Happy New Year, everyone.
As a family, we kicked off the new year by sitting down together to reflect, plan, and talk openly about what we want the next year to look like.
This has become an important tradition for us.
We don’t just rush into January hoping things magically improve.
We intentionally pause, look back, and then move forward with purpose.
We use a shared Google Doc to write down our goals and talk through them as a family.
Everyone gets a voice. Everyone gets a say.
And most importantly, everyone feels included in the process.
Reflecting on 2025 as a Family
Before jumping into new goals, we spent time reviewing 2025.
We talked about accomplishments, milestones, and moments that mattered.
Each family member shared highlights and things they were proud of.
Some big moments stood out. Baby Kyrie learned how to walk.
Kaylee completed her very first triathlon, which was a huge accomplishment.
We looked back on the year as a whole and acknowledged how much growth happened, both individually and as a family.
This reflection helps us appreciate where we are now and sets the tone for intentional goal setting going forward.
Individual Goals for the Year Ahead
After reflecting, we moved into personal goals. Each child shared something they were excited to work toward this year.
Valen shared that his goal is to save up enough money to buy a Nintendo Switch.
As parents, we don’t want video games in the house, so we talked it through and came to a compromise.
If he earns it, he can keep it and play it at his grandparents’ house.
He was still excited and motivated to work toward it.
Alvin shared that his goal is to go to Florida and catch fish.
Simple, specific, and something he’s genuinely excited about.
Kaylee’s goal is fitness-related. She wants to be able to do five chin-ups in a row.
She already has a chin-up goal chart, and she’s excited to work toward it consistently.
Everyone having a clear goal helps create motivation and accountability, even for the younger kids.
Revamping Our Homeschool Challenge
We also made some changes to our homeschool structure.
Previously, we had a 90-minute homeschool challenge focused on getting core subjects done.
This year, we revamped it so that schoolwork needs to be completed by 11:30 a.m.
If the kids do well each day, they earn a check.
These checks add up to rewards like movie night, chips, popcorn, pizza, or Chinese food.
The better the week goes, the better the rewards.
Making this automatic has helped simplify expectations and incentives.
Updating the Chore Challenge System
Our chore challenge also got an update.
Previously, we had a system where after 100 checks, we would go to IHOP.
This year, we changed it slightly.
Now, chores are cumulative across the family.
When Valen completes his task, that’s one check.
When Alvin cleans the kitchen table, that’s one check.
When Kaylee puts away the shoes, that’s one check.
Once we reach 100 total checks as a family, we take a trip to Chuck E. Cheese.
Chuck E. Cheese actually has a surprisingly good family deal for twelve dollars a month.
It includes 100 games per day, resets daily, and gives 30 percent off food.
We plan to make a separate video about that because it’s been a great incentive.
Teaching Financial Literacy With “Bank of Dad”
We also had money day.
Each child received their allowance and earned one percent interest on their savings, paid out from what we call the
Bank of Dad. This system helps them understand saving, interest, and delayed gratification in a very real and practical way.
It’s a simple setup, but it has sparked great conversations about money and responsibility.
Reading Plans and Book Goals
We adjusted our family reading routine as well.
Instead of reading four books to each child every night, we created a rotating system.
Each day, one child chooses a book, and we also read one chapter book together as a family.
Right now, we’re reading Mark the Warrior Kid, which has been a great series and something the kids really enjoy.
Valen also picked up a Civil War book at a book sale that he’s excited to read on his own.
Getting the Kids’ Buy-In on Food
One area we’ve been struggling with is food. So we decided to talk about it openly and get the kids’ input.
We asked them which meals they actually like and which ones they’d want to see more often.
That conversation helped a lot.
Now we have a better idea of what meals we can cook that they’ll actually eat.
Getting their buy-in made a big difference.
We also talked about healthier snacks.
During our planning session, we had snacks available, like baked sweet potatoes, to keep everyone engaged while we talked.
We ended up sitting together for about two hours, so having food helped keep things positive.
Big Family Goals and Adventures Ahead
We also talked about big-picture family goals. Some of these include:
A 300-mile backpacking trip along the Erie Canal
A family cruise to Canada
A trip to Mexico for Ironman 2025
One of the biggest personal goals this year is completing a full Ironman.
That includes a 2.4-mile ocean swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a full marathon afterward.
It’s a major challenge and something I’m both excited and nervous about.
Another fun goal is learning how to make maple syrup.
We plan to tap the maple tree in our backyard and try making our own syrup this year.
Starting the Year Strong
We wrapped things up feeling excited and motivated.
We even started the year with an ice plunge.
There wasn’t actually ice, but we jumped into the lake anyway.
It was a cold, energizing way to kick off the year.
Kyrie is officially walking now, which feels like a milestone all on its own.
Final Thoughts
This family planning session helped us start the new year with clarity, connection, and shared purpose.
If you’ve never done New Year’s planning as a family, I highly recommend it.
It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just needs to be intentional.
I hope this inspires you to sit down with your family, reflect on the past year, set meaningful goals, and kick off the new year strong.
Godspeed, and here’s to a great year ahead.
