Setting Family Intentions for the New Year

As a new year approaches, it's natural to think about fresh starts and new goals. But with a baby, traditional resolutions often don't work. Instead, setting family intentions—flexible, meaningful guideposts—can help you create the year you want without added pressure.

Intentions vs. Resolutions

Resolutions are often rigid goals that can feel like failures if not achieved. Intentions are guiding principles that shape your choices and priorities. They're about direction, not perfection.

Why Family Intentions Matter

Intentions help you stay focused on what truly matters to your family. They guide decisions, reduce guilt about what you're not doing, and create a framework for the kind of family life you want to build.

Areas for Family Intentions

1. Connection and Presence

Intention: "We will prioritize being present with each other."

This might mean putting phones away during meals, having daily floor time with baby, or protecting family time from over-scheduling.

2. Health and Wellness

Intention: "We will support our family's physical and mental health."

Focus on nutritious meals when possible, adequate sleep, movement that feels good, and asking for help when needed.

3. Simplicity and Balance

Intention: "We will choose simplicity over complexity."

This could mean fewer commitments, less clutter, or more white space in your schedule to just be together.

4. Growth and Learning

Intention: "We will embrace learning and growth as a family."

Support baby's development, pursue your own interests, and approach challenges as opportunities to learn together.

5. Joy and Play

Intention: "We will make time for joy and playfulness."

Prioritize laughter, silly moments, and activities that bring genuine happiness rather than just checking boxes.

6. Community and Support

Intention: "We will nurture our support network."

Stay connected with family and friends, build relationships with other parents, and be willing to both give and receive support.

7. Self-Compassion

Intention: "We will practice kindness toward ourselves."

Let go of perfection, acknowledge that you're doing your best, and treat yourself with the same compassion you show your baby.

How to Set Your Intentions

Reflect on the Past Year

What worked well? What felt stressful or misaligned with your values? Use these insights to guide your intentions.

Identify Your Values

What matters most to your family? Connection? Adventure? Calm? Peace? Let your core values shape your intentions.

Keep It Simple

Choose 3-5 intentions maximum. Too many becomes overwhelming and defeats the purpose of having guideposts.

Make Them Specific but Flexible

Instead of "exercise more," try "move our bodies in ways that feel good." This allows for flexibility while maintaining direction.

Write Them Down

Put your intentions somewhere visible—on your phone, on the fridge, in a journal. Regular reminders help them guide your choices.

Discuss with Your Partner

If you have a co-parent, set intentions together. Alignment helps you support each other in living them out.

Living Your Intentions

Monthly Check-Ins

Once a month, review your intentions. Are they still relevant? Are you living in alignment with them? Adjust as needed.

Use Them for Decision-Making

When faced with choices, ask: "Does this align with our family intentions?" This helps you say yes to what matters and no to what doesn't.

Be Flexible

Life with a baby is unpredictable. Some weeks you'll live your intentions beautifully; others you'll just survive. Both are okay.

Celebrate Small Wins

Notice when you're living in alignment with your intentions. Acknowledge these moments, even if they're small.

Intentions for Different Parenting Stages

For Parents of Newborns

Focus on survival, rest, and bonding. Intentions might be about accepting help, prioritizing sleep, and being gentle with yourself.

For Parents of Older Babies

You might focus on exploration, establishing routines, or finding balance between baby's needs and your own.

For Working Parents

Intentions might address work-life balance, quality time over quantity, and letting go of guilt.

For Stay-at-Home Parents

Consider intentions around maintaining your identity, finding adult connection, and creating structure that works for you.

What Intentions Are Not

• They're not rigid rules that create guilt
• They're not about being perfect
• They're not comparison to other families
• They're not one more thing on your to-do list

Sample Family Intentions

• "We will protect our family time and say no to over-scheduling."
• "We will prioritize sleep for everyone in our family."
• "We will spend time outdoors together regularly."
• "We will ask for and accept help when we need it."
• "We will celebrate small moments and find joy in ordinary days."
• "We will communicate openly and support each other's needs."

Reviewing and Adjusting

Your intentions aren't set in stone. As baby grows and your family evolves, your intentions can change too. Review them quarterly and adjust as needed.

The Power of Intention

Setting intentions isn't about adding more to your plate—it's about clarifying what's already there. It's about making conscious choices that align with the family life you want to create.

As you enter this new year, give yourself permission to set intentions that feel right for your family, not what you think you should do. Trust that by having clear guideposts, you'll navigate this year with more purpose, less guilt, and greater joy. Here's to a year of intentional, meaningful family life!