Goal setting make us stronger. It makes us self-reliant, hard working and motivated. When we have “things to do” it helps us keep busy and moving, and at the end of accomplishing a goal, the reward is great and the feeling that comes upon you is indescribable. It is a feeling of completing something YOU wanted to do!
Laila has been learning how to walk. It has been a struggle around here. Her first birthday is next week and I was hoping to have her walking by then… BUT it doesn’t look like that will be the case. Over the past few months I have learned what it feels like to help her {my sweet baby} reach one of her goals. She wants it SO bad.
She wants to walk and gets so frustrated when her little legs and feet aren’t strong enough to hold her up. I can’t wait for her to finally take her first step. It will be so fun for her! She will be able to feel that indescribable feeling. The feeling of completing something SHE wants to do!
I have come up with a list of 7 SIMPLE STEPS: HOW TO HELP YOUR CHILDREN REACH THEIR GOALS in 2014. Whether your child is learning how to walk like mine, wants to learn how to ride a bike, would like to get straight A’s or is hoping to get their driver’s license this year… as mothers, we can help them.
In fact, it is our duty to help them. It is our privilege to help them. Here are a few things we as moms can do to help our children reach their goals.
1. COMMUNICATION: Talk to them. Find out what their interests are, what they love, what they hate, what their favorite things are and what bothers them. For babies, I can’t exactly communicate with Laila, but we understand each other. We may not be speaking a language, but for the most part, I know what she wants and she knows what I want. If she cries, she is either tired or hungry. If she is fussy, she is probably frustrated with something. If she is reaching for an item, she wants it. If she dances, she is happy. If she squeals, she is excited.
I loved in my family, I could talk to my mom about anything. Some of my favorite memories growing up are laying on her bed and talking to her before I went to sleep. Talk to your children, no matter their age. They will always have something to say.
2. MAKE A PLAN: Once you find out what their goals are, make a plan. What is the time frame they would like to complete their goal? What steps do they need to take to achieve it? Tyson is so good at making game plans. I told him that I wanted to lose weight and get back to the gym {I have been slacking WAY too much!!}. SO, he put together a whole calendar of what I need to do each day to achieve my goal. I love having a hard copy on my mirror that I can look at daily. I suggest doing that for your kids as well. Make a plan and write it out so they can SEE the plan daily. It will be nice for them to have a visual guide to their success.
3. ENCOURAGE: We all need encouragement! Adults need it and even our children need it. When we are working hard for something, we all need to have support. Maybe that little nudge or someone to say we are doing a good job! I suggest maybe writing your child a note letting them know that you are proud of them. Put it on their pillow for when they go to bed. Maybe on their bathroom mirror for when they wake up in the morning. Or in their lunch so they can read it at school. When someone tells us we are doing a good job at something, it pushes us to do it even better.
4. HAVE PATIENCE: Sometimes it is SO hard to work with children. It is easy to get upset if they are doing something wrong over and over again. Let me tell you, as much as it is frustrating for you, it is frustrating for them as well. They want it. They want to get good at it. And they can’t! It is hard! Without patience from you, achievement will not be possible. Be consistent. Keep them going. Don’t get angry. If you feel like you are getting frustrated, maybe walk away for a minute or take a little break. Come back to it again and start fresh.
5. MAKE IT FUN: Growing up I had a hard time learning my multiplications, so my mom made it fun for me! We made up a song for every multiplication table. For example, 3,6,9,12,15,18 was to the tune of Jingle Bells. And 4,8,12,16 was to the tune of the Flinstones. This was a fun and easy way for me to learn my multiplications and accomplish my goal of getting good grades. To this day, I still sing those songs when I have a math problem to be solved! Find out what your child likes and incorporate it into the goal. Make it fun and exciting. Make it so they want to do it and they don’t feel like they are being forced.
6. DON’T LET THEM GIVE UP: As I have been teaching Laila to walk, it is so easy for her to fall down to her knees and crawl. Every now and then it gets a little frustrating so I say, “Fine! Just crawl!” Don’t let them give up. I am grateful for a mom who pushed me to take violin lessons throughout all of Junior High and High School. Even when I wanted to quit, she encouraged me not to. If our children feel like they are good at something, they will want to continue doing it. Make them feel like they are the BEST! Nobody wants to quit something they are good at.
7. DON’T YOU GIVE UP: As much as we can’t let them give up, WE can’t give up either. Keep going. Keep being the mom you know you can be! Sometimes things happen that make us want to give up. {trust me – been there, done that} But I promise if you don’t give up and you stay by their side until the goal is accomplished, YOU will also be able to feel that indescribable feeling. The feeling of completing something YOU BOTH wanted to do!
I hope these 7 simple steps will help you throughout this year. As we communicate with our children, set a plan, encourage them, have patience and make it fun.
You will be able to see the joy in your children’s life from accomplishing something they worked hard for. Be their supporters and show them all of your love. After all, we are their moms! We are their biggest fans!
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Danielle is the owner of Today's the Best Day. She strives to provide creative and uplifting content in order to enrich the parenting experience for women everywhere. Danielle hopes to help you and your family to make every day the best day! 
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