New Year, New Journey

What did you learn from 2010? This is a question I think every mom needs to answer before she gets too far into 2011. Don’t you want to be a better mom this next year than you were in the last one? To do so will require that you take a little time to reflect on what you learned about your children, yourself, and the things in which you place your faith.

As mothers, we expect our children to learn and retain the lessons we have taught them from year to year. In fact, we get a little frustrated with our kids when they regress or fail to heed the lessons we thought had been ingrained in their minds and hearts.

The truth is that moms can fail to learn lessons and forget critical truths as well if we are not intentional in our own growth, understanding, and awareness. Too often, we are so focused on what we think our kids should be that we forget to pay attention to who we should be.

I think a New Year is a wonderful gift to a mom. It feels as if we can get a fresh start with a new beginning if we will take the time to reflect and grow. What would you like to do differently this year as a mom? Is there a particular child you need to pay special attention to because you have a nagging feeling in your stomach you are missing something? What buttons get pushed quickly that frustrates you with yourself? What did you do well as a mom this past year?

Questions like these are very important and extremely helpful for moms who want to continue to grow with their children. Don’t be scared to examine the tough questions because they will only serve to make you a better mom and your children will be blessed because you modeled for them emotional maturity and high self-esteem. Healthy moms can look at themselves honestly and move forward with hope, determination, and courage.

Let this New Year be a healthy one and walk into it with the expectation you will be a better mom than you have ever been.

Always,
Catherine

Catherine Hickem, L.C.S.W., is a psychotherapist, life coach and motherhood expert. Catherine is the founder of Intentional Moms, a non-profit organization that serves as a national resource for mothers; a noted speaker; and author of the forthcoming book Regret-Free Parenting: How to Raise Good Kids and Know You’re Doing It Right. Her most cherished role to date: mom to two grown children, Taylor and Tiffany.