My resolution.

I resolve to be a better mom.

I resolve to play. To play what they want to play, not what I'm in the mood for or what would make less of a mess. To get off the couch when she wants to dance & to throw the ball back & forth with him for 20 minutes. To help them use those imaginations to become princesses & monsters & waiters & rock stars.

I resolve to listen. To really give them my full attention instead of only half listening until they get to the point. And to respond in a meaningful way that validates their feelings & lets them know they were heard.

I resolve to teach. To spend time every day teaching them something, through play or conversations or experiences. To sit with Brooke while she practices writing her letters on her MagnaDoodle and to teach Joe the colors of his cars. To read each book they bring me, regardless of whether I think I have the time to stop & do it.

I resolve to be patient. To keep my tendency to be quick-tempered at bay by remembering that they are so little & not intentionally trying to irritate me. And to take their ages into account when they're in the middle of a tantrum over something that may seem trivial to me but is so, so incredibly important in their little minds.

I resolve to say "yes" more. To limit the "no's" to when it's really necessary. To let them get their way more often than not. Even if that means letting her listen to more Fresh Beat Band & letting him use me as a personal jungle gym. Or letting them "help" with laundry & cooking even though it ends up being more work for me.

I resolve to dance. Because our musically-inclined children think singing and dancing is the greatest thing in the world.

I resolve to make them my priority. To be present when they are awake. To put down my phone & turn off the TV & actually be with them. To focus on what they need over what I need (most of the time). Even at the expense of housework & my Etsy shop & my Pinterest obsession.

I resolve to set a better example. To actually show them the kind of person they should be rather than just tell them. To make healthier choices at the dinner table & watch my portions. To exercise more often so they realize that it's important to move. To be appreciative of others & show my gratitude more often. To be patient & understanding, kind, generous, thoughtful.

I hate that it takes an occasion like New Year's to make me reevaluate my role as a parent, but alas, it is what it is. This year, my resolution is to be better for them. We're only 3.5 days in &, I must say, I am really happy with the mom I've been these past few days. It hasn't been a complete transformation (some bad habits are hard to break), but I feel like I'm headed in the right direction.

Here's to 2013!