Bill My Parents Asks: What are your goals?

Year after year as a family we make our resolutions and year after year we break them. It occurred to me this year that the problem is 12 months. To quote Prince, “That’s a mighty long time.” Life changes. You realize your goals were unrealistic. Truly, who can not drink wine during the week for a whole year? Or workout EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. for a year? You get down on yourself and instead of taking a step back and resetting, by January 31st you’ve thrown in the towel.

All those high hopes and *POOF* instead of losing five pounds you’ve gained ten. Instead of saving $100 a week, you’ve started the year by buying a new pair of shiny black jeans meant to look like leather and those leatherish pants really need one of those fabulous new leather jackets to go with them so you buy that too because nothing is as thinning as all black so you bump up your how much money I want to make in 2013 goal and pray for a miracle. Clearly we all see where this is going. The pants and jacket won’t fit by the time 2014 rolls around because you didn’t achieve your fitness goals, you weren’t able to make that extra financial goal because it turns out your great Aunt Sophie left the money to her 22 year old lover instead of you (when I grow up I want to be Aunt Sophie),  you’re trying to sell your pretty leather jacket on Craig’s List to buy the kids holiday presents and “OMG 2013 SUCKED, BRING ON 2014. THIS IS GOING TO BE THE YEAR FOR ME.” Rinse. Repeat. Misery and disappointment.

Or? Perhaps that’s just me. And my whole family. And every friend I have. I’m sure it isn’t you.

This year we made one resolution. To reset our goals on the first of every month. As a family. Instead of giving up this year, we will keep trying with the knowledge that each month we have the opportunity to reset, reevaluate and start over.

Sounds way better right? The boys were thrilled. Instead of being all, “I hate goal setting,” they were all, “I have to set goals 12 times this year?” I am somehow the bad guy for wanting them to fit into their leather pants…

So. I am sharing my goals and those of my teen sons in hopes that you will join us in our year long quest. I have set up a little linky thing below and would love you to sit down with your teens and tweens once a month and reset your goals with us.

I’ve kept it simple as I am a simple person:
Fitness
Grades for them/Professional goals for me
Do one kind thing each week for someone else and report back over family dinner
Financial goal
A quote that inspires them to keep their goals

Below are our goals:

Pretty straight forward. What are your goals? Will you take this journey with us? Link up. Let’s do this together.

We will be putting together a video at the end of the month to check in on our goals. Hopefully it’s more of a celebratory video and less of a dog shamingish one.

Disclaimer: While I have been compensated for this post, the views are all mine. And? Bill My Parents with out without payment is one of my favorite teen/tween products.