Spend Less Time On The Phone, Get Rid Of Parental Guilt, Be Present: 7 Parenting Resolutions To Try

We at Smart Parenting would like to think that every new day is another day to improve our parenting. Sometimes, we even turn it down to the next hour or the next moment being a new opportunity to be better, especially on extremely difficult days.

As 2022 comes to a close, we're sharing what the Smart Parenting team hopes to do better in 2023 or keep working on to grow in our own parenting.

None of us have it all down, but that's what Smart Parenting and its community are here for. Our growth may not be linear but just like you, we're determined to be the best parent we can be for the sake of our own children.

7 Parenting Resolutions To Become A Better Parent

1. Less multitasking on the phone while watching kids.

"Spend less time on my gadget while looking after my son, says Dadbud PH founder Joey Ong.

"It's easy to zone out and spend non-quality time dahil sa phone. Now that Joselito is getting older, I noticed that he is already aware that I'm there but not there. 

"He would get between me and my phone sometimes. I feel guilty. Will definitely change this by setting boundaries in our house for gadget use. Like no gadgets inside the play room.

Joey says he will also be doing this when talking to his wife, Ciara. "I will go offline more."

2. Not one to do resolutions—prays instead.

"I never have a resolution unless I really have one to make around New Year’s. What I do instead is I pray as a year ends and as the one begins, and ask God to make His voice clear to me at this time, says Rica Peralejo Bonifacio, Smart Parenting Editor-at-Large.

"I do that so to set a direction for myself for the year and a guideline of discerning instead of haphazardly ascertaining. 

"For 2023 though, I see some things I might need to do better from my mistakes in 2022. That which includes more planning when it comes to my enterprises, more intention, and less spur-of-the-moment. 

"Doing that by getting some people to give me advice and help me build a schedule I can follow for the year!"

RELATED: It Took Rica Peralejo 7 Years To Become A Calmer Parent

3. At least an hour of undivided attention with my child.

"To be more present... make time for my daughter, says Smart Parenting's video producer and mom of one, Cherrie Julian. 

"At least maybe an hour a day that she gets my undivided attention whether learning time or play time. 

"Kung kelangan ng calendar invite or 'meeting schedule' for this as we do at work. Para rin meeting, because she deserves my time and focus."

RELATED: Erwan Heussaff Asks Dahlia ‘Are You Happy?’ And Her Honest Answer Made Us Tear Up A Little

4. Prioritize health and family time.

"My top parenting resolution this 2023 is to prioritize family time and health, says Smart Parenting Growth Lead and mom of one, Denise Estrella. 

"Why? I got so focused and busy with work that it affected our family dynamics--I'm always too tired to play with Javi, always too stressed and masungit to talk about important matters with my husband cause stressed ako with work, I'm in meetings even during meal times and I'm on my phone after work hours or first thing in the morning, working even on weekends!

"Next year, I want to set clear boundaries as to what time I'm reachable and create a fixed work sched (like legit hard stop). I think I wasn't able to do that before. So moving forward, I want to establish it and really stick to it. Sinimulan ko na last week, actually.”

RELATED: Payo Ng Isang Single Mom: 'Make Time For Your Hobbies, Kahit Mahirap Maging Magulang'

5. Getting rid of guilt and to be easier on yourself.

“I am working on not feeling guilty, irritated, angry, or sad when I need to prioritize my child over work–when he interrupts an online meeting and I need to attend to him, when I need to take a leave for him, or when I need to include him in my daily work calendar so I don’t forget, says Iza Santos, Smart Parenting’s Brand and Business Head and mom of one.

“I am working on not being too hard on myself, one day at a time.”

RELATED: These Two Give Us Reasons Not to Feel Guilty About Being a Working Mom

6. Letting go and trusting more.

“In 2023, I will be less handholding and more trusting,” says Senior Staffwriter Judy Santiago Aladin and mom of one. “I’ll let my daughter play with other kids more so that she can pick up learnings from her experiences and interactions with other people.

“I’m slowly accepting that she needs to be with other people and not just Nanay. It will be good for me too.”

RELATED: LJ Reyes Gusto Maging Independent Ang Mga Anak Pero Hirap Mag-Let Go

7. Be a better friend to my family.

Acting Editor in Chief Ronna Capili Bonifacio says, “I’m also not one to make resolutions just like Rica. I always believe every day is a chance to start new and fresh.

“Just like each parent in our team who’s shared, I also work on being a better parent every day. Part of it is being a better friend to my husband and putting just as much effort in our marriage as in my career and with our kids. I also want to be a better friend to my kids too, understanding their interests, listening to their stories, and entering their worlds. And that includes being more understanding and respectful of their big emotions before trying to ‘fix’ things or ‘save’ them from it.”

Here's to being better parents who raise happy, healthy Filipino families!

Read more parenting resolutions here.