Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a lovely holiday season full of memory-making moments with family and friends. As we transition into a new year, a feeling of “change” is always in the air. For many, change may be motivated by a desire to improve a part of their life, prompting them to make a New Year’s Resolutions list. Unfortunately, the majority of resolutions fall by the wayside within a couple of months. Maybe we set unrealistic goals, or maybe we have not defined our “why” well enough. Either way, keeping those promises to ourselves does not always work as planned. So, how do we make updates to our lives in a way that will stick? Brandy Browne shares some wonderful ideas in her feature, Ditching New Year’s Resolutions: Five Things to Try Instead. Browne shares ideas to help us focus on the positives of change and make these adjustments more manageable and fun. I love that her ideas apply to both individuals and families and can be used for all ages.
As we discuss the upcoming year and “change,” we cannot overlook the fact that very soon, we will all be looking at school registrations for the 2025-26 school year. Yes, that’s right, while we are barely halfway through this school year, many area schools are now accepting applications and opening their registrations for the 2025-2026 session. Many families will be going to their zoned school. However, others may decide that their zoned school does not fit their needs and desires. To help those families in their research, we have included what we hope is a beneficial Education Resource Guide that includes options for area schools.
If your child’s next school year will be at a college or university, or they are entering the workforce and living independently, Prepare Your Kids for College: 10 Things to Do Now So They Are Ready is a great read. Teaching your child these life skills will make their life easier and help build their confidence to tackle additional adulting tasks. As I have mentioned before, we installed a washer and dryer upstairs and told the girls this would be their laundry room. They actually loved the idea because they could do laundry in their timeframe, and of course, I loved it because three girls can produce a lot of laundry!
We could not put together an “Education” issue without discussing one of the biggest struggles parents face during the school year: homework. Whether balancing after-school activities or frustrations with the subject matter, for so many families, getting assignments completed at home is a challenge. Fortunately, Christa Melnyk Hines shares some helpful tips in her feature, Put the Om” in Homework: 7 Tips to Ease Homework Frustration and Boost Focus. I have read this article multiple times. Even though I don’t have homework, I do work from home, and I have enjoyed incorporating some of her tips into my workday. Spoiler alert: there is a mention of aromatherapy, and I actually found some essential oil pens, pencils, and highlighters that I may try! Stay tuned for a review.
So as we say goodbye to 2024 and jump into 2025, I wish everyone a year filled with positive change, joy-filled days, lots of laughter, and a peaceful heart.
Author: Lynn Knighton
Lynn has called the Mobile Bay area home since 2006 with her husband Brad and their 3 daughters. Following the sale of her Abrakadoodle franchise, Lynn still wanted to serve families and help them thrive. Becoming the Publisher of Mobile Bay Parents was the perfect opportunity. Now she invests into family's lives each month by providing the with the area's #1 go-to resource for moms and dads.
