The Importance "Yes": Why Saying "Yes" As a Parent Is Exhausting – But Essential by Kristan Wager
So, my 10-year-old had this great Valentine’s Day plan. He was getting up early and making us all pancakes! He was so thrilled to do this for all of us that I just smiled and said, “Great, honey! What an awesome plan!” Inwardly I was cringing because I knew that this plan was going to cost me. Outwardly, I made sure my face did not reflect one bit of my chagrin because I did not want to crush his spirit. Why is “Yes!” so important?
- Yes says “I love you.”
- Yes says “I believe in you.”
- Yes says “Go for it! You can do this!”
Why is “Yes!” so hard? Saying “Yes” is like throwing a rock in a pond, the ripples are inevitable. I did not have time to clean a blown up kitchen today, but I did it anyway because “Yes!” made my son’s day. Removing flour and syrup from every available surface did not feel like love, but it was. He walked out the door filled with joy because he made pancakes and we loved them. He did not even see the mess he left behind. All he saw was our smiling faces and yes, it was fine with me.
Say “Yes” even if it costs you. Love is priceless.
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