Are New Year's Resolutions Setting Parents Up for Failure?

from MomDocTalk with Kristen Cook, MD · host Kristen Cook, MD

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of MomDoc Talk, Kristen discusses the pressures parents face around New Year’s resolutions. She explores why traditional resolutions often fail parents, highlighting the unrealistic expectations and societal pressures that fuel guilt and shame. Kristen encourages listeners to abandon perfectionism and instead set realistic, compassionate goals using the SMART framework, tailored to their unique family situations. She shares practical examples and emphasizes progress over perfection. Kristen reassures parents that growth comes from alignment with real life, not reinvention, and invites them to download her free guide on managing mom guilt from her website.What you’ll learn:Discussion of New Year's resolutions in the context of parenting.Exploration of the historical origins of New Year's resolutions.Examination of societal pressures and their impact on parental feelings of inadequacy.Critique of traditional resolutions as unrealistic for parents.Introduction of the SMART goals framework adapted for family life.Emphasis on setting realistic, compassionate, and sustainable goals.Analysis of why resolutions often fail parents, including external factors and unrealistic expectations.Encouragement to focus on progress rather than perfection.Practical examples of achievable goals for parents.Invitation to download a guide on managing mom guilt..Pre-order My New Book:Parenting Redefined: A Guide to Understanding and Nurturing Your Child's Behavior to Help Them ThrivePodcast DisclaimerThe information presented in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitution for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your healthcare provider for medical concerns. All of the opinions are of Dr. Kristen Cook and do not reflect the opinions of her employer nor the hospitals she is affiliated with. The authors and publishers of this podcast do not assume any responsibility for errors, omissions, or consequences of using the information provided.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts!Get a copy of Kristen's Upcoming Book: Parenting Redefined HEREFollow Dr. Cook at: https://www.facebook.com/MomDocTalk/Intagram: https://www.instagram.com/momdoctalk_kcmd/https://twitter.com/momdoctalkhttps://www.tiktok.com/@momdoctalk_kcmd?lang=en

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jan 1, 2026

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