Happy New Year.
The hustle and bustle of the holidays has finally settled, and while there were moments of joy, laughter, and connection, many of us are left feeling one very real thing: exhausted.
Family gatherings, gifts, altered schedules, social commitments, travel, excitement—so much goodness packed into a short stretch of time. And yet, all of it takes energy. Especially when you have little ones. Especially when you are the one holding things together.
And now, almost immediately, we are met with the idea of New Year’s resolutions. Goals. Improvements. Big promises to do more, be better, try harder. Sometimes those resolutions feel inspiring. Other times—especially right now—they can feel ridiculous. Ridiculously hard. Ridiculous in the sense that simply managing the day already feels like a win. For many parents, the resolution is just to juggle one more day.
So let’s pause.
Take a moment to reflect and give yourself some credit for surviving what can be a truly demanding season. In the chaos and tiredness, I hope there were moments of sheer joy—a spontaneous giggle, an unexpected snuggle, a quiet minute that felt full. The holidays, and the expectations wrapped around them, are tiring. Acknowledging that matters.
And then comes grace.
Grace to recognize that you are doing your best. Grace to accept that it is completely normal to fall short of your own expectations sometimes. Parenting is not a performance; it is a practice.
That’s the thing about parenting—we are all trying to do the best we can with the children we are raising, whether they are toddlers, teenagers, or adults. We want them to be happy, successful, driven, independent, kind—fill in any number of hopes and dreams. We set the bar high, and when we don’t meet it (or think we don’t), disappointment creeps in.
But what truly matters is that we are trying. That we pause, reflect, grow, and change alongside our children. And in the midst of all of that effort, our children are becoming exactly who they are meant to be.
So maybe this year’s resolution doesn’t need to be bigger or harder.
Maybe it’s simply this:
Continue trying to be the best parent you can be.
Continue learning about your child and what they need.
Continue showing up consistently, teaching resilience, kindness, and confidence—even when it’s messy.
And maybe the most important resolution of all is to give yourself grace and compassion for how hard you are trying.
Because you are. And that counts.