a peek inside the fishbowl

Happy New Year! We had a fairly lazy New Year’s Eve here at Casa Fishbowl. For dinner we ate a whole bunch of appetizers (pizza bites, bacon-wrapped scallops, coconut chicken lollipops, veggies and dip), and then we caught Catching Fire at the Coliseum. When we got home we played video games (giving the WiiU a solid workout) and rang in the New Year with bubbly 7-up in fancy glasses. :)

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I really like the idea of making New Year’s resolutions as a family. It’s a great opportunity to come together and tackle new challenges. I think it could be a really healthy activity, one that strengthens family ties in a new and interesting way.

This year we are doing the 52-week money saving challenge. I really like the idea of doing something that involves (a) a lesson in saving money and (b) a really great pay off at the end of it. And although we’re not calling it a resolution per se, we’ve also challenged ourselves to explore new cross-country ski trails around Ottawa this winter. I just hope it warms up a little at some point.

Some other things you can do as a family, if you’re keen:

• How about making a resolution to do to a “Focused 15,” in which every night after dinner the family comes together to do a 15-minute tidy. It’s amazing how much of a difference this will make in your lives.
• Speaking of chores, you can make a resolution to tackle them in a more organized way with a chore jar. (This is what we do, and it is great.)
• What about a fitness-related challenge? A weekly family skate or swim, or an evening walk with the dog?
• What about a creative challenge? A photo-a-day project, or a family gratitude journal? I love the idea of starting a happiness jar on January 1. Start with an empty jar, and fill it up with happy moments written on slips of paper as the year goes on. Then read them all out loud at the end of the year. Imagine the sense of accomplishment you’d have if you did this for a year, and how fun it would be at the end.
• What about a family reading challenge? This could be about reading a set amount of chapter books together, or maybe starting a book club?
• What about a charitable challenge? A regular donation, or a volunteering job you can do together could make a world of difference to your family, and to others as well.
• What about a tech-related resolution? No texting at the dinner table, no iPods in the bathroom. Now’s the chance to do it!

Do you make family resolutions? I would love to hear about them if you do!