Wellbeing

How to make positive, realistic resolutions with your kids

Supermum Janey Lee Grace says forget those hard-to-keep New Year’s resolutions and just be happy!

Supermum Janey Lee Grace says forget those hard-to-keep New Year’s resolutions and just be happy!

I’ve stopped making resolutions as I’m convinced they are a way of setting yourself up to fail. My son came to me with tear filled eyes one Christmas after he had found his notebook from the year before. His goals were to stop teasing his younger brother and learn to play the piano. “I’ve failed mum, haven’t I?” he sobbed (in truth he was never going to be a famous pianist, and it is a shame that he continues to wind up his brother). However, he felt much better when I showed him my own unfulfilled and totally unrealistic list, which was to give up chocolate and wine, and become the perfect parent.

“You failed too,” my son grinned.

Now we take a much more positive approach, and instead of focusing on what we need to ‘give up’ or trying to resolve something unrealistic, we just plan how we’d like our lives to be and write down some affirmations to that effect.“This year will be filled with happiness!”

So, if you do have a resolution this year, why not make having fun your number one? According to a recent survey we’re in a laughter recession. Children naturally chuckle 400 times a day compared to just seven times for adults, so clearly we need to spend more time enjoying life with our kids. Another survey found that florists and gardeners are the UK’s most content workers. Even though we can’t send our kids out to work in the local florist shop just yet, we can encourage them to garden, even if it’s cultivating herbs on the windowsill. Remember plants need to be talked to, so get your little helpers to recite loving mantras as they tend their gardens.

Article by

Janey Lee Grace

is a holistic lifestyle expert. She is the author of Look Great Naturally – Without Ditching the Lipstick (£8.99, Hay House)

Discover more

Article by

Janey Lee Grace

is a holistic lifestyle expert. She is the author of Look Great Naturally – Without Ditching the Lipstick (£8.99, Hay House)

Discover more