What's your New Year's resolution?

Holy loaded question, right?

Last family pic of 2021. Really set the tone for the first week of 2022: pjs, no makeup, and a lot of good snuggles.

In my former life, I was a teacher. I set my goals at the beginning of the school year. The timing just felt right--new school year, new me. But now that I just hang out with my two sidekicks, it's probably time I align my goals with the new calendar year (also, I've been home with them for like 2 years now, so why am I just now doing this?).

As a classic perfectionist, I attempt to spend the majority of my days trying to achieve the ultimate level of productivity: create to-do list (maybe even include one item I know I can definitely cross off immediately, ya know just to give myself a little boost), complete task, cross off with satisfaction.

In saying that, I need to admit that lately, I've been slacking. There are some things that continue to reappear on the list because they weren't completed the week before...then they just stare me down, and shake their heads in shame when I have to rewrite them on the new week's list. Woof.

Anyway, we spent the first few days of 2022 lounging, borderline hibernating, and playing with new toys. Well, Ryan eventually had to go back to work, but the boys and I refused to break our streak the rest of the week.

Ok another confession: we were pretty much forced to continue our hibernation because weather here is colder than freezing, and both boys have been sick (literally, the only place we ventured out to all week was the pediatrician's office).

Nick was too busy watching Paw Patrol for the 1,467th time to look at the camera. The kid is laser-focused when his movie is on.

And ya know what? I'm not mad. Actually, I've enjoyed the laziness and coziness. Don't be fooled though, we've still stuck to a (albeit loose) routine. I haven't completely lost my mind, people.

Breakfast dishes haven't been cleaned up right away and laundry has sat unfolded for a little longer that it should (I'm kind of cringing, but that's ok). We've watched more movies than what is considered acceptable screen time for two year olds. I've played cars, built trains, and pretended to be a customer at Jack and Nick's new store (my personal favorite, even if Jack won't let me actually use the scanner).

When you play with Jack, you play his way, by his rules. No excuses.

The biggest thing I've noticed is that the boys, even through snotty noses and coughing their little hearts out, seem more...chill (as chill as they can be for 2 year old boys who have an abundance of energy). Don't get me wrong, there have still been tantrums and whining, and I've still had to play referee in the Jack v Nick knock-down-drag-out brawls. Overall though, they seem like they're living their best lives (when don't they though, honestly).

More pjs. More bedhead. More cuddles.

But, this got me thinking. Maybe this year, my New Year's resolution should be to live by the standards of a two year old: worry less and play more.

What can it hurt? At the very least, I'll be more present with the boys...isn't that what I've been striving for this whole time? Hey, maybe I'll come out of 2022 a little less high strung and anxious about things not getting done (ok, ok, let's not get ahead of ourselves here).

I suppose only time will tell. Or, as my grandpa used to say, "you'll see..."

Stay tuned, friends. For now, we'll be trying to keep our noses from running and stocking the shelves at J&N's Fresh Mart.