We're having a "reading day" today:
- I am catching up on organizing my schoolroom, planning the schedule, and knocking items off my to-do list.
- The children are permitted to do whatever they like as long as it doesn't involve the computer, video games, or TV.
- Except after lunch, when we'll all have our usual "break time" including the possibility of movies.
It's my way of easing back into the schedule. I hope to school them tomorrow.
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Right now one child is still asleep (I suspect him of having stayed up late reading) and the other three are outside in the snow, with Vaseline on their faces to protect them from chapping; it's about ten degrees out. I don't know how much time I have to write before I have to start guiltily up from the computer (it's a reading day, remember? I'm trying to set a good example).
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Did you know that the federal government has helpfully suggested some New Year's Resolutions for you? If that isn't an argument for subsidiarity, I don't know what is. Let's use them as a starting point for discussion.
Drink less alcohol. Sorry, government. I resolve to drink more alcohol. One "standard" drink per day is good for most women and I don't measure up, even if you correct downward for my surprising petiteness.
Eat healthy food. Sounds great, except that the link goes to the government's nth attempt to revise the food pyramid/plate/whatever, which although somewhat improved in recent years is still unreasonably authoritative about nutritional issues that are still unsettled. Anyway, I don't make food-related resolutions as they're bad for my mental health.
Get a better education. I resolve to do the opposite: give a better education.
Get a better job. Impossible for me.
(And goodness me, considering the unemployment rate, I rather think it rude to be suggesting this as a "resolution.")
Get fit. Well, I suppose I can't argue with that one. Not many downsides to it, if you can find the time.
Lose weight. I encourage people who are unhappy with their body mass to set goals not based on the body mass itself, which is out of direct control, but instead based on behavior, which is under direct control. I would substitute this:
"Discover behaviors which improve weight, and turn them into habits."
Manage debt. Interesting verb, coming from the federal government.
Manage stress. There's that verb again.
Quit smoking. Never started, myself, so I can't really comment. Seems like it would be a good idea. I wonder if cigarette sales drop every January? (UPDATE: January and February are indeed "low" season for cigarette sales. The fact that it's cold and many people have to go outside to smoke is probably part of it.)
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Truth is, our family could probably stand to "reduce" a bit. One of these days I might do the Squawkfox Food Waste Diary. But I'm not likely to make it a New Year's resolution; more likely, a science project for one or another kid.
Save Money. In our household, oddly enough, we'll be trying to figure out the best way to spend a bit more this year. And giving more away, I hope.
Take a trip. Well, that's a nice thought, actually. I don't need a resolution for that, but maybe some folks do.
Volunteer to help others. Also a good idea.
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If I was feeling more smart-alecky or political this morning, I would suggest some resolutions from this citizen for the government to take on, but I'm not, really.
I don't have any particular resolution in mind this year. I think I will put that sort of thing off till Lent. I am not well-suited to resolutions, precisely because they appeal to me so much; I tend toward the control-freak, the inflexible, the planning and planning and planning. It would be better for me to resolve to live in the moment more, but I'm not sure it's helpful to do that in a solemn declaration of how I will spend the next 365 days.
UPDATE. Check out Monday's xkcd, which I just got around to reading today, and remember to read the mouseover text. He's playing it for laughs, but I agree.
We take the full 12 days as a break, so I am still loving my time off. Though, in reality, I have spent a good portion of the yesterday and today grading/correcting, planning memory work, and planning reading lists.
Loved your comments re: resolutions. This year my focus, to apply to all main areas of my life, is self discipline. When did I turn into such a slacker and procrastinator? I am pondering your comments on find behaviors and ultimate habits.
Happy New Year!
Posted by: Delores | 03 January 2013 at 03:11 PM