New Year's "Revolushuns"

Yesterday my 7-year-old Lucy asked me, “Do you know that some people make sort of promises every New Year’s, of things that will make them a better person? They’re called ‘revolutions.’ Have you heard of those?” (I did tell her that a ‘revolution’ was actually a kind of a rebellion, but either that didn’t stick or she thought it a more appropriate term anyway.)

Boldini, The Summer Stroll

Later she made a sign marked, “Stand here to make your new year’s revolushuns,” and insisted that each of us take a turn promising to do something that would make us better people.

I’m more of a goal-setter than a resolution-maker, but I had to go along with something that cute. So we all stood on the sign, one by one, and promised:

Lucy: “I promise to pay attention to all the details of everything. In drawing, but not just drawing. All the things.”

Zoe: “I promise to listen to Mama and Papa right away.”

Me: “I promise to practice drawing.”

...and, last but not least, Ginny (who is 3). She spent a long time considering before finally coming up with: “I promise to have an umbrella!”

Luckily her grandpa was nearby to give her an umbrella since we did not, in fact, have one. I have a feeling her resolution will either last the longest or end up in a broken umbrella.