Sometimes, it seems, all we do as parents is say no.
No. No. No.
And, many times, it’s in everyone’s best interest that we do respond with No. No, you cannot watch more TV. No, you may not have more ice cream. No, you cannot stay up late on a school night.
We also say no to ourselves a whole lot, as well. No, you cannot sleep in. No, you shouldn’t take that bubble bath in the middle of the day. No, you can’t call out sick to work.
But sometimes — probably more than we’d like to admit– Yes is more than necessary. It’s essential. It’s the difference between a good day and a bad day. It’s the difference between a grumpy child and a happy child. Yes can be the beginning of a happy memory. Yes can be the treat we all needed for a long, long time. Yes can be the hug someone needs.
That’s why the Yes Day was created. Yes to (nearly) everything.
Yes to watching TV and eating breakfast AT THE SAME TIME.
Yes to a donut.
Yes to potato chips with lunch.
Yes to playing some weird game that was created and I don’t know the rules and, therefore,I lose.
Yes to more TV.
Yes to more junk food.
Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.
Of course, one yes leads to more, “Mommy, can I …” questions. And it seems as if the barage of questions and begging doesn’t end. And that’s why the one day of nothing but yeses feels so wonderful. There is no thought to it. Just say yes. Give yourself the break from debate of what is right and what is wrong. Give yourself the day off, in other words.
I’d like to think that most of the time, our family balances a great deal of yeses with a great deal of nos. Most days out of the week we dance the yes/no dance. The Yes Day helped the kids feel good about themselves and their decisions.
We all felt good. Like we did something crazy, or something.
Have you ever tried a Yes day at your house? I’d love to know some of the things you said yes to either then or on a regular basis!
Now that we’ve done the Yes Day with the kids, perhaps it’s time for an adults Yes Day — a day to say yes to our dreams, which may or may not be to sit in front of the TV eating a whole bag of potato chips with dip while watching movies.
Now that would be crazy.
There is an adorable children’s picture book called Yes Day! that one of my daughter’s teachers shared with me. The author is Amy Rosenthal.
I know! I am planning to update that post with that information! Thank you for the reminder. I can’t wait to read it. I actually got the idea from Ginger Carlson. Thanks!
What a different perspective your YES post has offered me. In the course of of parenting, saying no has become routine, almost the standard reply to my kids’ request to play computer games, eat the pack of jagabee chips, watch cartoon network etc etc….thanks for the timely reminder that they need to hear more affirmative Yes-es from mum!!
Am enjoying reading your blog very much….
You are SO right … in fact, I was just thinking about that concept as my next post. Stay tuned. : )
Looking forward!!
Thank you so much for the inpspiration. We thoroughly enjoyed our Yes Day!
A YES day with a 2 1/2 year old…this should be interesting….=)
Interesting, indeed. : ) Have fun with it. You never know what you’ll learn about yourself and your child.