| No Images? Click here  Well, it’s time to start thinking about New Year’s resolutions — in whatever form they take for you. As I mentioned last week, I’ve decided to give the whole Orange Rhino approach a try in the new year. Basically, what I intend to do is turn into a rhino, i.e. an animal that only charges when provoked. As The Orange Rhino mom wrote in a viral blog on HuffPost in 2013: “January 20, 2012. I will never forget that date. Thinking I was home alone with my four boys, then ages 5 and under, my handyman caught me in a full on, red in the face, body shaking, throat throbbing scream so bad that all my boys burst into tears. I was mortified. Mortified! And so sad; this was not the mom I had ever dreamed I would be! The next day I decided enough was enough and I promised my boys I would go 365 days straight without yelling. Soon thereafter I discovered that rhinos are calm animals that charge when provoked; I was so a rhino (I even have lots of stretch marks and saggy body parts to prove it.) I just charged with my words instead of a horn. I quickly started calling myself The Orange Rhino as a reminder to no longer yell, but instead to be calm like a rhino and warm like the color orange.” So here’s what I’m planning on doing. In an effort to squash my more irritable tendencies, I plan on making the following pact with myself, maybe not for a full year, but for a month to start: To yell at my kids less. I WANT to yell less. It’s exhausting and frustrating and sad. And I don’t think it’s great for my kids to see me react with irritability and annoyance at all times (‘cause yes, it’s not just when they jump on the bed when I tell them not to, it’s when they don’t eat their dinner or won’t go brush their teeth or refuse to put on socks). Yes, parenting is hard; very, very hard. Yes, there are days when I just feel like I can’t do it. Yes, there will be days when I’ll feel the same. But I should teach them to check their emotions — to understand why they’re feeling a certain way and be equipped with tools to calm down. This is something I still, in my mid-30s, need to learn. Maybe we’ll learn together. And so, the next time I see you, on January 8th, I will be doing my best to stay calm, focus on the positive and be more mindful of my kids’ emotions. I won’t be perfect, and that’s OK. I’ll let you know how I’m doing. And if you want to do the challenge with me, let me know how it’s going: katea@huffpost.com. Until then, here’s to a joyous, happy and fulfilling new year! xx Kate Funniest tweet from parents this week  Book I love
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