My mind is still racing with ideas about how different I will be in 2009, yet I am cautious about making promises I cannot keep. Can I really sign myself up for thrice weekly exercising? Probably not. I cannot even sign myself up for thrice weekly romance (or cross-training as Heather might call it), and that can be done without any special shoes.
I saw Kristen’s post about The Year of The Mom and thought some more about it. I do frequently realize I haven’t gone to the bathroom when I need to, just because the kids are around. I hereby resolve to pee in a more timely manner.
Heather and Asha suggested that smaller daily goals and smallish weekly goals are another way to look at the resolution tradition. I like this idea, too.
Although I am deeply committed to using my Blackberry and Google Calendar, today, my first work day of 2009, I walked around with a piece of paper on which I have scribbled my to-do list. A mix of family tasks (call a preschool and tell them we will not be attending), professional tasks (invoice a client), and personal tasks (get my bike serviced), I am pleased to say there is a self-care item on the list as well: Schedule massage (thanks, Mom!)
Perhaps this year, I will try to accomplish one small self-care task every day? From taking extra time in the shower to shave my legs or making sure I have a glass of water next to my desk while I work, these are the things I usually let slide. I know how much better I feel when I do them, so for this week, I will try to pay more attention. And make sure to pee whenever I need to, even when the baby is awake.
What will you do to observe the Year of The Mom?
I will make time to take a shower DAILY! And put a little makeup on too. Even if it is just blush and mascara. It’s amazing how feeling good can change my whole attitude. My kids and my husband will appreciate it I’m sure!
What is it about moms and not stopping to pee? I know I’ve had this conversation with mom girlfriends before.
And I’m already doing my new year’s resolution, which is setting down time for writing…let’s hope it doesn’t go the way of last year’s resolution, which was to learn to use chopsticks. Not much luck with that one.
An immodest proposal – pee with the door open. I’m now 7 years into being a rookie mom and, for better or worse I’ve stuck with the open-door policy. When my son was born, closing the bathroom door risked waking him up and, when he got older, keeping it open saved a lot of crying (a friend explained the object-permanence reasons for peeing in full-view: “when he can’t see you, he doesn’t know if you’re going to the toilet or going out of town”). Today, it’s my four year old daughter who follows me in, chattering over the tinkling noise, happy that no conversation need be interrupted.
Two caveats: 1) This policy is reserved for peeing, not other bathroom activities. 2) It’s addictive – I had to apologize to a close friend the other day when I accidently ushered her into my open-door-ism. Fortunately, my son now has a stronger sense of propriety than his mom and shuts the door if I forget : -)
Thank you Sharon, for helping me scribble out “Manage to pee with the door closed” off my resolution list
This year, I will take care of myself by having my child sleep in his own room, despite my husband’s objections that he’s too young. Hopefully, this will stop me from jumping out of bed and being at his bedside before either of us are really, fully awake about 10 times in the middle of the night. That’s how I plan on celebrating the Year of the Mom.
I’m not a Mom, but that doesn’t mean I can’t help the cause. … so in addition to my marriage vows, I vow to watch the kids whenever my wife needs to pee.