25 Things I Won’t Stress Over This Year

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As we shake off the excesses of the holiday season, we’re thrust into the whirlwind of New Year’s celebrations—countdowns, parties, and the infamous resolutions. Honestly, I can barely find the energy to care about extravagant New Year’s Eve events (still recovering from the festive chaos over here!), but it’s the resolutions that really get under my skin. The endless pressure to improve ourselves—do this better, do that differently, achieve more, and cut back on this—all in the name of “self-development.”

But here’s the truth: New Year’s resolutions often become just another set of unrealistic expectations that pile on the guilt when we inevitably fall short. Parenting already comes with its own heap of guilt! Why add more? That’s why this year, I’m crafting a list of things I refuse to care about—my own anti-resolutions. It’s about reallocating my energy and focus, saving my emotional resources for what truly matters.

So, let’s dive into the 25 things I won’t stress over this year:

1. My kids wearing shorts without a coat in the frigid winter months.
2. The judgmental looks from strangers about my kids’ winter outfits.
3. My son’s week-long obsession with only eating cereal and apples.
4. Fashion trends—my current style can simply be described as “sweatpants chic.”
5. How you choose to feed your kids. Whether you breastfeed in public, choose formula, or give snacks in line at the DMV—it’s your call, and I don’t care.
6. The drama on social media. That “unfollow” button is there for a reason, and I intend to use it wisely.
7. Celebrity pregnancies and their unrealistic standards. Honestly, I don’t give a single thought about what famous people do after childbirth.
8. My kids zoning out in front of the TV for extended periods. Sometimes a good binge-watch is necessary for my sanity.
9. Whether your kid got the latest gadgets for Christmas.
10. Whether my kid missed out on the latest toys.
11. The antics of unruly children; they’re just kids, after all.
12. The behavior of difficult parents—they might just be having a rough day.
13. Artificial holidays that don’t matter. Sorry, kids, but no glitter trails for St. Patrick’s Day here!
14. Raising my voice. Guilt from parenting experts? No thanks—I’ve got enough of that already.
15. My son rocking the same Star Wars shirt multiple days in a row.
16. Swearing in front of my kids. Let’s be real—there are worse things.
17. My older son teaching my younger son how to spell curse words. It’s spelling, people!
18. The deep forehead wrinkles my kids find amusing. There are six of them, and they seem to be multiplying.
19. My caffeine intake. Survival mode sometimes calls for more than one pot of coffee.
20. My kids witnessing me cry. Parents have feelings too, you know.
21. Crafting a picture-perfect childhood. The beauty of childhood lies in its messiness.
22. Politely declining PTA invites. No, thank you!
23. Choosing a night in with reruns of my favorite shows over moms’ night out. Sometimes you just need a breather.
24. Pressuring my kids to excel in everything. I’d rather focus on raising kind-hearted individuals.
25. The burden of being the perfect parent, spouse, friend, or employee. Let’s ditch that pressure!

This year, I’m taking a page from my own book of advice for my kids: Just be yourself. The best version of yourself. Because that’s the only thing truly worth caring about.

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In summary, this year is all about letting go of unnecessary stressors and focusing on what truly matters in life and parenting.