Setting Goals

Every few months, I go through a process with my school aged children of examining goals we've set in the past and setting new goals for the next few months. Yesterday's school work was to go through this process with Asher and Evie again and with Isaac for the first time. It was so much fun for the kids to talk about how they achieved their goals this semester and what they want to do next semester. This also helps me plan for the semester in a real way, rather than just the hypothetical stuff that I'd like to do. I think child led learning is possibly the most effective way of teaching my kids. They LOVE choosing what topics we will discuss and it means so much more to them when we have finally accomplished our goals. To do this project, they had to come up with *at least* 5 goals for 2010 - 2 academic, 2 extracurricular and one social. They had to make a poster to hang in the house of all they want to accomplish this year. In 6 months, we will review their goals, see what they've accomplished and what they have a way to go on yet.

Here is what they came up with:

Asher

1. Complete Life of Fred Beginning Algebra and Begin Advanced Algebra.
2. Complete a Meteorology Unit in Science.
3. Make some new friends.
4. Learn how to cook.
5. Achieve Senior Brown Belt in Tae Kwon Do.

Evie

1. Study how bugs live.
2. Earn a Senior Blue Belt in Tae Kwon Do.
3. Study the Stars.
4. Take and Art Class.
5. Make some new friends.
6. Make Sculptures.

Isaac

1. Complete Kindergarten.
2. Learn to Read.
3. Take Tae Kwon Do classes.
4. Do some arts and crafts.
5. Make more friends.

In setting goals for the kids, I found myself wondering what my goals for 2010 would be if I made a colorful poster to hang on my wall. What do I want to learn, do and accomplish socially, academically and with my hobbies? What are my goals? What is my motivation? These aren't 'new year's resolutions' - I always set my expectations way too high for those - like 'I want to lose 50 pounds' or 'I want to stop eating chocolate' - these things, while not impossible, are highly improbable with my current state of mind! So, these are my goals for 2010:

1. Academic: Learn to enjoy homeschooling again - I am taking steps to learn Asher's math myself so that I can better understand the material and will be able to help him without confusing him further. I am also looking at ways to improve my kids desire to write and produce 'projects' independent of me.
2. Academic: Attend a homeschooling conference and learn some new styles and about high school transcripts.
3. Extracurricular: Continue running - even if it is not every single day - I want to continue enjoying my short jaunts out into my neighborhood. I want to continue taking baby steps towards a healthier lifestyle in my behavior and eating habits.
4. Extracurricular/Social: Find time to craft. I need to make an effort to set up a monthly scrapping day with my friends who love it as much as I do. I also want to take time to scan in all my mother's old photographs, so that if they are ever lost physically, then there will be digital copies.
5. Social: Build my relationships with my husband, mother, step father, my sisters and my brother. My brother and my sisters have always been precious to me, but life gets very busy and I tend to take their presence for granted. If this year of losses and turmoil has taught me anything, it is to treasure every moment we have together and to simply love the wonderful people I have in my life.
6. Social: Community Service - I'd like to expand my family's horizons and start a board game day for seniors in the local area. I'm going to contact my town's library and the local senior centers in both the county I'm in and the county my mother is in to see if there would be any interest in getting this started. I'd love for this to become cross-generational, but we'll see what happens.
7. Social: Simplify - I want to try to simplify my relationships this year. I want to try to realize that some people are not able to give support when it is needed simply because that is who they are. I want to eliminate the negativity that comes into my heart via others' attitudes and I want to be a light to those who need it. I want to be thankful to everyone who is able to give me a little light when I need it and to try my best to some how reciprocate what they've given to me.

Whether or not I'll accomplish all of these goals is not really an issue. I just want so badly to start enjoying life again and I feel like I need to have a direction to go to do so. I want realistic goals that are achievable and simple. I think that these 7 things are achievable. I also want to establish 6 tenets by which I will live my life... Because 7X6=42 and 42 is the answer to life the universe and everything... And everyone needs tenets to live by - my kids have their Tae Kwon Do Tenets which they repeat at the beginning of every class. (Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self Control, Indomitable Spirit) :D So here are my 6 tenets to go with my 7 goals. Which multiplied together makes 42... which just seems appropriate and perfect. And if you don't know what I'm talking about, then you need to go read The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy!

Steph's Tenets:

1. Kindness & Love
2. Patience & Understanding
3. Peace & Tranquilty
4. Non-Judgement & Open Mindedness
5. Enjoyment & Fulfillment
6. Benevolence & Charitability