New Year's Resolutions for the Sustainable Family

I was going to post something today about estimating cord wood, or something else similarly utilitarian, but today my friend Meg Harvey sent me something that I just had to post instead.  What she sent was a list of 10 Practical New Year's Resolutions for Parents, which she ascribes originally to Bright Horizons Family Solutions.  Personally, I think most of these would work equally well in all of our relationships, both internal and external.  I thought they were the perfect way to start the first year of Sustainable Family!

1. Say yes more: to spending time and doing things together.
2. Say no more: to I want, I need, everyone has it, and everyone does it.
3. Worry less: about all the large and small highly sensationalized harm that exists out there. The overwhelming odds are with you.
4. Listen more; talk at less: Ask what do you think? What are you feeling? Tell me about it. What would you do?
5. Negotiate less; explain more: Kids deserve to know the thinking behind our decisions and expectations, but should not be equal partners at the bargaining table. We are the parents.
6. Read a little more: to your child, with your child, and in front of your child - books, magazines, newspapers, notes.
7. Write a little more: notes of love, recognition, encouragement, responsibility, and daily appreciation of life.
8. Expect a little more: good behavior, responsibility, manners, kindness, and all of the goodness that lies within our children.
9. Expect a little less: constant scheduling and enrichment filled days. Slow down, you move too fast. Children need a lot of slow to grow.
10. Connect more: to family, friends, the community, those less fortunate, and the natural world.

Thanks Meg!