FROM SUNSHINE TO SN
Help Your Kids Achieve More This Year WITH SIMPLE, ACTIONABLE GOALS With every new year comes an opportunity to reinvent ourselves or start down a new path toward self-improvement. Making resolutions is a big part of many families’ New Year’s traditions, and parents often have a desire for their kids to take part in that tradition when they’re old enough. Following through on resolutions is tough, especially for young children, but with your help, they can achieve their goals. PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH. You are your children’s role model for almost everything, including following through on New Year’s resolutions. So, ask yourself if you follow through on your own resolutions. When you proclaim that you will read more books or finally get a gym membership, do you actually try to do it? Your kids will assign as much importance to New Year’s resolutions as you do, so by sticking to your own commitments, you can help them stay on track too. KEEP THINGS SIMPLE AND ACHIEVABLE. When your kids are forming their resolutions, their first attempts will probably be very broad. Statements like “I want to be more kind” or “I will try to help more around the house” incorporate good values but don’t include any actionable steps. Help your kids think of tangible ways to act on those goals. For example, if they want to be tidier, a good resolution might be for them to clean their room once a week or take responsibility for one household chore every day. DON’T DO ALL THE WORK FOR THEM. While it’s important for you to help your kids formulate their goals, be sure that you aren’t taking over. If they’re ultimately responsible for their resolutions, they’ll feel more compelled to keep them. Instead, suggest different goal areas they could improve, such as home, school, or sports, and let them elaborate. When it comes to creating habits, nobody is perfect, so even if your kids falter on their goals in the middle of February, don’t worry. The important thing is that you continue to encourage them every step of the way.
A Word Fr
Oh, my gosh! Have you heard about snow?
Hi, I’m Brody the black Labrador! I recently moved up to Montana from San Diego with my mom, Taylor Bell. In all my four years, I’d never seen snow until we came here. It’s amazing! It’s kind of cold, but it floats down from the sky and you can chase it around. Snow is just one of the many fun things I love about our new home.
You’ve probably met Taylor already. She’s a certified veterinary technician at The Animal Clinic of Kalispell and the best person in the world. I’ve been by her
side since I was a puppy. Taylor calls me her “soul dog,” which makes her my “soul person.” She just gets me. We always have so much fun together, going on hikes or paddleboarding on the lake. And when Taylor’s upset, it’s my job to help her feel better. Luckily, I’m really good at my job. We moved to Montana because this is where Taylor’s boyfriend lives. I don’t usually like it when people try to take Taylor’s attention, but Kevin’s pretty cool. I have to steal my spot on the couch back from him all the time, but otherwise,
Tasty, Chewy Cat Treats
Ingredients
• • • • • • • •
1 large egg
4 oz canned, wet cat food
1/4 cup parsley, coarsely chopped
2 tsp olive oil 2 tbsp water
1 cup brown rice flour 1/2 cup cooked brown rice
1 tbsp dried catnip
Inspired by Joy the Baker
WWW.KALISPELLVET.COM
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