Your "Yes Mom" Moments

So I've been asking y'all to send me pics and stories of how you've been a "Yes Mom" this month and I can honestly say that each and every story/picture has brought a huge ol' smile to my face :)  Think about all the fun memories that have been made just in the last few weeks.... and all we had to do was say YES!

"When your 3 year old wants to pick up lunch in his jammies, big brothers party hat, and an eye mask - you say OK!" - Kate Neeely

"Hi, Andrea! I never do anything like this when I read blogs, but I've been thinking a lot about the "Yes Mom Philosophy" and then I read your post on it.  I've been known to kind of be on the more strict side, but this last year God has showed me that in some ways I've been too strict and care too much of what people think of me.  So I've been trying to just let it go.

A few weeks ago my 3 yr old and 20 month old wanted to wear costumes to go pick up their 5 year old brother at pre-school.  I said OK and just embraced it.  We ran our errand to Costco and went inside brother's school and waited in line :)  So that's the history on the picture - Sarah Wetzel

Jack doesn't get 'yes' too many times, so the more I can, I do! Yes, we can take the wagon to the backyard and I will pull you around and I will not freak out when we tip over into some dirt (mud) because you are laughing hysterically and saying, "I fall mud.". - Meg

Hi Andrea, I'm a new follower and also a fellow McKinney mom! I loved your "yes mom" post and when we stopped at the grocery store on our way to swim lessons my 4 year old requested wearing her goggles into the store.  After reading your yes mom post... all I could say was "sure!" - Mary Beth

"We totally sported this look at Hobby Lobby and Lowes.  Big Saturday night out! :)" - Melissa Kelly

"Yes, you may eat lunch in your car." - Melissa H.

"Because who doesn't love rain puddles" - LaTosha

"Yes, you can wear your crabby hat into Lowes" - Jessica

 Your 'YES' moment blog spoke to my heart. My two girls are very different. My first born will wear anything I set out and always wants a bow to match and looks like she stepped out of a magazine because she is coordinated and stays clean all day. God Love her. My 2nd fun loving girl only wants to wear pjs and forget any sort of bow. I love her just as much, but it can be frustrating to say the least. Thankfully, she just goes to an in home day care so after I read your 'YES' moment I am proud to announce I have let her wear her pjs every single day since with no back up clothes because really I knew I was wasting my time packing them. She is happy and it has really made our morning pretty calm. Thanks for your blog and reminding us all that it is okay to say yes more than no  and to really pick the battles we can win and feel strongly about. I am not going to lie though....the first thing I do after teaching is come home and put my 'comfy/pjs' clothes on so maybe she is just learning from her mama! LOL - Courtney

"Mom, can I wear my Ninja Turtles shell to bed?"

"Yes!"

- Jessica

"We were planting a tree in the front yard and my 15 month old, Lang, decided he needed to play in that awesome hole.  Of course we said Yes!" - Jamie

"I let Nolan draw on the windows with special window markers. He was so excited, saying: "Nolan draw on sky!" since that's what he could see through the glass:) It was short-lived because he started tossing the marker caps down the heating vent in the floor. I have some scrubbing to do to get the color off the windows, but it was worth it. :)"  - Rachel

"A six-year old with a Fu Manchu, what are you going to do?" - Katie

And here are a few from my house this week....

"Mommy, I have donut???" 

"Sure!"

I was planning on hitting up WalMart alone this Saturday morning, but this sweet boy asked to come and so I said yes!  Donuts, undivided attention and some hula hooping in the toy section. He's still talking about our "date" three days later :)

"Mommy.... I kiss chick???"

"Why the heck, not!"

hahaha :)

Keep 'em coming, ladies!!! Loved seeing these and can't wait to see more :)

dave-and-andrea@hotmail.com

In case you missed it and have no clue what a "yes mom" is.... check out my post HERE.

Also - for all my MJ mamas out there.... Thursday is RELEASE FOUR of the Wonderful Parade collection!!!  

I'll be hosting an online show, and if you're interested in ordering you just go to the website (www.matildajaneclothing.com) and as you're browsing the collection you click "add to wishlist".  When your wishlist is complete, email it to me (dave-and-andrea@hotmail.com) and katkempson@matildajaneclothing.com (my trunk keeper) before NOON CST on Thursday.  Kat can begin "carting" items for us at 2:00 PM and will be calling that day to collect payment info from you!  The new items will be released at midnight on Thursday and you can start sending in your wishlists as soon as you're ready!  If you have any questions about sizing, etc. - don't hesitate to email me!!!

Yes Mom - Revisited

I posted about being a "Yes Mom" several years ago HERE.  It's a philosophy that's near and dear to my heart, so I thought I'd revisit it today.

As a mom (and a mom of three!) I find myself saying "no" or a version of "no" all. the. time. 

"No. We're not going to Lego Land today after school."

"Don't put clothespins on your sisters ears."

"We don't take our diaper off to dump our poop in the toilet"

"No, we can not have a pet cow live in our backyard"

"No. You may not have cupcakes for breakfast."

You get the idea.

There are things that I obviously have to say no to, but sometimes I catch myself saying no to things that I could just as easily say yes to.

When Mason asks to play Play Dough, my first response is usually "no".  Because play dough sucks.  It dries in crusty little pieces and gets into all the little toys and it completely annoys me that he mixes the colors.  I just swept the floor and I don't want to have to sweep up again when you're done.  BUT... it doesn't have to be "no".  It can be, "yes" because honestly... it will make his little day and how long does it REALLY take to sweep.

When Luke wants to have a picnic and eat dinner on the floor of the family room while watching Curious George I want to explain that we eat dinner at the table because that's what we do :)  But instead I oblige his request and get to see his excited little face. :)

When the kids ask if we can do chalk on the driveway, my initial response is to say "NO!  I have dinner to cook, your sister needs to get a bottle and I don't want to have to get the chalk out, clean it up and then wash your hands". :)  But really - how hard is it to just say yes, play chalk for 10 minutes and then go on with our lives.

What??? Y'all want to jump on the trampoline before bed?  Sure!

"Yes! You CAN jump on the leaves in the trash can"

 "Go ahead and eat that cookie before dinner".  Because really.  Are they going to eat all of their other food anyway??? And how fun to get a cookie before dinner. hahaha

You want to wear a football helmet into Starbucks?  Why not.

And 3D goggles with a dog head attached to them into Macaroni Grill?  Knock yourself out.

Now, don't think I'm saying yes to everything and we're just all "willy nilly" up in here.  We have rules and boundaries and all that jazz and they know that I don't always say yes.  They also know that sometimes the yes comes with a condition...

"Sure, we can go blow bubbles after dinner.... but then we won't have time for bubbles in the tub tonight".

"Of course you can bring your Lego set in the car... but it has to fit into this ziploc baggie"

I try to say yes, because then when I say no I can remind them of all the times I said yes.

I try to say "yes" because I want them to know I think they're full of great ideas.

 I try to say "yes" as often as I can because I don't want them to remember me always saying no.

I try to say "yes" because most of the time we end up creating super special memories that otherwise wouldn't have happened. 

Give being a "Yes Mom" a try and tell me what you think!  You might just be surprised at how much fun you end up having :)