Intentional Parenting

M.O.P.S. has started back up for the year! I picked Morgan up from childcare this morning and he was riding the rocking horse... with someone's pink blanket. They told me that he wouldn't give it up. That's how he is. He is totally glued to his night night. This one wasn't his. But, it had the same texture.

Today's speaker was Amy Gill with Once Upon a Family and the topic was intentional mothering. She talked about how today's families are frantic and frazzled. We know what we want to do for our families but often reality falls short of the fairytale image we hold on to. But, it's not about doing more, it's about doing less and doing the right things. Intentional mothering means that our actions are deliberate. She encouraged us to think about things that we can do once a day, once a year and once in a while to be better moms and better for our marriage.

We also talked about great traditions to build for our children. I'm especially interested in doing this for my family

Here's what I'd like to do intentionaly for my family:

Once a Day:

Make my son and husband laugh

Tell my son and husband that I love them

Eat a meal together

Always spend 30 minutes of one-on-one uninterrupted play time with my son

Once a Week:

Have a date night with my husband

Once a Month:

Have father/son night with Morgan when he is old enough

Game night here at the house

Once a Year & Holiday Traditions:

Have at least one overnight stay just with my husband. Have the entire evening and morning at a special get-away.

Make an ornament each year

Drive and look at the Christmas lights

Make laminated placemats with photo Christmas cards from friends and family

Attend Gaby's Christmas tea

Wrap Christmas books and upwrap one each night to read

Make a handprint for Morgan each year at the craft barn in Colorado

Make Christmas cookies

Write a letter each year for Morgan and give all 21 letters to him on his 21st b-day. I've already put the reminder in Outlook to do on New Year's.

Decorate for Valentine's day and have a family dinner

See the fireworks each year for 4th of July.

Do the Easter Egg Hunt

Pumpkin Patch at Halloween

Ride the hay ride in Colorado

Use the free tickets to the state fair

Morgan hunt with Dan for dove and deer opening season

Publish this blog into a book

I'm sure more ideas will come to mind. Let me know your great ideas too! I love traditions!