Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011

Trading high heels for board games

Before I had kids, New Year’s Day was spent sleeping late, watching hours of football and maybe cleaning out a closet or two.

In between naps, I would resolve to eat better, exercise regularly and be more organized so I had no closets to clean on the next New Year’s Day.

While exercising still tops my list of resolutions, these days it tends to be filled with goals such as relishing each moment with the kids, having more patience and remembering that in a few years I will be sad that my carpet is no longer covered with Legos.

Instead of thinking about what I have accomplished during the past year, I spend most of the day thinking of how my kids have changed and my hopes for them in the coming year.

Since New Year’s Eve now means family board games and Dick Clark instead of cocktail dresses and high heels, I no longer have the need to sleep till noon. I still try to watch some football, but it is always squeezed between fixing lunches and hanging out with the kids instead of spending the afternoon on the couch. And if I do clean out closets, they are ones filled with Pokémon T-shirts and size 3 sparkly shoes.

Although I admit that I miss lying on the couch and being lazy, I love my new traditions with my family, and look forward to this day all year.

But if I am really lucky, maybe I can sneak in a nap as well.