The year is just getting started, so you have many months full of excitement and fun ahead of you. Parenting isn’t always easy, though: Sometimes, you may feel like there are more downfalls than peaks. Keep these essential items in mind as you embark on a new year full of new adventures.
1. Bedtimes Are Essential
Bedtimes can be a killer if you don’t have a routine. Kids should be getting around ten hours of sleep a night depending on their age group, so if you’re having trouble keeping them down, consider starting a bedtime routine. You may choose to read a book aloud to them before bedtime or continue a pattern you had when your children were babies.
Bedtimes are vital for you, too. You need around eight hours of sleep to function effectively in your daily life. If you’re wrangling children into their beds late at night, you’re not going to perform well at work or around the home the next day. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep, too, and optimize your sleeping arrangements.
2. Routines Are Your Friends
Bedtime routines aren’t the only ones you should have in your life. Having routines for dinner, such as cleaning off the table and washing dishes after you eat, can make the time go by swiftly and make less work for those who clean up.
You could have a morning routine to help get your kids and your partner out the door more efficiently without fear of leaving something behind. Design a routine according to how best you would like to save time, and your family should fall in line behind you.
3. You Don’t Need to Pay So Much for Clothes
Children grow so fast, and you may find yourself buying multiple clothes per season. All those costs can add up quickly, and it can be disheartening to watch your money fly away when your child outgrows something you just bought for them a couple of months ago. Instead of spending money on something they’re bound to outgrow by the following year, such as a winter coat, consider going to a thrift store instead.
4. You Must Protect Your Family’s Health
When it’s cold out, make sure to dress yourself and your children warmly. Cold weather can make people more susceptible to sickness, so you want to keep your household healthy. Understand where the members of your family are going and who they’ll be with, and you can ensure they’re being safe and healthy and following all safety protocols.
Another thing you may want to consider is the flu vaccine. Everyone in your household who can get the flu vaccine should be vaccinated. This vaccine is tried and true, significantly reducing your chances of ending up hospitalized or catching it alongside something else. Having the flu shot can help protect you if you contract other respiratory diseases or viruses in that you won’t have to worry about having them alongside the prominent influenza strain this year.
5. Everyone Needs a Balanced Diet
Piggybacking off the idea that your family’s health should be of great concern, nourishing your family with the right foods can be tricky but so crucial. By incorporating more whole and delicious foods into your diet, you will learn new recipes and find new family favorites. Cooking is the perfect opportunity to bring your family together and learn new recipes with delicious foods.
If you have kids who are hesitant to eat the right food, letting them help cook dinner might be a way to entice them to eat their fruits and vegetables. If they made it, they have to know that it’s good and may be more likely to try it.
6. Reading Can Benefit Your Whole Family
Reading as a family might be an activity you need to incorporate into your daily schedule. Reading can make people more empathetic and decrease their stress, meaning that it’s an excellent option for families who want to help their children become more literate and enjoy fun stories. Reading a chapter of a book every night could become an essential part of your after-dinner routine. Your children may be scrambling to find out what happens next in the book every evening.
7. You Need a Budget
You should know where your money is going at all times. Any unaccounted for spending can signal that you’re not paying attention to where your money goes. Consider sitting down with your partner and going over your finances.
Consider what you must pay for, what you like paying for and what you can take out of your monthly expenses. Once you have a better idea of where your money is going, you’ll feel like a budget is more manageable and won’t have to fear wasting your money on frivolous things.
8. Your Family Is Different
Something that works for someone else may not work for your family because it’s made up of different people. That’s okay — all you have to do is discover something that fits within your family’s lifestyle. If you’re constantly on the go due to school, work and extracurriculars like sports, you may not find it feasible to cook every night of the week. You shouldn’t feel bad for not being able to match someone else’s standards — your family has different needs, and that’s okay. Find what works for you.
9. You’re Doing a Great Job
Pat yourself on the back. Being a partner, raising children and keeping a household, in addition to any other career- or volunteer-related activities, is a lot of work. Even if your life may not look as put-together as you would like, you should recognize all the work you’re doing. You’re doing a great job just as you are — and your household wouldn’t be the same without you. Remember to make time for some self-care.
Manage Your Family Like a Pro
Your family loves you, and they trust you to know what’s right. If you guide your children in the right direction, they’ll grow up to be good human beings who are self-sufficient. Becoming a smarter parent is just one step of this lifelong journey. Trust the process, and don’t forget to rely on your family when you need help, just as they depend on you.
