How to make your parenting goals stick in 2024

TOP OF MIND

Parenting goals for 2024
Welcome to 2024. The start of a brand new year. You can be anything you want to be in 2024, and according to a new study from the University of Michigan, the majority of parents (78%) said their main goal for 2024 is to be more patient. 47% also said they hope to be more consistent with disciplining their children.

Other goals making the list? Less time on phones, healthier meals, and more exercise.

The important bits
Okay, but how on earth do you actually stick to those goals? That's the hard part of New Year's resolutions, right? Well, let's try to help with that. You may have heard that it takes 21 days of repeating an action for it to become a habit, but that's sadly not true, so says habit expert Wendy Wood.

According to Wendy, this myth has origins dating back to a self-help book published back in the 1960s.

So how long does it actually take to form a habit? Unfortunately, there's no set number of days. That's the bad news. The good news is that there are science-backed tips and tricks to make a resolution stick for good.

And the first thing you should do is stop referring to these new changes as habits. For now, think of them as routines. This informative piece explains how people always try to skip the "routine" phase of habit forming because it's the most uncomfortable part of the process.

We all just want to wake up and be our best selves, but it takes time and dedication to turn the routine into a habit.

Things you can do to make it easier? Start with the smaller goals. For example, you might want to tackle "no phones at the dinner table" before, "as a family, we all take a three-mile hike after dinner!"

Also, prepare for roadblocks by creating schedules and having a friend or family member you can reach out to for support. It's important to have someone who can keep you on track.

Read more here.

What's it all mean?
It's 2024 and parenting is still just as challenging as it was in 2023. You're going to make mistakes and experience setbacks, but with the right game plan and a little bit of compassion along the way, you can create the life you dream up after drinking three glasses of champagne and humming merrily to this song.

DID YOU HEAR

Toddler opens up entire family's Christmas gifts at 3 am
The best time to make the naughty list? When you still have 364 days to correct your wrongs. That may have been the thought process behind this 3-year-old's decision to open up all the Christmas gifts under the tree in the dead of night. His parents, Scott and Katie, posted a photo showing the mayhem under the tree. They say they knew something was up when their son entered their room before sunrise to ask for scissors. 🤦

40 products to make cleaning easier
Hoping to have a cleaner home in 2024, but also not sacrifice your time and sanity? These 40 products might help you out. Some of our favorites include the miracle cleaning product known as "The Pink Stuff" and this "wet and forget" shower cleaner.

This dad just discovered his kid has pinworms and everyone is terrified
A father named Justin went on TikTok to let everyone know his kid has pinworms. "My son has worms in his anus," is how he started the video, and it only goes downhill from there. Worst of all, a pediatrician commented on the video and said that if your kid has pinworms, there's a near 100% chance you also have worms.

8 parenting goals for the new year
Is your number one goal in 2024 to think of goals to achieve? You're in luck. A team of pediatricians were nice enough to give us 8 parenting goals to start the new year strong. Included in the list? Make a family disaster kit and cook together as a family.

Disney+, but - the park
These parents thought they were buying $10k worth of Disney gift cards to surprise their family with a dream vacation, but they actually bought $10k worth of gift cards for the Disney+ streaming service.

A DOSE OF GOOD

JUST FOR YOU

Bites: Even if you don’t fully believe the folklore, why take the chance? Here’s what you can eat (and should avoid!) to invite good luck in 2024 🍀

Deals: Black Friday and Cyber Monday might be over, but that doesn't mean the deals are stopping. Here is a list of over 60 "after-christmas" Amazon deals you can take advantage of right now. This list includes a no-touch forehead thermometer for just $10 (originally $50) and a Safety 1st Compact Stroller for under $80!

Books: Speaking of habits, one of the best books on the subject is called "Atomic Habits" by James Clear. It's a self-improvement book that actually improves your life. In a way that's easy to digest, Clear unpacks the science of habits, showing how tiny changes can yield big results. It's packed with real-life examples and practical tips. It's an easy recommendation for us.

PARENTING WIN/FAIL

This week, loyal reader Vanessa L. shares how she was finally able to give her kid a dream Christmas gift!

Your son is lucky to have you, Vanessa! What a special moment.

If you have a parenting win/fail you'd like to share, email us at [email protected] and your story might be featured in a future edition!

HERE’S A QUESTION

RECALLS

OVER 650,000 INFANT FORMULA CANS.
A massive infant formula recall is impacting the makers of Enfamil and Nutramigen. Their parent company, Reckitt and Mead Johnson Nutrition, announced they were recalling 675,000 cans of Nutramigen Hypoallergenic Infant Formula Powder because of a possible bacterial contamination.

The infection is rare, but is dangerous for babies under two months and for those with weakened immune systems.

You can check out a full list of recalled products here and learn more about how you can get a full refund for the impacted products.