Howdwedo with 2012 Goals

Why list annual goals? I believe that a vision must be written as one of the steps towards being actualized. Since I was a teenager, I've always started the new year with a list of my goals and 2012 was no exception. I had a list of parenting goals that I wanted to work towards. The year is now drawing to a close and I'm taking a look at my report card. My last update was in July and then I sorta forgot all about it until this week. 

Goal 1: Introduce the girls to at least one new vegetable every month and share the winning recipe. I definitely broadened the food repertoire of this family thanks to the girls. Not sure we got one new vegetable every month but with this I learnt that they love pieces of cucumber and tomatoes (someone musta corrupted my DNA) and are not fans of popcorn
Goal 2: Continue with regular monthly development posts with less focus on the physical data. I did this in conjunction with a project 52 (at least a picture for every week of their second year). Just received the photobook I created for all the photos and I'm glad I did this project. Those angels grew so fast!

Goal 3: Potty train the girls before their second birthday. ROFL at the naivete of the mom I was 12 months ago

Goal 4: Learn to sew. More reason to ROFL - that's roll on the floor laughing for the non-acronym inclined.

Goal 5:  Learn the basics of early childhood education and the Montessori system so that I can create a mind-nurturing home for my babies. Got rid of majority of the annoying passive-play toys and my toy-buying is now guided by the Montessori theory of play. I also toured a Montessori elementary school and decided that's not the educational route I want to take with the girls

Goal 6: Start weekly excursions to paid-for-by-my-tax-dollars places like free museums, libraries, farms etc Easily done in the summer. Not so peachy when the white stuff hits the pavement

Goal 7: Implement the divide and conquer weekends - Daddy takes one baby, mommy takes the other and we have one on one time. Nah. Didn't happen

Goal 8: Teach the girls manners. Pleases and thank yous are well-known and used

Goal 9: Incorporate Christian and biblical teachings into our daily life. The girls now recognize which book is their "bible" and that we come together and read for bedtime. I've slacked off this month but need to get back on that wagon. I was struggling with having a standard prayer that the girls will eventually commit to heart because they hear it every night. My aunt just gave the girls a very beautiful toddler prayer book for Christmas so I think we'll do better with our bedtime routine next year

Goal 10: Get the girls familiar with Yoruba language and Nigerian culture. The girls love Nigerian foods and have learnt to say good morning in Benin and Yoruba (our Nigerian languages). Outside of that, I'm not sure if they understand the other phrases I try to use. This may just be a bust.

Not too bad I dare say. Did you have goals for the year? How did it all work out? And if you have older kids, what would you say is the biggest challenge for the age 2-3? I need to start working on next year's goals. 

Sayonara peeps