I Tried:: My Yes Day Story

The “Yes Day” movie popped up on my Netflix profile a few weeks ago, and after hovering on the picture for a beat, the trailer started abruptly. As I scrambled for the remote to turn down the volume, I heard a familiar sound.

A mom.

A mom saying “no”.

A mom saying “no” to everything her kids were excited to do. 

Well, dang, ain’t that motherhood. 

I mean, sure, the dad said no a couple times within that 10 second opening, but it was the mama who was shutting stuff down!

The fun, family flick spotlights two has-been fun lovers turned parental fun suckers who want to reconnect with the kids.

Felt that.

At the end of an adventurous day of saying yes, the family solidified their bonds and the parents came out on top for being so willing to let loose and let go!

Now parents everywhere are giving their kids the ultimate free day where their every request {within reason} is met with a coveted “yes.”

Yay!

But, look. I’m an Enneagram Type 6… I like to organize, control, and plan for the unexpected. Being spontaneous and carefree is not really in my wheelhouse.

But it is exhausting having to keep everyone in check. I hate being the stickler about rules, trying to keep everyone safe and healthy and on track. It’s mentally draining to think, rethink and meticulously think again just to be sure about all the things. It sucks.

I decided a Yes Day was in order. I tried. 

The Rules

I Tried:: My Yes Day StoryThe basic rules:: Nothing illegal or dangerous, and we have to stay in the Katy area. 

The thought of a day being completely out of my control resulted in a few new grey hairs, so I figured a few rules for the day would help keep me sane. 

1. 12 hours of Yes Day, not 24 hours. 7 AM to 7 PM. 

2. Yes Day would stick to a tight budget. Each kiddos was given $5 per kid to spend freely, and they needed to agree on one meal out. Any free activity or outing we already had a membership for was up for grabs.

3. No skipping out on obligations. Chores would still need to be done. Virtual piano class would still be attended at 4:00. Teeth would still need to be brushed.

4. Have fun!

In The Morning

Three wild boys bounded out of their room promptly at 7 AM. Breakfast? I assumed they’d ask for donuts or a fancy, homemade breakfast. Nope. They asked for oatmeal and eggs! Awesome! Crushing Yes Day already!

Then bubble gum, a treat we typically reserve for the afternoon. I had a brief morning Zoom meeting and told them they could pick something to keep them busy.

I Tried:: My Yes Day StoryPower Rangers for my younger two, and my oldest, Oliver, wanted to play Among Us and use his $5 budget to buy new “skin” and a pet on the game. Done.

Next, Dollar Tree shopping spree! The boys wandered the aisles, Maverick and Reeve with baskets in hand, picking out toys and crafts… $5 worth of fun junk each. My answer was a resounding “yes.”

In The Afternoon

Lunch at Chick-Fil-A. Whatever they wanted to order. Nuggets, sandwiches, fruit, brownies and shakes. Yes! 

They ate in the car while I chauffeured them to Kanga’s Indoor Playground. I whipped out the punch card I’ve had in my wallet for months. They’ve been requesting we play there again soon, so Yes Day was the perfect opportunity for a yes. Let’s play!

Next stop:: Home. Not for nap, but for quiet screen time. Lilo & Stitch and more Among Us in my bed. 

I even let them squish play foam as they sat on my comforter. They managed to keep the mess to a minimum, but the stress! Still said yes

Outside playtime with friends was the next request. Easy! All the bikes, scooters and skateboards. 

In the Evening

The boys had a meeting about what to have for dinner.

The consensus:: grilled Cheese, French fries, no veggies whatsoever, pickles, apple sauce and Sprite. And more ice cream. Mama says yes!

Bubble bath with our industrial strength bubble machine in from the back patio. I cringed a little at the impending mess, but I said yes! BUBBLES. WERE. EVERYWHERE. So were the smiles. 

Before bed… 12 books were read. Twelve. 

I stopped reading to get a drink of water, and I overheard the boys saying,”I think we can get her to read even more if we ask!”

At 7:00, we recapped our Yes Day and the memories we’d created.

We chatted about the highlights, the many other “Mom, Can I…?” moments from the day and what we could do on the next Yes Day.

They chattered about how Mommy paid for this and allowed that.

But it just didn’t feel right. 

Behind the Scenes of Yes Day

Yes Day was over.

I thought, yes, we had fun.

Yes, we made some memories.

Yes, I’d given my all to create one solid day of YES!

But…

My boys let me down a little.

Even on Yes Day, they ignored my requests to clean up their playroom messes.

Even on Yes Day, they mocked each other and threw tiny-fisted punches in the backseat while I tried to buckle them up.

Even on Yes Day, they argued with me when I told them they needed a helmet.

Even on Yes Day, they disrespectfully made demands and used limited manners. 

Even on Yes Day, they told me no. 

So even on Yes Day, I felt disappointed, like I just couldn’t get it right, like I couldn’t win, like I wasn’t appreciated for my efforts. 

I’d said yes to letting them jump on the bed. Yes to a bug hunt in my struggling flower bed. Yes to one more movie. 

Didn’t seem like all that really mattered though. 

One rule from the movie that I overlooked:: Yes Day needed to be earned. Oops. I’d forgotten that part. And that set us up for a struggle. 

I think my boys needed that part. They needed to work toward this day of autonomy. Maybe then they would have appreciated it more. Been more agreeable on our special day. Respected my struggle with gratitude. 

I just wanted to show them that I’m fun, that I’m game, that I’m willing to bend the rules. The day just hadn’t reached the peak of togetherness and gratefulness Netflix had shown.

But we did it. 

Yes Day. March 31, 2021.

3 stars. Would still recommend.

I tried. 

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