YES

Lately I have been thinking about how much I say the word "no." It is almost automatic. It's my first reaction and instinct. Even my boys often will ask me something beginning with, "I think you will probably say no to this, but..." Yikes! I do not want that to be how they think of me, as the mom who always said no. So, I have been putting forth a real effort lately to catch myself saying no, and instead say yes. Because, really most of the time when I say no, it's not because what they are asking is something dangerous or harmful, it's more because it will require a little more of me and I just don't "feel" like it.


I have realized that now we are moving past the physically demanding aspect of parenting, (the things you do because you really have no choice, babies simply cannot feed, change, carry themselves, etc.), that my choices still need to be unselfish ones. Parenting is still not about me, and I still need to be unselfish 99% of the time to be the best mom I can be for them.


So, I am choosing to say yes. Choosing to say yes to, "Mom, can I switch around all the silverware?, Mom, can I help you make supper? Mom, can I put paper balls all over my room?, Mom, can we watch something?, Mom, can we have pancakes
for lunch? Mom, can I do it by myself?"

It's so hard for me to be unselfish and let go of how I think things should be, but I think about my Father, and His grace, patience, abundant blessing, and love toward me, and that is the kind of relationship I want to offer my boys.