An Intentional New Year

Happy 2022! Another year is upon us and everyone is gathering their resolutions, goals, and “words of the year.”

Last week I spent a lot of time in rest and figuring out what I want to work on this coming year. I don’t always choose a “word of the year,” but this year the word intentional keeps sticking out to me. I want to be intentional in everything I do, having a clear purpose and focus. Intentional with the time I spend with my kids, in my mothering, in my work, in our homeschool, and in time with the Lord.

I LOVE books and read a little everyday, so here are some of my goals in how I am planning to be intentional this year and some great books I’ll be reading:

Intentional time in the Word-

I am not a morning person, but getting up early and spending time with Jesus really sets the tone for a great day. I am also in a much better mood when I get a moment to wake up and have some time to myself before all my mommy duties. My kids are finally sleeping until at least 7 am, so I plan to get up at least an hour earlier to read the Bible and some of my favorite devotionals.

The Beautiful Word

The Pocket Bible Devotional for Women

The Daily Grace Company has really great Bible studies that are simple and quick for busy moms.

Intentional time with my kids-

This year I want to work on figuring out my kids love languages. The five love languages are acts of service, words of affirmation, affection, quality time, and gifts. I know as they get older their love languages might change, but I want to figure out the best one for them now and work at cultivating that. I hope to strengthen our relationship and connections.

The 5 Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell

I also plan to spend at least 10-15 minutes a day with each child. Whether it be coloring with one for a few minutes, building legos with another, or reading some books together, I want to focus on spending some personal time with them each day. Our days are busy and full, so I know this won’t happen everyday, but the idea is to put my to do lists aside until I spend some quality time with them. They are the ones that deserve our time the most.

This year we will also be doing one on one dates with each child. Getting the time to take them each out on a date is hard, and can get expensive, so instead they will each have a special night once a month where they can stay up late and choose what to do with my husband and I. We will use the number of their birthday each month to determine their special day. (Example: My daughters birthday is February 22nd so on the 22nd of every month she gets to stay up late.) They can choose to watch a movie with us, play a game, read a book, chat and hang out, whatever they wish. We will get quality one on one time with them and they have a special day to look forward to every month.

Memory-Making Mom by Jessica Smartt

Intentional Motherhood-

All of the above things go with motherhood, but this year I want to focus on myself in how I parent. I want to be intentional with my reactions and discipline. Here are some great books I am reading so far or plan to read next:

Mom Heart Moments: Daily Devotions for Lifegiving Motherhood by Sally Clarkson

Wild Things: The Art of Nurturing Boys by Stephen James and David Thomas

Triggers: Exchanging Parents Angry Reactions for Gentle Biblical Responses by Amber Lia & Wendy Speake

5 Things to Pray for Your Kids by Melissa B. Kruger

Loving the Little Years: Motherhood in the Trenches by Rachel Jankovic

Intentional Homeschool-

Last year my word of the year was simple and I really took that in stride with our homeschool. I simplified our curriculum, our space, our stuff, etc. This year I want to be intentional in all that we do and use. I don’t want to force things my kids aren’t interested in. Sit your kids down and ask them what they love, or don’t love about your homeschool, and what they want to learn about. My kids said they want more science experiments and art so we will be intentional about adding those in more often rather than crafts and other things.

The Call of the Wild & Free by Ainsley Arment

A Gracious Space: Daily Reflections to Sustain Your Homeschooling Commitment by Julie Bogart

These are great daily devotionals as a homeschooling parent. They are short and so encouraging! There is one for WINTER, SPRING, and FALL.

Intentional Work-

Creating homeschool resources, working on my blog, and social media is a creative outlet for me that I love. This year I hope to be more intentional about forcing a quiet/rest time for everyone every afternoon and using that time to get any work done that I can. (I will share a day in the life on my Instagram once we get back into the swing of things.)

I also want to be more disciplined with my phone/social media. I will be keeping my phone in another room while we are doing schoolwork everyday, so they have my full attention. I always answer all my messages, because I love chatting with you all and helping with any questions if I can, but this year I won’t be answering any messages until after my kids are in bed at night.

I also want to limit the amount of time on my phone. Over the break I loved reading more often and doing puzzles. I would like to also start painting more again, embroidery, and learning to crochet. This year every time I go to reach for my phone, instead I’m going to try and pick up a book and read a paragraph or 2, or embroider for 10 minutes. Something more relaxing and rewarding than getting sucked into scrolling my phone.

Here is a great book I’m starting to read a little each day:

Seeking Slow: Reclaim Moments of Calm in Your Day by Melanie Barnes

Coming up this year in my SHOP:

I have a lot of exciting things planned for this coming year, but of course 1st I will be completing American Girl History– Addy will release next week, Samantha in February, Kit in March, Molly in April, and a special build your own unit in May. I also have some fun freebies and bundles coming out soon!

I plan to take a month off social media in July to finish creating some new, exciting things for the 2022-2023 school year!

If you loved Me On the Map, the next thing I am creating is Me and My Amazing Body! I am so excited about this study guide. It will be an early introduction to the human body for little ones ages 4-7 based around the book by Joan Sweeney.

I also hope to finally write Me and the Saints. A curriculum for young children all about the Catholic Saints. Hands on activities, crafts, recipes, history, feast days, and more about many different saints. My hope is to teach kids about some of these amazing biblical role models for them to remember and look to throughout their lives.

More on those to come soon, but I am so excited!

I hope sharing some of my goals and plans for this coming year are encouraging and helpful to you. Maybe they gave you some ideas to try yourself or you at least found a great book to try out.

I wish you a blessed 2022! Cheers to a great year ahead!

–Lindsay