Starting the Year Grounded & Grateful: Family Practices for a Meaningful January

Maria
Dec 29, 2025
3 min read

There’s something about January that makes me exhale a little deeper. The holiday rush is over, the lights come down (or maybe they stay up a little longer!), and suddenly there’s time to reset, reconnect, and remember what truly matters. As a mom, I’ve learned that the beginning of a new year doesn’t have to be about all these big resolutions or pressure. It can simply be a season to nurture our homes and our hearts. And honestly, the rituals that have meant the most to our family started small — but now anchor our weeks in the sweetest way.

I wanted to share a few simple practices, along with a personal practice that has become very dear to us over the past year. My hope is that something here encourages you, comforts you, or inspires a moment of connection in your own home, too.

Why Gratitude & Practices Matter for Families

Studies consistently show that gratitude practices can strengthen emotional health and deepen family connection. One study found that parents who reflected on gratitude daily experienced stronger bonds with their children and improved well-being — even during busy seasons of life.

Practices, even tiny ones, create what researchers call “relational wealth” — that sense of belonging, security, and togetherness that kids carry into every part of their lives. These moments don’t have to be fancy or perfect. Most of the time, the simplest ones go the longest way.

Simple Practices to Start the Year Grounded & Grateful

1. A Family Gratitude Jar

A jar, a cup, a basket — anything works.Have everyone add one thing they’re grateful for each day or each week. Kids can draw pictures, scribble little notes, or dictate them to you. At the end of the month, read them together. It’s a beautiful way to remember how much good is tucked into the everyday.

2. Affirmations for Little Hearts

Children believe what they hear consistently. Short affirmations like “I am loved,” “I can be kind,” or “I am brave” can be part of breakfast, morning routine, or bedtime. Hearing them regularly helps build confidence, empathy, and resilience — in the most natural way.

3. Connection Moments

You don’t need a long family meeting. Sometimes it’s one question at dinner: “What made you smile today?” Or a few minutes before bed to share a “high and low.” These tiny check-ins help even the littlest ones feel seen and heard.

4. Small Acts of Kindness

A new year can also be a chance to look outward: A note to a neighbor. Sharing a toy. Helping with a simple chore. Making a card for someone who needs a smile. These moments teach kids that kindness doesn’t need to be big to be meaningful.

Our Family Ritual: Sunday Night Prayer

One of the rituals my family started in 2025 is our Sunday night prayer. Every Sunday, right at Eden’s bedtime, my husband, Eden and I gather together, holding hands and one person leads the prayer. We rotate each week, so everyone gets a turn. We thank God for the blessings of the week — the big ones, the tiny ones, and the ones we didn’t even realize we were waiting for. We pray for peace, protection, and guidance for the week ahead.

There have been giggles, sleepy eyes, distracted moments — but also deep ones.

It’s a weekly reset button. A reminder of who we are and what we value. This has helped us end each week grounded and begin each week grateful. And watching Eden grow comfortable in praying, sharing, and leading has been one of the sweetest gifts.