I close my eyes and remember my three little stair step boys packed like sardines.

Yes, three boys, one bed, packed together by choice.  They have their own bunk beds, but it was one of those nights when they felt stronger united, rather than divided.

I tuck the covers in around them and their imaginations take me away to another land.  An empire where they have conquered the enemy, defended the honor of the kingdom, vowed allegiance to the brotherhood, and made promises. Promises they would keep.

They know we are big on promises in this family, and right now this trio feels empowered. We remind each other of the importance of vows. Once again, I share our family motto of how it’s better to not make a vow, than to make a vow and not keep it.

Fast forward more than a decade. Today, on the eve of our eldest son’s graduation party, I tip toe into that same bedroom.  The legs of our three teen sons, all over six feet, dangle off the edges of those same bunk beds. They’ve been requesting new beds for the last year, and I think it’s time to oblige. The posters on the walls have changed, and so have their music choices.

The room’s name has distinctly been coined the “Man Cave,” but our family motto still rings true. Now, I rise up on my tip toes to give these big men children some hugs, but the whispers of being true to your promises are still the same.

For any of you who have been a regular reader here at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam, you know that I am big on goals, but not huge on New Year’s Eve type resolutions; no, definitely not. (Remember my Rebolutions post?)

I tend to take on too many tasks, and I just need to concentrate on doing the next thing.  This Type Z personality of mine would like nothing better than to just take life as it is without a care in the world, but then nothing would get done in my home.  I used to get so frustrated with myself for not being able to keep up my New Year’s Resolutions and follow them as is.

Well, I found out I am not alone. P&G everyday shared with me a recent survey which revealed that 51 percent of 1000 Americans  polled admitted to not following through on their goals after making a resolution. Seventy percent admitted that their reasoning was because the goals were either too big or they tried to achieve too much. (Raising hand high on that one.) Eighty eight percent believed that they would be more successful if they set smaller, more manageable resolutions rather than committing to one large goal.

Can I tell you how excited I was to know that there has been a method to my madness when I have asked you all to join me on these little baby steps?  Whether it’s exercising together or challenging each other’s budget during our Food Waste Week, most of us appreciate the accountability of knowing there are others out there in the same boat.

This month, I’ve joined an everyday resolution campaign that encourages us to make small pledges to ourselves and our families to make the everyday better – to truly live a life in progress.

This is right up my alley. Each day, I am going to challenge myself to accomplish one thing that might not be on my typical “To Do” list, and I’d love for you to join me.

Think of all the meaningful things we can get done if we just resolve to do one, small thing.

Over the course of the month, it will add up to sheer beauty.  I’m going to focus on home goals, family goals and heath goals, and goals that will enrich my community – nothing huge, just very manageable baby steps.

For instance, I’m starting with those three big boys of mine, and their man cave. Rarely do I snuggle with them anymore in their bedroom. With our girls, that’s a nightly thing, but with my big boys, it’s a rare occurrence. (I’ve shared about the questionable smells that reside there regularly. ☺)

Well, this week, I just don’t care. I am invading their Man Cave each evening for some necessary “forced bonding.” Yes, it may be their “place of solace,” which they tell me often, but for this mom, my everyday resolution is to spend quality time in their Man Cave for more than just a quick good night.

I’m going to crawl up into their beds like I did years ago, and invite them to share with me the “battles and kingdom” they are conquering lately. They are never too big to need some intentional TLC from their momma. Don’t take “no” for an answer.

I’m going to ignore the questionable odors and piles of clothes that were supposed to be put away and just embrace the simple moments.

Will you join me with some everyday resolutions of your own?

Let’s hold each other accountable.

 This week for me, it’s my boys, next week, it’s the bathroom. 😉