Local Moms Share Their New Year's Goals

It's that age-old conflict of motherhood: Are you doing so much for others that you neglect yourself? Or are you so overextended by work and community that you fear you're neglecting your family?

Parsippany Patch asked township moms about their New Year's resolutions, and they generally fell into two camps: More "me'' time vs. more family stuff.

"Before kids, my new year's resolutions were all about me and things I wanted to do,'' said Ankita Roelofs, who lives in the Powder Mill development and has three children under the age of 3.  "Now, I barely find time to shower and feed myself.  I should probably try and get out of the maternity clothes I've been wearing for four years. I want to do something for myself every day.''

Harriet Karkanias, of Lake Hiawatha, has similar resolutions. She wants to take better care of herself in 2011, focusing on her health, exercising and eating better. She also plans to make time for the hobbies that have been put on the back burner while she takes care of her three kids ages 2, 3 and 5.

"The focus is mainly on the kids and always will be, I just need to squeeze myself in more" Karkanias said. "I need to spend more time on what I'd like to do versus what I need to do."

Last year, Julie Brodock, of Lake Hiawatha, woke up and decided that after years of thinking about it, she was going back to school.

"I applied, registered and was enrolled in classes within two weeks," she said. "I made it just in time and finished all the paperwork the day before classes started.  I don't think I would ever have done it wasn't New Years Day."

Other moms are vowing to be better parents or spend more time with their families.

Jodie McDonnell, of Lake Parsippany, and a mother of two young girls, guiltily confesses that they aren't eating a well-balanced diet.

"It sounds silly, but this year I plan to do whatever I need to do to make sure they get their fruits and veggies." McDonnell said.

Kim Kirstein, of Lake Parsippany, wants to spend more time just relaxing with her husband and children. "This past year, I definitely overextended myself with school and other community activities, to the point that I didn't have the downtime I needed with my family,'' she said. " I plan to stay active in those things in 2011, but find the right balance so my family can continue to enjoy time together, too."

Kirstein began her New Year's resolutions with her family during Rosh Hashanah in September.

Every year, the Kirsteins go up to Tourne Park and they follow the traditional Jewish service of Tashlich.  They bring bread that represents the things they regret over the year. 

Part of that service is agreeing on goals for the New Year.  Their family chose to focus on spending more time together.  Now, they play charades, have a regular movie night and dine by candlelight every Friday.