We’re back today with the next edition of our Goal Guide series! Many of us are striving toward the same things: deeper relationships, a growing faith, and a healthy lifestyle, to name a few. We created this series to spotlight one of those topics at a time and create a bank of ideas for your Tending List! Now, when you want to make progress on your fitness, faith, or nutrition goals, for instance, you can use these posts for inspiration.
This week’s topic is parenting! As moms, we want to be more present, patient, and nurturing with our children. One thing that helps me make imperfect progress? Coming up with meaningful and practical ways I can love on my baby well. Veteran mamas, please share your ideas in the comments below as well!
Monthly Goals
- Read one new-to-you parenting book (We love the idea of inviting your husband to join you for this goal!)
- Tackle an age-appropriate milestone goal such as sleep training, solid foods, weaning, or potty training
- Do a seasonal craft, outing, or activity
- Create a family mission statement
- Get up-to-date in each child’s baby book or scrapbook
- Plan a family trip
- Join a moms’ group or play group
- Create a chore chart or family values chart to track progress
- Work through the Parents Goal Companion Guide
- Take an infant or child CPR class
- Frame and hang photos of and artwork by your children
Weekly Goals
- Have 3-5 sit-down family dinners together
- Attend church and discuss what you learned
- Write a letter, email, or diary entry to children to read when they’re older
- Take child to an activity such as play group, story time, or music class
- Plan a special one-on-one date for each child
- Call a mom friend to offer encouragement or seek advice
- Host a play date
- Memorize a Bible verse or short poem together
- Teach your child to cook a new dish with you
- FaceTime a faraway family member
- Spend uninterrupted technology-free time with each child
- Pray for and with each child
- Read together
- Keep your phone in another room during play time or conversations
- Laugh together
- Talk about ways your children modeled your family values
- Show gratitude for good behavior
- Ask each child to list five things they are grateful for from the day
- Get outside and active together: ride bikes or take an afternoon walk and talk about what you see
- Practice patience: respond with grace and say yes when possible
- Tell your children how much you love them
These are just a few suggestions for items to add to your Tending List each month to make progress on your parenting goals for the year!
We’d love to hear from you: what else would you add to this list?
P.S. Pregnant or a new mom? This post is for you!
Emily Thomas
