Every New Year's Day, our family sits down to chat about resolutions. It's a bit like herding cats, but with more snacks and some wildly ambitious ideas—looking at you, budding website tycoon and RAF hopeful!

The New Year is here, and with it comes our tradition of setting goals. It's not just about ticking boxes or setting lofty ambitions. For us, this tradition is a way to connect, laugh, and dream together as a family. So, what are we aiming for in 2025? Let me share the highlights.

Dad (That's Me)

I want to be a more attentive father and a better husband. I'll admit I've had my fair share of stumbles, but since my ADHD diagnosis and starting meds, I've been doing a darn sight better. My wife might even agree—on a good day!

This year, I'm determined to grow Dad Blog into a bigger enterprise, maybe even turn it into something massive. Seeing how well the Christmas jokes and New Year's jokes posts did, I'm going to be pushing hard to release a dad joke book by mid-year.

At the same time, I'm making it a priority to carve out some proper downtime. Rest doesn't come naturally to me, but it's on the list.

Last year, I found myself at 2 a.m. obsessively organising old receipts. This year, I'll be putting that energy into Dadblog instead of random drawers!

Mum

My wife's goals are inspiring as always. She's focusing on her business and her art career while aiming to be a more present parent.

She wants to help me succeed with my business goals!

Oh, and she's trying to get to bed on time—easier said than done in this house!

Eldest Daughter

She has some pretty big dreams this year. She wants to double down on her studies and spend more time on her WWII aircraft modelling hobby. Our living room could double as a wartime hangar with all the planes scattered about!

She's set her sights on joining the RAF, and we're all cheering her on (even though I'm low-key jealous, as I aspired to become an RAF pilot, but was unable to pass the medical screening).

Second Daughter

This one's got a heart of gold. She's determined to do more for charity and volunteer in the community. Her love for Scouts ties in perfectly—she's already buzzing with ideas about helping others.

First Son

Here's where I get a little nostalgic. My eldest son wants to start a business making websites. He reminds me of myself at his age when I first started tinkering with HTML.

He's been practising coding using Mimo, and I'm thrilled to help him create his "cookie cup" game this year. Last year, he sketched cookie cups, coded one level, and abandoned it for Minecraft mods. This year, we're aiming for progress—and maybe even finishing touches!

With AI advancing so quickly, who knows what he'll achieve? Watching him develop his skills has been a joy, and I can't wait to see what he comes up with next.

Third Daughter

Her goals are beautifully all over the place: singing, dancing, gymnastics—you name it. My job this year is simple: be the facilitator for all her creative and bendy pursuits.

Youngest Daughter

At her age, resolutions are more about snacks than goals. Her contribution was "mmm-mmm," which I think translates to "no, thanks, Dad!" So, for now, we'll work on finding her first big passion… and maybe understanding what "mmm-mmm" really means.

A Family Resolution

As a family, we've decided to make 2025 the year of more shared experiences. Whether it's movie nights, baking disasters, or day trips where we (or I) inevitably forget half the snacks or the anoraks, we're committing to spending more time together and making memories.

Why We Do Resolutions as a Family

These conversations aren't just about setting goals—they're about teaching the kids to dream big, reflect, and support one another as a family. It's unpredictable, messy, and a bit ridiculous at times, but it's also one of my favourite traditions.

What About You?

That's our family's plan for 2025—equal parts ambition, creativity, and spontaneity. What are your resolutions this year? Are you tackling something big, or just trying to drink a cup of tea before it goes cold?

Whatever your goals, I hope you've had a peaceful Christmas and New Year. From our lively but love-filled home to yours, here's wishing you a wonderful start to the year.