It’s that lovely time of year again! Where every ad that comes across your screen starts with “back to school.” Like most moms, we have excellent intentions when executing our goals. Maybe the goal is to have homemade lunches provided or keep your kid in one extracurricular.
No matter what your school year looks like, it is possible to keep those benchmarks!
So what should your goal-setting look like? Well, it needs one fancy word. A very sexy and crucial word that fits in every mom’s vocabulary: realistic.
I don’t need to tell you how to make goals or lists. You have most likely been doing those since high school. But sometimes we need reminders that our dreams are special and unique, but if they aren’t realistic, they will become short-lived. We will give up when the goal is too hard to obtain and then wonder what went wrong in the end.
Keep the goals obtainable by reducing their life spans. Instead of writing “this year we will . . .”, create goals on a month-by-month basis. Think of it as trial runs. Maybe that goal or desire you have isn’t going to work for whatever reason. You tried it, you’re choosing not to continue it. It’s not an acknowledgment of failure, it’s the scientific method!
Getting your kids involved is also a great way to keep the momentum alive. If your kid is not thrilled or motivated by the goal, they won’t follow through. Dragging them along will only exhaust you and lead to quitting.
So all that being said, what are the most common goals parents set and how do we keep them?
1. Lunches
This one is tricky because every home situation looks different. Parents working, picky eaters, and busy schedules–all these things can hinder a solid lunch plan. First off, make sure whatever ends up in your kid’s lunch box is something they will eat. Remember fed is best, and if your kid is sending the same untouched apple and carrot sticks back home, then tailor their meals to fit their preferences. Get them in on the action! Make a station within your fridge where they can pick three or four items to build a balanced meal.
Don’t go making fancy bento box creations if you aren’t going to follow through with them. Keep it sustainable and realistic.
2. After-School Activities
Extracurriculars can be great for keeping your kids active during the school year, but the chaos they create can leave your kids feeling burnt out and you feeling stressed. Many parents choose sports; however, you don’t have to settle with the status quo for keeping your child engaged in after-school activities.
» » » » » RELATED READ: Here’s Your Permission Not to Enroll Your Kids in Sports « « « « «
When we try to follow a certain formula, we may end up going down the road of failure. Who has heard or said, “Well we’re paying for you to do this, so we will see it through!” Be honest about what your kid wants to do and what you’re willing to do to keep them accountable for it.
Places like Conquest Martial Arts allow you to sign up as a family, allowing you to join in on the fun! If physical activity isn’t your thing, Norman Firehouse Art Center has an after-school program for multiple ages, even adults! Giving your kids variety besides sports is a great way to keep them interested and motivated.
3. Academic Goals
We start so strong with these but tend to falter when life becomes daunting. Making milestones for your kids can help them stay on track. It’s great for education and can be the ribbon that ties staying on track with your goal-setting. You can make the charts and get the stickers, but it’s the motivation that counts. What is something you and your child can get on board with?
At the end of the day, the key to achieving your goals and hitting the benchmarks is working with your kids to do it alongside them. Be okay with adjusting mid-year. Be flexible. And as I said before, be realistic.
The opinions expressed in this post are those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of OKC Mom, its executive team, other contributors to the site, its sponsors or partners, or any organizations the aforementioned might be affiliated with.
