Ms. Jolie, my mom and me

For the past six years, New Year's Eve has been particularly poignant, for it's the night I officially joined the motherhood brotherhood.

My husband and I brought our first child home from the hospital on New Year's Eve 2002.

Since then, New Year's Eve has become even more of a time to take stock of where I am in my life. New Year's resolutions are common, of course, but for the past six years, mine have ventured beyond pledges like "go to the gym (at least) three times a week" and "stop biting my nails" -- neither of which I can seem to manage.

For me, New Year's Eve is an opportunity to assess my parenting skills, or lack thereof, and to think about what I've done wrong (yell too much) and what I need to do better (be more patient).

Fortunately, my kids are all too willing to give me another chance, lots of other chances, every day.

Parenting is a process with a steep, even insurmountable, learning curve, and no one right way to go about it.

I'm a closet People magazine fan, and I couldn't stay away from the August cover featuring Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and their new twins. Being the cynic I am, I couldn't believe I was getting inspiration from Jolie. But there it was, a sentiment I consciously try to implement each day.

"My mom loved being a mom and made sure her children knew every day how much joy we brought to her," Jolie said. "I hope to give that to my kids."

That's one New Year's resolution I intend to fulfill.