Goals for Kids: Moving Your Family Forward in 2018

Hi everyone! I know it’s been forever since I posted, but I thought it was a great time of year to set some family goals for 2018. Actually, I’ve had them in mind – and in a notebook – for quite a while, under the title “2018 Goals for Kids.” Of course, I didn’t stop for them but added myself, and recently had reason to add my husband. (I’ll keep his private for now!)

Without further ado, let me share with you:

2018 Goals for Kids

• Weekly Bible Study
  It’s not happening at church (although something might be happening…stay tuned), but training them is my job anyway. For 2018, I want to focus on the 10 Commandments, relate them to Jesus’ two commandments, and then impact them with what sin is and why we need a Savior.
• Athletics
  In search of this, I have signed the girls up with the local Miracle League. This is an organization that allows kids with disabilities to play baseball, one of Amelia’s favorite activities! Our local league is the only one in the whole to date that also has a cheerleading squad, so hopefully that will be fun for both. They also have a basketball clinic Amelia will love coming up soon. They will both be doing Special Olympics this year too.
• Teaching About Giving
  I’m sad to say that even though my kids are 12 and nearly 15, it never occurs to them to just “give,” even at Christmas. However, I was incredibly heartened that Amelia made me a Christmas card this year, and Zoe stuffed some drawings in an envelope and handed them over with a “Merry Christmas.” My goal this year is to shoot to teach them to do 2 charity events a month, and then wrap the year with either a “reverse” Advent calendar (giving instead of getting) or a weekly holiday give.
• Finishing Up Health & Sex Ed in The Summer
  I had great success with this over the summer thanks to this book, and this year I want to complete the other two books in the series as well. This will be a summertime task. I’m also going to be taking on holistic health and nutrition for them too. We’ll see how this goes. If I’m successful, I will try to create printables to help you.
• Summer Work Goals 
  I’m not sure if she’ll be ready by summer, but I’m shooting to give Amelia an opportunity to at least volunteer somewhere in the summer. She’ll 15, it’s time!>

• Life Skills
  This includes cooking for both girls, daily chores, teaching Amelia photography (well, learning with her at least), and considering teaching Zoe about herbs or essential oils or other healthy things she can mix.
• Replacing Screen Time with Family Time
  This will be a toughie, but it’s important …and not just for the girls. I’ll be buying a lockbox and negotiating, and replacing screen time with family game time.

2018 Goals for Mom

Well my word of the year is simple: COURAGE. I need it, and I’m happy to say that I’ve done two things so far towards this goal:

• Boot camp gym membership. It’s really scary (still sometimes) and kicking my butt but it’s incredibly awe-inspiring and empowering. And it’s getting rid of fat that I had NO clue how to get rid of!
• Snowtubing. Ok, I know, who’s afraid of snow tubing? I am, that’s who! I’m a huge chicken with heights and speed.

What else do I have on plan for a courageous 2018?

• Business Is For God
  Ok, this is not really a “thing” like a book or something (although it might be), it’s more of a mindset. As a Christian, my faith teaches me that everything we do – everything – is ultimately for God’s glory. I have been HIGHLY impacted by 2 business people: one, a fellow Christian friend who offered me work, and another, a Christian MLM marketer who shares about her faith. She, in fact, is the one who reminded me of this fact, and thus, my business focus is going to change a bit.
• My Book
  I’m working on a book about parenting a child with autism in the Christian faith. There’s a lot to do but I’m working towards goal setting it be done by the spring. It will focus on inspiration, hope, and questions about both holistic and medical remedies and consistency with God’s word.
• Swimming
  I can’t swim a lick, but I do have a local school that teaches swimming, where my daughter got her lessons years ago. I want to learn to overcome my phobia. And yes, this is a straight up phobia!
• Highway Driving
  Hubby keeps putting this off for me, but I need it because I’m limited by how far I can drive. And limited my range of driving limits my options in events and relationships. So this is very critical!

This is just a small sample of what I have on deck for 2018, the most important acts of courage for me. Last night I took a solid 2 hours to list out all my family and business plans for 2018, and they are very promising!! This is exciting. I can hardly wait to start the new year.

What about you? What is exciting and motivating you to have a wonderful and exciting year in 2018? Please share!