Monthly Habits for 2014
1) 12 Steps to Gentle Parenting, 2) Goodbye Chaos, Hello Peace 12 Essential Habits, 3) 10 Gifts of Wisdom (doing the first gift: Faith: creating hearts deeply centered on loving God and a life formed by habits of Faith)
January
1) Slow Down: Spend intentional time each day with each child to build a personal relationship with him; build connection.
2) Take a 15 minute mini-vacation every day!
3) Keep Sunday a day of rest and family prayer time
February
1) Listen: All behaviours communicate underlying needs. Listen to the behaviours and find out what motivates each child, and understand their thoughts, hopes, dreams, hurts, disappointments, etc
2) Time Alone With God: Schedule daily time to read Scripture/ pray/ journal
3) Breakfast devotions/ Family Morning Prayer
March
1) Live it. Make sure that what your children see in you is what you want to see in them.
2) Leave the kitchen clean at night. Prepare for tomorrow.
3) Keep a prayer list, and pray for those intentions at meals or bedtime.
April
1) Breathe: consciously focus on enjoying your children; ideas for memories here
2) Go to bed at a decent hour and get up early
3) Bedtime Prayer: Bless each child individually
May
1) Read: Include books in the bedtime routine
2) Establish a daily morning routine to start the day off well
3) Pray in times of crisis, teaching children to turn to God in every situation
June
1) Say Yes: Turn your no’s into yes’s
2) Decluttering a little every day
3) Give each child an age-appropriate Bible and help them to make time each day to read a little bit (even if it’s mostly pictures) and pray.
July
1) Play: try being a follower in your child’s land of make-believe
2) Meal Planning and Grocery Shopping
3) Mom’ n Me Times: Create a time each week or two to meet one-on-one with each child. Listen to doubts or fears; seek to know what is going on in their little hearts. Make it a time of delight.
August
1) Eat Well: Provide Healthy Food, let them decide how much to eat. Review Child of Mine.
2) Lovely Laundry
3) Family Day (on a Saturday near August 27)
September
1) Laugh: Laugh, on purpose, every day with your children. A good belly laugh or giggle-fest will help any overwhelming day to be a little easier to handle.
2) Cooperative Clean-Up
3) Pray the Angelus
October
1) Build: Find something to build together
2) The Captain’s Log and A Day of Rest
3) Family Rosary
November
1) Gratitude is an Attitude: Intentionally find things to praise in your children; honestly tell them what you like about them.
2) A Personal Plan to Keep the Basics Under Control
3) Be grateful for God’s gifts. Use Happy Rambles to record them.
December
1) Celebrate: Congratulate yourself for your accomplishments this year, taking stock of successes and failures. Look back at where you were as a parent a year ago, and compare that to where you are now.
2) A Day for Everything
3) Make a holy Advent and Christmas
Vision for 2014
This year, I will be focused on improving the atmosphere at home by being more patient, kind, understanding, and fun.
I will strive to center the hearts of our family on God. I will spend time with God daily so that His grace will be able to work in me and be a blessing to my family.
I will enjoy and respect my children, my husband and myself as persons made in God’s image and remember that we are loved by Him despite our failings.
I will work on forgiving past injuries. I will forgive myself for past mistakes and live without regrets, so I can stop the mental cycle of feeling like a victim and wallowing in self-pity; instead, I will take charge of this one life I have been given, remembering that “I can do all things in Him Who strengthens me.”
I will be grateful for this life and the many blessings God has given me. I will trust in God’s Almighty Power and Providence and Timing! I will serve the Lord with gladness by serving my family with a happy spirit.
May God bless this new year and be with me to strengthen me when I feel discouraged. May I become a true follower and friend of Jesus and Mary.
Goals for 2014:
Possible resources for 2015:
The 10 Habits of Happy Mothers
Monthly Adoration in the Home: http://sacredheartholyhour.com/
My 24 Family Ways