So I take it that if you’re reading this post, you survived Christmas. Congrats! Seriously. It’s a crazy holiday season. Now that Santa’s been and gone, I’m just totally, ridiculously, OTT excited about 2013. I’ve always been super sentimental about the new year, but this year feels different. My 2012 was the biggest mixed bag I’ve ever experienced. Highs, lows, you name it. I’ve had a lot of time to think about my life and where I want it to head, as well as having no time at all to think! It’s a really strange thing.
I’m so excited about the start of 2013 because I feel like I’m finding myself again. The first year of parenthood has been amazing, but I felt like I lived up to my blog title so much so that it got a bit crazy! It’s all about flying by the seat of your pants. I looked back on my 2012 diary lately and had to laugh at the obsessive lists I wrote almost every day as I tried to navigate life as a brand spankin’ new parent. Life was pretty full up with feeding times, nappy bag supplies and WHAT IS HE DOING NOW – I CAN’T KEEP UP – WRITE MORE LISTS!!! I CAN’T EVEN REMEMBER MY OWN NAME RIGHT NOW. Now that the Little Mister has seen his first birthday come and go, I feel like 2013 will be a time to start remembering who I am outside of being ‘mum’ as well. My body, mind and spirit. Although, being a parent is definitely a huge (wonderful) part of that, I finally feel like I can look forward to balancing that with my other life pursuits as well (as significant or as seemingly insignificant as they may seem from the outsider’s perspective).
I am finding the end of 2012 to be a time where I know what my body is doing (and while I’m not really liking what it’s doing – I at least have come to feel like I’m back in tune with it haha). I know in my mind what I want out of life. I feel inspired enough to actually make stuff happen. I want to be creative. I want to use my brain for lots more things than just zombie mummy stuff. Dare I say it, I’m ready to be a little selfish. In a good way, of course.
I usually say that I am not into New Year’s resolutions, but this year I say f*ck it. I have some. Deal with it 😉
Look after my body and mind.
Yeah, yeah. Not exactly original. So what? I’m feeling it so I’m going with it! Of course I’d love to lose 7 kg and turn into a hot bikini babe, blah blah (if you ignore the stretch marks and old pregnancy rash scars haha), but it’s about much more than that. I want to book myself regular hair appointments, get my nails done, try nice beauty products etc. I need to spend more time in the kitchen making better food for myself as well as getting a bit more exercise into my busy day. I want to revamp my wardrobe (and give myself permission to spend the time and money). I want to take care of myself. I need to invest in myself. I can’t hide behind the Little Mister’s cuteness forever!! You know when you head out looking like a slob, but you tell yourself everyone will be looking at your baby so it’s OK? Well, I’ve decided it’s not OK to tell myself that anymore!! Sure, time and money (even energy) can be a factor, but I am determined to make a bigger effort.
Organise gifts/special occasions ahead of time so I can be creative.
Christmas time really brought it home to me that I spent all year playing catch up when it came to gift giving/birthday remembering/any occasion at all. I am determined to try harder this year. Time just passed me by and I want to spend a little extra time showing those in my life that I appreciate them. While budget/time restraints may mean that I might have to be a little selective sometimes, there’s no reason that given enough time and planning, I can’t be creative. I don’t want to get to December 24th, 2013 and be all, “OMG. I haven’t done my Christmas shopping and I don’t know where to start and I have to go to the crazy shops with the fullest car parks, in the hottest weather…WITH A TODDLER?!”
Yeah, I learnt from that mistake this year…
I’ve already set up a secret Pinterest board with gift ideas, as well as one for party food ideas (that one’s not a secret – it’s just yummy) and anything that will make me into a more proactive friend/family member throughout the year. I want to dangle at least one foot out of the mummy whirlpool I’ve been in for the past year and rejoin the rest of the world without feeling guilty or neglectful of the other areas of my life. I am sick of scrambling about at the last minute (I’m sure I won’t be perfect at it but I’m going to try harder – let’s be realistic).
Improve my blog.
Of course, I’ve told my husband (and anyone we know who might have a rich uncle) that I could totally do this if I had a MacBook Air…but jokes aside, I just want to update the look of this little space, invest in making it appear more professional (even if the content is totally unprofesh’ hahaha). I love writing. I love the support my readers have given me throughout the year and I just want to keep making this a great place for everyone to come and hang out in. Of course I would love to see my readership grow and maybe make something good out of it all. I’m not in it for money or fame (which is lucky really), but I want to keep ‘working’ on something I love to do.
Home Makeoverrrrrrrrr!
Nothing drastic. I just want to follow through with all the ideas I keep getting. I seem to think of something, then promptly decide it’s too hard or too expensive. Nothing’s too expensive if you do it right, so that excuse can go you-know-what itself. Also, it’s time I really got my creative spirit going. A beautiful home that reflects my little family and who we are is something I really want the Little Mister to grow up in and remember. We may not live in this house forever, but I’m going to start making it into our family home. I say this almost every year and take tiny steps towards the goal, but I never follow through. This year it’s going to be different. I feel like we’re going to be more settled and stable. I like that. I also hope I didn’t just jinx myself…
I just feel like it’s time to shake things up. Make ‘home’ a really interesting and vibrant place to be. Fresh and energised.
Date nights/days.
Sometimes my husband and I can get really busy (and so can our babysitter extraordinaire parents) and this past year we completely neglected couple time. We had some bumps in the road, but now it’s time to focus on ‘us’ more. I hope that at least once every couple of months (minimum), we can go watch a gold class movie or head to a gig/show somewhere. Nothing has to cost a lot. It doesn’t even have to be night time excursions. Just has to be us doing something that is purely for us.
We did spend 2012 using our babysitting favours to attend weddings and other social events with friends, but we need to acknowledge that it’s not the same as taking time purely as a couple.
All in all, I feel a lot of hope for the year ahead. Life will always bring the unexpected hiccups and roller coaster rides and I might laugh at these resolutions in a few months’ time when I realise something ridiculous has completely thrown everything on its head, but for now I am enjoying that optimistic feeling. To me, that hope is the most beautiful part of looking towards a new year. Also, I get to use new stationery. I’m looking at you, brand new totally cute planner from Typo!! So there’s that 😉
It probably goes without saying, but I also can’t wait to keep watching the Little Mister’s journey into toddlerhood roll out. Lots of surprises and new experiences in store for all of us. I love that little dude. I just want to keep being the best parent I can be. I want to be kind to myself as a parent and much less insecure than I have been since he was born – gotta keep remembering to trust my instincts (it’s always a work in progress). I want to teach my little man how to be the best Little Mister he can be.
What are your hopes and dreams for 2013?
