Saying Yes Equals a Tired Mom but Happy Children.

I must say that I am not shocked, in the least by the little experiment.  We have done more in the last week than we have done in the last month.  We've been to the beach twice, 5 different parks, the library, grandma's house several times, the other grandma's house once.  We have basically been outside for the majority of the daylight hours.  My 'get out of bed' time has moved from 9:00am to somewhere between 7:00-7:45am.  My house is trashed, dishes and laundry behind, but these are some seriously happy children sitting here. 




Audge at our Picnic Lunch


When they are not bored, they are not in my ears.  Don't get me wrong, I love hearing my children talk, but the, "Mom, mom. MOMMA. Mom, mommy, Ma. Ma. Ma..." gets old REAL quick, especially when it is in surround sound! 

Does it get any better than this?

Bubbles for hours!

Moving forward, I will not say yes to their every idea, as I did this week.  I will, however, make a serious effort to less of a lazy parent.  End of story.  I'm totally pooped out and they are happy, but because they are happy, so am I. 

I'm Going to Say... Yes!

"Yes, we can go camping this year, all six of us."

"Yes, we can eat dinner on the patio even if that means I have to move all of the chairs outside."

This is my new goal.  I am going to say, "Yes!" as often as possible to my children.  Play-doh, no problem.  Three parks today, sure!  I didn't have four babies in hopes of declining the majority of their requests.  I never imagined that.  My kids are very accustomed to my no, and that makes me a little sad.  Now, I'm not saying that I will become a martyr.  I still believe that boundries are healthy and that we ALL have choices (mom and dad included), but this is my new goal.  Give it a try with me.  Let me know how things have changed in your family.  I'm starting with a one week goal.  I will not say no unless it involves something dangerous, too expensive, or unhealthy. 

I predict that this will be difficult in the beginning.  One of the first things in the morning I tell Little L is, "No, I'm not getting out of bed [at 5:30am], and is usually followed by, "No, I really don't want to make [insert elaborate breakfast]".  Will it kill me to get out of bed and make some flippin' flap jacks?  Ask me in the morning, and I'd probably say it would, but it won't.  And, guess what?  Little L will probably be bursting with joy when I say YES, and that is part of why I wanted to be a parent!