Life

Courtesy of Megan Zander

How This Mom Is Spending Her Free Time This Year

by Kylie McConville

January is a month filled with resolutions. On the first day of the month, as each of us wave goodbye to the previous year, we make way for all the things we plan to do once we have a fresh slate. We ask ourselves, What will I do better this year? How will I do better? What do I want to change about myself? About my behaviors? How can I improve? Resolutions made by women by and large get a bad rap. At face value, it's so easy to assume they'll all be the same: I'm going to lose weight!; I'm going to wake up earlier!; I'll travel! but if you take a look deeper, you'll notice just how raw and real resolutions made by women — especially moms — are. They're complex, multi-layered, and they're also incredibly honest.

Mothers aren't just making resolutions for themselves. They're constantly factoring in how the things they do and say and believe will shape and influence their children. Though moms are faced with these types of decisions day in and day out, the new year provides an opportunity to look at the year as a whole and to consider all the things they plan to change and improve on. For 2017, Romper spoke to 31 different moms all over the country in an effort to highlight just how diverse, bold, and exciting their resolutions are.

Courtesy of Megan Zander

Name: Megan Zander

Age: 33

City and state: New Haven, Connecticut

Occupation: Freelance Writer

How old are your kids?: 3-and-half-year-old twins

What resolution do you think you're supposed to make? Why do you feel this way?: I always feel like I need to make a resolution that is weight-loss related because of all the "New Year, New You" commercials and ads that get pushed down women's throats this time of year. It's what you do, right? Vow to lose weight in January even if you've never actually stopped to think about whether or not you want or need to.

What's your actual resolution this year, and why?: To spend more time with the people who matter most to me and less time on social media.

They're aware of how often I'm on my phone and I feel guilty about it, so I want them to know that I hear them, and that it's something I'm working on.

What's the one resolution you won't make again?: To drink eight glasses of water each day. It's a great goal, but I was running to the bathroom every 30 minutes and getting nothing done for work. I'm better about drinking throughout the day now, but not so much that my eyeballs are floating.

What's one thing if your life you want to change but don't feel like you can?: I wish I had more time for my friends, but as moms it's hard for us all to find the time to hang out sans kids. Ditto with my child-free friends. We're all so busy and I wish I could see everyone in person more.

What's one thing you did or didn't do last year that you forgive yourself for?: I made my kids' email addresses at the start of the year with the plan to send them regular emails as an electronic baby book for what they're older. I think I sent them one email? Oh well, I tried.

Do you tell your kids your resolution? Why or why not?: I do. They're aware of how often I'm on my phone and I feel guilty about it, so I want them to know that I hear them, and that it's something I'm working on.

What specifically do you want for your kids this year?: For them to learn how to use the bathroom 100 percent by themselves.