"Timmy, honey, can you please take out the trash?"
"OK, mom, but before I do that, can I talk to you about something?"
"Sure!"
"I want to do a New Year's resolution this year."
"OK, sweetie; what do you want to do?"
"What if I resolved to give up my teddy bear?"
"Honey, are you confusing what you do for New Year's with what you do for Lent?"
"Is there a difference?"
"Sometimes. New Year's resolutions are to help you improve yourself; sacrifices for Lent are to help you remember."
"Improve myself?"
"Yes, dear."
"What if I resolved to grow taller?"
"Hah! I could see that might count as improving yourself, but would that make you a better person? And would growing take any effort on your part? "
"New Year's resolutions are supposed to take effort, too?"
"Yes, sweetie."
"So what if I resolve to become a rock star? That would take effort!"
"Do you think that you could really do that, and all by yourself?"
"Yes!"
"Really? In a year?"
"No."
"It's a nice dream to have, though."
"So it has to be something that takes effort, makes me better, and is something that I can do all by myself?"
"That's a good start, yes."
"I could resolve to dig a bigger dirt fort in the back yard. I could do that all by myself, and it would take effort, and it would make my muscles stronger!"
"Hmmm. Is there any way you could get stronger without digging up the yard?"
"Why can't I dig up the yard? Isn't that a good resolution?"
"Well, maybe, but it might not make your brothers and sisters so happy when they want to play kickball."
"So I can't resolve to dig up the yard?"
"Can you think of something that doesn't make problems for other people? Are there other ways to get strong?"
"I could exercise."
"Yes."
"But I hate exercise!"
"I know. So do a lot of people."
"So I have to think of something that takes effort, makes me better, is something I can do all by myself, and something that doesn't make problems for other people?"
"That would be good. Can you think of anything?"
"I could do all my homework right after I get home from school, and only watch TV and play video games on weekends."
"Wow! That would be great, honey! Do you think you could do that for a whole year?"
"Maybe for a week."
"Why only a week?"
"On days I don't have homework, I wouldn't have much to do. And I'd miss my favorite shows. And sometimes we can get extra credit for reports on TV shows. So, yeah, that would be hard."
"Can you think of something that isn't quite so hard? Something you can do for a whole year, if you put your mind to it?"
"You want me to pick something that I'm sure I can do, that takes effort, that makes me better, that I can do all by myself, and that doesn't make problems for other people?"
"That's the idea."
"Hmmm. It sounds like it would be something pretty small."
"Honey, anything you do for a whole year that makes you better for a whole year isn't small."
"Well, what did you resolve to do?"
"Hey, that's pretty sneaky, young man. I haven't decided for next year yet. But I'll tell you about what I did this year, if you want."
"What was it, mommy?"
"I rode my bicycle on at least one day for every single week."
"No fair! Riding bikes is fun!"
"Yes, sometimes it is, especially for you. But, for me, it does take effort, it makes me better, it's something I can do all by myself, and it's something that doesn't make problems for other people."
"How does it make you better?"
"It makes me, um, stronger."
"Like exercise?"
"Yes, but I hate exercise!"
"I could ride my bike every day!"
"Yes, sweetie, but you already do. With hardly any effort, right?"
"Oh. Right."
"Can you think of anything you could you do that would be helpful around the house?"
"Like unload the dishwasher?"
"Yes, but something that isn't already on your chore list."
"Doing a chore that isn't on my chore list? How would that make me better?"
"Doing things to help out, even when you'd rather not do them, is a very important skill to learn."
"Oh. OK, how about taking out the garbage?"
"How about it?"
"I could do that every time I notice the can is full."
"Yes you could, and that would be very helpful."
"And it's something that I'm sure I can do, and it takes effort, and it makes me better, and I can do it all by myself, and is doesn't make problems for other people, right?"
"Right."
"OK. That's what I'll do, then."
"Perfect. I'll help you keep track of your progress. Starting now, sweetie."
"Aw, mom!"