Feel like no is the only word in your vocabulary? Turn it off and start saying yes.
Thanks to Capri Sun for giving me a new reason to say yes and feel good about it. Kraft-Heinz sponsored this post, but the opinions are all mine.
No.
NO.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
I feel like that there are days that’s all I say.
“Mama, can I have this toy?”
“Mama, can I ice cream for breakfast?”
“Mama, can I …..?”
It gets unnerving, it gets old, and it makes mom just as sad. It’s never fun to be the “no” person, but most of the time, that’s the way it goes and someone that “no” just creeps into everything else. (They never said parenting was easy!)
Even when a friend you’ve been dying to catch up with finally asks you to do something, you even so “no” and you don’t even know why. It becomes part of your system and it sucks (eloquent, aren’t I?)
I looked to the Internet gods about this chronic “no” syndrome and you know what they suggested? Rephrase your statements.
HAHAHAHA!
I don’t have time to do that! Besides no is efficient and there’s no wondering if what I was saying was a no or a yes, it’s a firm no.
However, there’s a point a mom just wants to say yes.
Yes, Yes, Yes, and Yes.
It even feels good to say yes, right? It makes you smile, makes you happy, and you don’t feel like the same ogre of a mother that you do when you say no.
Then one day I had enough. I had enough of saying no and being THAT parent. Today was going to be a YES DAY!
So that morning when the kids came down for breakfast, they asked if they could have funnel cake for breakfast.
And while every part of my being wanted to throw down for no, I said yes. And off in the car we went for funnel cake at 10 AM in the morning.
About three bites in, my son let me know he was done and his tummy hurt. #Winformom
Of course, I wasn’t happy my son wasn’t feeling well, but the idea that maybe there’s something to mom saying no sometimes has a reason might actually get across this time.
Feeling good, we were on to #2. And now they knew mom was in the mood for yes, so I was ready to see how this one went.
“Hey mom, can we do something fun like jump on the bed?”
Sure.
That one really threw them and while I cringed watching my fresh made bed get ravaged, it was fun watching them let go…until of course, one fell off the bed and stubbed her toe.
Thankfully, no broken bones, but it was a beautiful opportunity to remind them why jumping on the bed is a bad idea (especially if it’s already made!)
Shortly after the next one came, “Mama, can we have a juice?”
Normally, I’d allow for juice at certain times of the day and only a certain amount. So most the time it’s always no.
But today, and now every day, I can say yes to Capri Sun.
With 35% less sugar than many other juice drinks, no high fructose syrup, no artificial colors or preservatives, and easy to find at Walmart, this is one set of nos I could say yes to!
That’s a pretty good win for the whole gang. And sometimes we need that.
So next time you’re starting to feel like No is the only thing you ever say, give yourself a reason to say yes. And make it easy by having things around that don’t make it hard to be the Yes mom. Find Capri Sun in store or online at Walmart!
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
I try to say yes whenever I can. It’s all too easy to fall into the no trap. Of course, you have to say no at times, but you don’t have to say it all the time.
Roger D Willis says
Saying yes, as opposed to saying no, is a balance. For me, when our kids were younger, it was a constant battle, on my end. Do I say yes, do I say no? There were some “no” decisions I wish I could take back; but, ya can’t go back!
Jeni Hawkins says
YES! 🙂 I love this. So smart to say yes a little more often! And I seriously love the pictures of the kids with their Capri Suns! That reminds me of my childhood.
Toni | Boulder Locavore says
I agree with these! Sometimes the answer can be a yes! 😀
Amy Desrosiers says
YES!! There have been times when I have said YES to ice cream for dinner, or extra TV time. YOLO!
Felicita Moncada says
Definitely, have been saying more “yeses”! Extra 30 mins to stay up, riding bikes for longer. The kids love Capri Sun so i always keep that in the house.
krystal says
We can certainly relate over here! Sometimes it is important to say yes or come to a compromise to have more fun and joy everyday!
Liz Mays says
I definitely have to agree with this. It’s good to be able to let go and just have some fun with the kids.
Jeanette says
I feel like I say “no” a lot too! There are times you just need to have dessert for breakfast and break few rules! We drink Capri Sun all the time!
Hali says
Saying “no” can be so exhausting, if only our children knew we would love to have no rules and be a kid with them. LOL. Love to say yes for sure!
Randi says
I try to say yes more than I used to in the hopes that my no will be more meaningful when it has to be said. It’s hard though!
Sadie says
I need to practice saying “yes” more. Time to loosen up a bit. 🙂
Kristin says
These are so great, our kids are so busy after school. They love these for activity days!
LaShawn says
Saying no is so instinctive now, I’ve had to work hard on saying yes as my son grows up! I want him to learn to make his own decisions.
Nancy at Whispered Inspirations says
These activities are fantastic for after school. I totally need to practice saying yes more.