Ringing in the New Year

I’ve read a lot of tweets and posts that hope that 2013 is better than 2012.  I guess I hope that, too.  But at the same time, I’m really thankful for 2012.  Prior to this past year, we were able to remain in the land of denial regarding Tucker.  His problems, his speech delay, and the fact that it probably all meant more.

Tucker turned two in July of 2011 and I remember asking his doctor about what I thought was a speech delay.  She asked me what he’d said recently and I answered honestly…he’d said just that week “truck fell down.”  Turns out, that’s seriously awesome for a 2-year old to say.  It’s also the first and last time he said it.  I look back now and I know that my instincts were correct.  He wasn’t talking as much as he should have been.  And yet, I allowed myself to believe that the floodgates would open any day.

At his 2 ½ year appointment (January 2012), he wasn’t talking much more and we got our referral to the Infant and Toddler connection.   Which is how we got Tucker speech therapy, a “Pathways to Preschool” program, an eventual acceptance into his school…and an unknown diagnosis.

Overall, I can’t really say that 2012 was a bad year.  It was a year of growth, acceptance and understanding for all of us.  I grew to learn that my baby needs the kind of help that I am not trained to give him.  I accepted the fact that he is delayed.  And I understand that school is really, really good for him.  Even though it was really hard for me to send him at first.  I cried.  He didn’t.

I’m pretty happy with 2012.  It was a monumental year.  In addition to so many firsts for Tucker, I started Finding Ninee.  Awesomeness!

So, here we are, in the first week of 2013.  I don’t really do formal resolutions but there are some things that I plan to work on this year.  Stuff I’m gonna do better in 2013:

I’m going to make more friends here in Northern Virginia.  When Tucker was born, I joined some mom groups.  Hanging out with a bunch of moms in their 20’s made me feel older than dirt.  My first meet-up group’s primary discussion topic was how they make their own baby food to save money.  Um, seriously?  Go buy the organic stuff at the grocery store.  It’s cheap.  And your time is more valuable than that.  Needless to say, I didn’t exactly click with them.  Since then, I have found some mature mom groups but their kids are all typical and most of the outings take place when Tucker’s in school.  I have high hopes of bonding with some of the moms whose kids go to school with Tucker.

Health.  I’m going to be healthier.  I refuse to commit to X number of days in the gym or giving up carbs or whatever, because that could cause me to get really sad when I fail.  This way, if all I do is have two pieces of pizza instead of three, I’ve made progress.  And I’m healthier. Win!  Plus, the longer I can stay healthy, the more fun I get to have with my awesome cool little boy.  And that’s a total win.

I’m going to take Tucker kite flying.  I bought two kites last summer and constantly forget about them.  When I do remember and tell myself that after school Wednesday, or on Saturday morning that we’re doing it, either there’s no wind or we have to be somewhere else.  It’s happening this year people.  Look for the photos.

Organize!  I vow to spend at least 20 minutes every week organizing crap papers and giving away old stuff that I don’t use.  I actually said this last year as well and was pretty good at sticking to it.  Some weeks were skipped but others had my attention for an hour.  I think it evened out.  Although…there’s still an awful lot of unused crap around here.  Huh.

Finish writing a book.  Whether it sucks or not, I’m going to finish one.  What’s the point of having six half-ass started novels going?  Yup, just makes me feel like a loser.  Done with that loser feeling already.

Also?  I swear on Tampax that I am going to master the art of having an accident-free period.  I mean seriously.  I’m 44 years old now and it’s bloody well time (groan) that I learn to manage this monthly visitor so I’m not soaking my panties in cold water.  44 years old people!  That means I’ve had about 360 practice runs on how to get this right and yet I continue to fail.  WTF.  So yup, 2013 will be the year that I finally get it.  I’m determined.  If I wait too much longer, it won’t be an issue anymore.

Oh!  I’m totally going to nap more, too.  That’s a good goal, right?

What stuff do you wanna do better in 2013?