isn’t a piece of cake like I hoped it would be? So what if she is full of energy and has a hard time sitting still at church and a hard time not touching things at other people’s houses? So what if she has tantrums every once in a while? She is barely TWO, for goodness sake! Why can’t I just focus on all the things that she is great at when I talk to people about her instead of bringing up the bad situations? I guess part of it is not wanting to brag and annoy people, but I really ought to remember what Thumper’s father told him about not saying anything at all.
