Dear Kid,

You may recall that we were all (and by “all” I mean all mammals—I don’t interact with the insect world if I can avoid it so I don’t really know how they feel about things) ready for 2016 to be done and over with.

On a whim, I decided that while we (and by “we” I mean me and the people I know well) can’t really impact world peace, global warming, or bad hair days, we can impact our own corner of the world. At least a little.

So I started posting ideas for making 2017 a better place. Little ideas. Highly achievable goals. Mostly goals that only took a moment or two and little or no money.

Three things happened (there are always three):

First, my good friends wondered where my Snark had gone. Not to worry; it’s alive and well and purring contentedly right next to me.

Second, people started enjoying, complimenting, and requesting more of these little goals. And I love a good audience!

And third, the Universe became a nicer place. We didn’t cure cancer or figure out how to prevent paper cuts, but there seem to be more smiles. More …. Nice.

So I’ve created a DearKidLoveMom.com page for Today’s Goal: Making 2017 a good year one day at a time. I can’t promise it will always be up to date (if you want the daily “goal” update, follow me on Twitter or FB) but you can always check the page to see any “goals” you missed.

Love, Mom

Dear Kid,

Hold onto your friggatriskaidekaphobia (ooooh, big word. Means fear of Friday the 13th).

Did you know that Fr13 shows up at least once every year? 

Once upon a time, no one worried about Friday the 13th because the only days of the week were Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow (and like most triplets they kept changing places with each other). Then Days of the Week were invented and Friday the 13th became the red-headed step child.

Being the kind of mom I am, I conducted a careful scientific study about Fr13 (and by “careful scientific study” I mean I drank a Diet Coke). I can now conclusively say that on Friday the 13^th you should avoid walking under a black cat. If a ladder crosses your path, be sure to look in a broken mirror while holding a rabbit’s foot (preferably attached to the rabbit who still – presumably – has a use for it).

See how helpful science Diet Coke is?

Hope you have a great Friday the 13^th, because it’s going to come around again in October.

Love, Mom

Dear Kid,

Today is Bobblehead Day. The little figurine type of Bobblehead, not the woe-is-me-I-had-waaay-too-much-fun-last-night type of bobblehead.

Don’t look at me like that, child, I just report these things—I don’t (usually) make them up.

Bobbleheads have been around for a long time (and by “long time” I mean over 100 years) when Mr. Bobble realized he had overproduced little springs and needed a use for them (yeah, I made that part up). Bobbleheads started in the mid-1800s (I told you it was a long time ago) with cats (no one knows why—these things just happen) and then in the 1920s moved to sports figures.

These days it is possible to get almost any kind of bobblehead figure. Warning: don’t test me on this one. I went to the internet and looked. Don’t. You’ve been warned.

If you’re not a crazy Bobblehead fan (and you didn’t overindulge last night), I suggest celebrating today by nodding at a nearby tree and moving on to something more interesting.

Love, Mom

Dear Kid,

This is fantastic! We’re on the second day of the year and (as of this writing) we’ve had no major catastrophes in our house.

This is a good start to 2017 and a good sign for the year.

I recognize that there have been some not-so-great things happening in the world. But 2017 just got started; you can’t expect perfection and redirection overnight.

I have confidence.

I’ve decided that we (and by “we” I mean everyone in the universe—most of whom won’t pay any attention to me) should make 2017 better one day at a time. I’m not talking about world peace of curing urban blight or finding a good tasting non-caloric chocolate. Some things are best left to the experts.

I’m talking about the things we can impact.

Making someone smile.

Giving an unexpected compliment.

Holding a door.

Letting your mother watch something other than football on TV. (Oops, there I go with the crazy talk again.)

I’m pretty sure we can make a difference if we all try.

Love, Mom

Dear Kid,

Well, look at you. Aren’t you adorable!

You’re all spic and span and new, with your tiny little self smiling.

I’m not sure if the stork brought you last night or if you just showed up by magic, but I’m awfully glad to see you. I think a lot of us are.

We love babies. We give brand new babies the benefit of the doubt. We know you have a lot to grow into, a lot to learn.

Twelve months from now you’ll be different. Exhausted, worn out, probably jaded. But right now, you’re new, full of hope and possibilities.

And we need that very badly.

So even though the weather isn’t fabulous, and the news is a bit scary, and we all stayed up a bit too late last night to greet you, we’re delighted to say welcome.

We’re happy to have you here, 2017. Happy New Year!

Love, Mom

Dear Kid,

I am not ready for 2017.

Don’t get me wrong. Like many people, I am MORE than ready to say goodbye, adios, ta-ta, and begone to 2016. But I am not prepared for 2017.

I had plans.

I had Things I Was Going To Do.

I had lists (in my head at least).

I was going to be ready for the new year.

Somehow, it didn’t work out that way.

There are a limited (highly limited) number of hours before the ball drops, and it’s not likely I can get everything done before then.

Once again, I will welcome the new year half ready. Eager, but without the finishing touches that would make me really ready.

It’s like guests coming over and the table not being set and the sink full of dishes. They’re still welcome, but it’s not exactly the Martha greeting you were hoping for.

On the other hand, I have 365 to get ready for 2018.

Love, Mom