Perhaps my greatest blessing in life is the chance I have to be a mom to these 4 darling kids. I adore each of them and I’d like to think the feeling is mutual! I love being a mom and I wouldn’t trade this job of mine for anything in the world. But as with anything in life, I know I can do better, which is why this year, my efforts in becoming a better mom are summed up with the word EMBRACE.
Kids grow up way too fast, and I want to embrace every single second of this time that I have with them. I don’t want to look back and wish I had taken the time to play longer, to laugh harder, to teach better, and to hug tighter. I don’t want their childhoods to slip through my fingertips.
I want to hold them tightly and tickle them with kisses ‘til their sweet belly-laughs fill my ears and are impossible to forget.
I want to find joy in the little things.
I want to be the kind of mom who can put down whatever she is doing to play Candy Land with her kids.
I want to bake and cook in the kitchen with at least 1 kid standing on a kitchen chair next to me- {perhaps in a matching apron!}
I want to be the kind of mom who takes pictures- lots and lots of pictures- of the types of things you don’t set up a backdrop for; the everyday moments that make you both happy, and frustrated. The details you never want to forget- the smiles, the scowls, the messy faces and dirty feet.
I want to be the kind of mom that lets the phone go unanswered and turns the TV and computer off because her child is yelling, “Mom, watch this” from the backyard.
I want to embrace motherhood in its entirety- to appreciate the fun parts, and learn to laugh at the hard parts.
I want to focus on embracing the blessings that make my life fabulous!
I made the following printable for my home that I will keep framed next to my bed. Feel free to download it is you’d like to!
I hope this will be the reminder I need to stop for just a second longer and embrace those precious kids of mine. They grow so fast, and I don’t want to miss a single second of the time we have to spend together! Cheers!
*I changed my word from “Become” to “Embrace” a week after this post originally published. My goal is the same, but I felt like this word narrowed in on my goal just a bit better. Sorry for the confusion! 
About Stephanie
awesome I am following your new blog too
Thanks Brittany! That is so nice of you!
Great word. I chose the word Emerge this year. You can read about it on my blog, if you wish: http://waaoms.blogspot.com/2012/01/word-of-year-2012.html
Have a great year!
I loved your post and I think I need to put the definition of “Become” in my write up!
Thank you for visiting my blog! I hope you will come again soon. I’m glad you liked the idea of adding a definition.
I did this last year for the first time. i shared the idea with my sister who in turn shared it with her Sunday School Class. We all chose one word. We are meeting again this month to discuss our progress last year and to pick another word.
While this sounds simple it most definitely is not! It takes constant prayer and application. I was able to do well in some areas last year and totally flunked in other areas.
I pray I can do better this year. My word last year was “present”. The goal was to be more present in my marriage, only deal with issues in the present, to be more present in my tithing and overall relationship with God.
I have not chosen a word yet but I do like yours!
That’s a great goal!!! For the New Year and for always! Off to check out the new site!
Beautiful Stephanie. I cannot wait to go visit it. I am sure I will be there often. This is just where my thoughts have been lately also. I am trying to find peace in my busy life and schedule and start putting being a good mom first. It is so easy for callings, blogging, volunteering constantly, to over take my greatest calling in life….Being a Mother. I have been struggling in this reserve for a while. How to find peace? This year my goal is to put my highest priorities first (Mother, wife, Church) even if it means giving up other things I really do not want to give up.