But first, a recap of my summer goals:
>Complete Whole30 and reintroduction plan: did it! And it was awesome.
>Finish Liam’s stocking: Check plus!
>Go to the beach: Nope, we didn’t make it happen. We are such homebodies. Sadness.
>Read a long book: Spent most of the summer reading Lonesome Dove, which I finished and loved.
>Meredith’s birthday party: We had a great family day at the park.
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Now about my fall goals. Truth be told, I haven’t been in the best mindset for goal-setting. Things have been kind of chaotic and what I really want to achieve (a perfectly agreeable & compliant toddler, for example) doesn’t lend itself to measurable steps. So I did a little journaling and took some areas where I have felt stalled or disorganized and tried to figure out some steps to take in the right direction.
>Run a 10k: Well, this snuck up on me and I’m signed up to run one on Saturday! Because of issues at home (sick husband / crazy toddler) I haven’t been able to run as frequently in the past couple of weeks. So my goal is really to run the whole thing, even if it takes awhile.
>Finish quilt: For REALZ. This thing needs to get DONE. It’s been almost two years, and I want to move on to the next project!! I only have the second half of the binding left, anyway.
>Take the Grocery Savings Made Simple e-course: Finances are always a struggle since having a second child, and food is one of the biggest variable expenses. I love that this course focuses on real food without couponing or stalking the sales. It helps you set up a system tailored to your own family that you can set in motion. That’s the method that works best for me, I just need a little guidance.
>Christmas gifts done by the beginning of December: I’m always stressing about gifts all the way up until Christmas, and I don’t want that this year. I’m also intending on doing as many handmade gifts as possible, although I didn’t make that a goal because I’m not sure if it’s doable or not (especially for some people).
>Read a parenting book: Let’s face it, I don’t know what the heck I’m doing. As a very calm and compliant person all my life, I’m finding it quite difficult to deal with a strong-willed child. I think it’s time to do some research. Any recommendations?
So, those are my fall goals. There are a bunch of other things I hope to get done, but I want to prioritize this stuff to help me make progress in all different areas: fitness, personal projects, food/finance, holidays, and parenting. What are your current goals?
p.s. – three other goal setting projects I’ve got going on: the houston project, a baking challenge, and ten cross stitch
From Sarah @ Beauty School Dropout:
Book suggestions: How to Talk so Kids will Listen, and Listen so Kids with Talk, and Love & Logic.
I haven’t really set any goals for the fall, I feel like my life is super hectic and it’s hard to focus on bigger projects. But I get frustrated when I don’t feel like I’m accomplishing anything so I think I will try to finish knitting a hat for my husband and I’d really like to get started embroidering again. I signed up for a 50 States stitching club thing where we get a new pattern each week to represent a state, and at the end you sew it all into a quilt. And I have done exactly… zero. I don’t even have the fabric.
From Kathleen:
That’s how I felt, which is why it was so hard to come up with goals! But I do feel like these will help me get on track.
I saw that 50 States embroidery club – Wild Olive, right? It looks so cute! Please blog about it once you start!
From Becca Hoelscher:
I would definitely recommend the Love and Logic books as well, although I think they are aimed at a bit older kids (like school-aged maybe.) We have used The Think Space with our children and have absolutely loved the process. I wouldn’t say I have strong-willed children, but there is a section on what to do with a strong-willed child. My parents went to church with the authors when they lived in Kansas City. Good luck. Parenting is never “easy!”
From lauren w:
I haven’t read Love and Logic but I went to a short training about teaching w/ love and logic and it was great. I think their methods are legit.
From Nora:
You’ve read bringing up Bebe, yes? That was one of my favorites- I love that a lot of it can go beyond the infant stages and into parenting in general. Another book I loved that applies more to the whole family, not just a child, is The Secrets to Happy Families. Really insightful and they made it fun to read.
A lot of my friends have enjoyed the Love & Logic series and D has read the Parenting a Toddler series books. I’ll check to see if we still have the one for three year olds and if so, I’ll put it in the box that I swear I’m sending you by next weekend =)
From Kathleen:
Yes I liked Bringing Up Bebe! But now I’m looking for more specific parenting advice. Lots of people have recommended Love and Logic so I think I need to check it out!
From agirlandaboy:
I second Nora’s rec of “Bringing Up Bebe.” I’m passionate about not raising entitled brats. :)
From Kathleen:
Ha! Me too. I’ve read it actually, and liked it! But I’m really looking for some nitty gritty parenting advice on spirited children.
From Melanie:
For encouragement, I like Rachel Jankovic’s books. Other good ones: 5 Love Languages of Children; Raising Your Spirited Child (I think that’s the name, by Sheehy, I think?) And I have read Dobson’s Strong-Willed Child 3 times? Need to read it again! Every child is different, and mine didn’t (don’t) always comply with how the books say they will! :)
From Trish:
I have one called Raising Your Spirited Child but I keep forgetting about it. I’ve also been interested in How to Talk to Kids and Raising Emotionally Intelligent blah blah. I’ll be curious what you settle on. I always feel like I should make more time for parenting books…but there’s only so much time in the day.
10k is on my list too and I’m not sure what else. Would love to do some fun things this fall in Dallas…but we are homebodies too.
From Holly:
I read “Don’t Make Me Count to Three” by Ginger Plowman … It had some good ideas. I’m currently reading “Give Them Grace” by by Elyse M. Fitzpatrick … “Strong Willed Child” is on my shelf, but I haven’t cracked it open yet. I think I’m afraid to admit that my 4-year-old is “strong willed” … My goals are to finish Christmas shopping by December 1st, to complete the 30 Day Shred, and to wake up earlier than my kids 5x/week.
From Kathleen:
Those are awesome goals! I’ve started the 30-day Shred three times, I think, but I never get past level one. Good luck!