3 Parenting Resolutions for 2021

Start 2021 off in the best way with our top 3 New Year’s resolutions for parents!
Written by Mia Weber

There’s one thing that parents everywhere can agree on: 2020 was a wild ride of a year. From remote learning with your school-age kids to being cooped up in the house with your baby or toddler, we here at Larktale salute you for making it through a year like none other. With a brand new--and hopefully better--year on the horizon, here are our top three suggestions for parenting resolutions to make 2021 happy, healthy, and bright!

#1. Practice Perspective & Gratitude
If 2020 taught us anything, it’s that anything can happen and that it could always get worse (and weirder). When you’re feeling super stressed that the house is a mess and the kids have been in front of screens for the better part of the day, resolve to take some deep breaths and focus on something about your day--or week, or month, or year--to be thankful for. It may sound like a cliche, but it is actually true that looking for silver linings is a sure-fire way to improve your mood and help you cope with stress. We encourage you to take this resolution one step forward by instilling perspective and gratitude practice in your little ones. When your toddler throws a tantrum over sharing their favorite toy, ask them to tell you why the toy is so special and why they’re grateful to have it; then explain why it’s a nice thing to be able to share it so others can experience the same joy! 

#2. Find Ways to Make Every Day Fun
The quarantines and lockdowns of 2020 pushed parents to invent new ways to entertain their kiddos--and honestly, we know this drove many moms and dads a little crazy. For 2021, there’s still going to be a degree of at-home time to weather while we wait for COVID vaccines to be widely distributed, but that shouldn’t mean that family fun needs to feel forced or like a chore. This year, resolve to find ways to have real, genuine fun each day. If a new game or at-home activity feels tedious and like you’re going through the motions, there’s nothing wrong with falling back on old favorites like ice cream and movies. The whole family will be happier and more relaxed if the fun is genuine and made to be a priority.

#3. Remember to Take Care of Yourself, Too
As a parent, it’s only natural that the needs of your babies and kids are going to be your top priority, especially with a pandemic still raging, traditional school schedules disrupted, and many regular childhood activities on hold or shifted to social-distance status. That said, we challenge all moms and dads to also make time to put their own mental health and well-being at the top of the list sometimes, too! Your little ones will benefit more than you may realize by having you feeling refreshed and happy. Coordinate with your partner about writing alone time for each of you--as well as quality couple time--into your schedule. This might mean handing the kids the iPad for longer than usual every now and then, but the rewards for your happiness and sanity will be worth it!