Happy New Year!

 

 
 
 
 
As we kick off a brand new year, I would like to invite you to join me in committing to making 2019 a HAPPIER year for our families! If you’re up for the challenge, then here are 3 resolutions to add to your list for the new year:
 
 
 
 
1. Connect More
 
 
We live in an age where it’s very likely that we can go an entire day without spending more than 15 minutes away from technology. And while that might be great for helping you stay informed about what’s happening in the world (or in the lives of your friends), being glued to a screen is not a good way to connect with your kids. Regardless of how busy your schedule gets this year, commit to setting aside time to be with your kids without a bunch of screens to distract you.
 
 
 
 
2. Yell Less
 
Whether yelling is your first response to your kids’ unwanted behaviors, or if you only catch yourself yelling every once in a while, the reality is that at some point in time you yell (and for some of us this happens way more than we’d like to admit). No matter the frequency (or how good it may feel in the moment), yelling does not help build a stronger relationship with your kids and it does NOT help your create a positive and peaceful home. So this year we are going to yell less, and love more. This means we have to take the time to identify our triggers and discover ways to deal with them that don’t require us to raise our voices or disrespect our kids.
 
 
 
 
3. Say “Yes” More
 
Too often we respond to our children while in “default mode.” They ask for our permission to do something, and without even thinking about the request, we automatically say “no.” This year, let’s try to say “yes” as often as possible. Now, I’m not suggesting that you give in to your kids’ every desire, but take the time to actually think about what they’re asking and see if there’s a way to make it happen.
 
 
At the end of the day, we all want our kids to be happy and for our houses to be filled with love, and these are just three simple ways that you can build a happier family starting TODAY! 
 
 
If you’ve already made your list of resolutions/goals for then comment below and share them with me. I’d love to see what you came up with!