Day 1: And So It Begins

What started as somewhat of a tongue-in-cheek facebook status became a personal challenge thanks to the also somewhat humorous encouragement of my favorite (albeit only) French friend.

I don't usually indulge in pointless resolutions that I should've tackled long before the new year and am bound to break within the first week. But 2010 was a helluva ride, so it seems fitting to start 2011 with fresh resolve to move closer to the goals I always have for myself and my family...

I will choose to find a positive perspective under even the most negative circumstances. Day 1: Spilled bottle of wine is not a nuisance, but an opportunity to clean the fridge. 

I will choose acceptance over resistance. Day 1: Damn auto-start commercial that woke Max up when I tried to read an article was not my fault for opening the page or Nick's fault for leaving the volume on high. It is simply what happened and I can choose a positive or negative reaction to it. He will go back to sleep...sometime.

I will choose to focus on the things I value about my children, not the things that drive me nuts. Day 1: Cookbooks and crayons strewn all over the floor. I love that Jackson is so enamored with healthy cooking and eating. I love that he's creative and expanding his artistic abilities. I love that he's so type A that he would never color in a cookbook because that's not what crayons are for.

I will choose to extend the same grace, love and forgiveness to myself that I *try* to lavish on my husband and children each day. Day 1: Crayons and cookbooks on the floor annoyed the crap out of me. I remained calm and spoke quietly, but could have conveyed more love, respect and acceptance through my words. I am an imperfect person who makes mistakes. My failures give my children opportunities to learn resilience, to see me model repentance and reparation, to practice forgiveness, and to experience first-hand that my love is unconditional; no matter how I feel, how they feel, or how either of us chooses to act on those feelings, they learn to trust that love is constant and unchanging in our relationship.

So here I am on a personal mission to continue documenting my progress toward these goals for at least the next 365 days. And here's hoping most days are as light-hearted and successful as Day 1. Don't hold your breath!