One of our favorite books lately is Yes Day, a story about one day of the year in which all of the main character’s requests are granted. Pizza for breakfast? Yes. Staying up late? Yes. Picking the cereal at the grocery store? Yes.

I believe saying “no” is definitely part of healthy parenting, and while my kids may not like it, I have the greater perspective to know established boundaries and reasonable nos are best for them, and best for our family.

Donuts for breakfast? No, that’s not a healthy choice.

Stay up late? No, your body is growing and you need more rest.

Dump every toy we own? I don’t think so! You need clean up as you go.

At the same time, I think there are way too many times I say “no” just because I’m not in the mood, it’s too messy, I’m tired, or busy.

My kids have been asking to have a “yes day” of their own lately, and so I thought spring break would be a good time to grant some wishes. The night before we made a list of everything they hoped to do and they certainly had a lot of requests! I set some boundaries though, and explained that while I was going to do the best I could to say “yes” to the things on their list, it was mommy’s “yes day” too, and so they needed to say “yes” to the things I asked of them as well. The day surprisingly went really well, and we had a very fun, very full day with few tantrums–a huge accomplishment for me with three children under age five.

Just a few highlights from our Yes Day:

Pizza and Popsicles for breakfast? Yes

Help mommy unload the dishwasher? Yes

Blow bubbles? Yes

Watch a movie? Yes

Go to Target and choose a new toy? Yes (with a $ limit)

Go to the fabric store with mommy (and not whine about it)? Yes (well, almost . . .)

Go to the park? Yes

Cooperate while mommy takes pictures? Yes

Play on the computer? Yes

Have a sword fight? Yes

Get Happy Meals? Yes (a BIG deal since we NEVER do this!!)

Go out for ice cream? Yes.

Sometimes I feel like the bad guy because I’m with them all day, enforcing rules, and then daddy comes home and saves the day with tickles and wrestles and romps. So it was good for me to have a day where I could be silly, and spoil a bit, and show them mommies can be fun too.

In fact I loved our day so much we may just make Yes Day an annual spring break tradition!

What about you? Are you a “yes” mom or a “no” mom? Is having a Yes Day something you’d like to try?

Between the three little ones, all day I hear some version of,

“Mommy, will you. . .”

While I say my family is my “top priority,” all too often it’s easy for me to get caught up with my “to-do” list:  finish my e-mail/blog post, fold the laundry, wash the dishes, clip coupons, make dinner, work on my designs, return phone calls, plan my church lesson, etc. And then my kids get answers like. . .

I’ve been really bad about letting my list busy my day, and then missing the joy of my kids’ creativity and innocence. And I don’t want to be that kind of mom. Not that I’m necessarily the BEST mom, but since I am their mom, I want to be the best I can be and give them my presence rather than just presents. It’s part of my goal to “prosper” this year. Because I don’t want them to remember me as always being too busy.

A wise friend recently reminded me that there will be a day when they won’t want to play with me anymore and that they’ll be too old to think snuggling on the couch and watching cartoons is fun. And that I will miss this.

And really, who are we kidding? My “to-do” list is always LONG and rarely gets checked off. And there is always more work to do. It’s a hard lesson I’m learning, but I’m trying to be better at picking my battles, saying Y-E-S more than N-O, and showing  my family that they really are my priorities. I want to be better about adding THEM to my to-do list. More one-on-one time, more snuggles, more silly mommy.

Have you seen the book “Yes Day?” It’s one of my kiddos’ favorites. We had our own “yes day” last week during spring break. More details tomorrow! Have a happy Monday.

Friendly Faces by Jacque Larsen; He Said, She Said quote bubbles by me