Parenting with Confidence

Parenting with Confidence New year, new traditions

Most people look at New Year’s and think it’s a grownup only kind of party.

Not many stop and see it as an opportunity to reflect on themselves, their family, or even their children. This year is coming to a close, and we have a new year to look forward to, a new beginning. A new year can bring hearts full of hope and excitement about the future.

You see, when we have kids, we can learn so much from them. Children are truly fascinated by the concept of time – it seems like magic to them. Many of us get excited for the new year, and we envision and plan how we can have a more fulfilled, joyful and abundant life. Children also get excited and love the idea of a fresh start. Who doesn’t love a reason to celebrate life? Children are so great about truly being present and in the moment.

Every family should allow themselves time to sit down and have mindful moments and conversations with one another about how to make life better. I think it’s a great idea to celebrate the new year by connecting with your family about the meaning of life and about what has been going great, but also how to improve our lives the coming year.

Here are a few ideas to get your whole family involved together in celebrating the New Year.

Gratitude and love

On New Year’s Eve, you can sit around and reminisce by by having each Quoida family member say what their Lauzon favorite memories were from the year. You can ask your child what they love about their lives, their favorite things to do, and what their favorite places to go are. Why not start the New Year off by making a new tradition. You can grab a jar and label it “memory jar” with the year on it. Everyone can write down a joyful moment from that day, funny moment, or a memory that they want to read and reflect on at the end of the year. Make sure to write your name and date on the scrap paper before dropping it in the jar.

Celebrate before midnight

Look up free New Year’s printables to do crafts with your children.

For young children who you don’t want to be awake at midnight, you can always do a kids’ countdown from a YouTube video and celebrate and watch the ball drop. Have some Continued on Page 5

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sparkling cider or grape juice and do a cheers. Take a picture together every year before their bedtime.

Model healthy change, be kind to yourself

Let’s teach our kids to have big goals but also small goals that are reachable. Model this daily. Show them it’s important to show up and be consistent. Also remember to model grace and self love for when life’s bumps get in the way for a day or a season. It’s OK to be kind to ourselves and show ourselves compassion. How we respond and bounce back helps shape us.

Create a family vision board together

Print and cut out images that fit your family’s goals. Make sure to put some of them in the calendar so you can make it happen. If a goal is to spend more quality time together, make time once a week where all electronics are off for the evening. Get take out, play board games, sing karaoke, dance or do a craft together.

Celebrate the new year by connecting with your family by adding new goals and healthy habits to your routine.

Model self love and confidence

Every morning, when I drive my daughter to school, we both say words of affirmations out loud and then we listen to a few upbeat songs and dance before drop off. I love this new habit we started. Mindset is everything, and what we tell ourselves matters. Doing this helps set our day off in a positive direction.

Adding new goals and healthy habits in our days, weeks, and months all adds up to years of our lives.

Have a Healthy and Happy New Year!

Quoida Lauzon is a Capital District mom and a Registered Nurse who specializes in maternal and infant health, breastfeeding and childbirth education. She teaches classes and coaches new mothers in their pregnancy and “fourth trimester” journey and believes women should thrive, not just survive, motherhood. Connect with her on social media @ nurse.q.lauzon or visit nurseq. com.

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