As we edge closer to the new year, you might be making your annual resolutions. Me too. The one that I have put at the top of the list for 2014 has nothing to do with losing weight or being more organized. It involves my parenting. My daughter is in Grade 4 and the drama has really ramped up this year. Relationships with other girls have grown more complicated. Schoolwork is harder. When my daughter comes home from school she tends to tells me about her day in one rambling monologue right before dinner or in bits and pieces as she gets ready for bed. My resolution this year is to listen. Really listen. To read between the lines to better understand what she is trying to tell me. When she starts to speak about her school day, I will do my best to put down what I am doing and give her my full attention. I will ask questions and provide suggestions for solutions when she seems to need them and I will keep my mouth shut when what she really needs is for me to be a sounding board. As she gets closer to being a teenager, I know this is going to only grow in importance. When I asked some mom friends if they make parenting resolutions, most said they do. This is what they said they are going to try to do this year: - "To yell less and be more patient and to remember why I had these kids and how much I love them." - "Don't sweat the small stuff. I have to remind myself that most stains do come out." - "Give him more freedom to try new things. I am the nervous one. Not him. I have to stop hovering." - "Be more present. No more bringing the phone to the park. I don't have to capture everything so I can tweet it out. I want to play with them." What is your parenting resolution this year? Photo courtesy FlickrCC/danielmoyle