The answer is.....YES!

I have this theory, it has yet to be proven, but it's my theory none the less.

A long time ago, someone had said something to me in regards to parenting advice - it stuck with me. (So much that I can't remember who said it or exactly how it went - details psh!) But anyways, it went something like this:

"Say yes as much as possible. Say no when you must"

Again, that's my wording because I just can't remember. But I really like this concept!

As a mom, I have found that it is so easy to want to say no...for many reasons, and alot of times my reasons. I'm tired, it's inconvenient, I'm not in the mood to deal with that, and so on. But the truth is, there are alot of things that are to come in the parenting marathon, that we will have to say no on. Things that are heavy and hard and really matter. Those things are inevitable.

We know that first hand from our sneak peek of what's to come for us, when we adopted Dawn. In comparison, as we were parenting a high school student along with little girls for a season  - the choices about grades, boys, social media boundaries, curfews,  -  that was WAY harder than stuff than, "Can I have another popsicle, mom?" 

I am not saying that we shouldn't have boundaries and limits on every day things. I believe boundaries and limits are healthy and good for the lot of us. BUT, if I am always saying no - and then get to the big things where I HAVE to say no? I think the girls will kinda think I am the "No Queen" (FYI - In our house you can put anything in front of Queen, and it's a thing)

So, my commitment is to try to say yes. As much as I can, I want to say yes, yes to - sleepovers, rollerblading around the neighborhood, playing in the sprinkler, building a fort in the middle of the living room after I just picked up.....it's inconvenient, ya for sure! (ps - so far, I've found parenting is kinda allllll about inconvenience) But I am hoping when the harder things come (and they are on there way) that mom saying no, will stand out and mean something to them, and that maybe, just maybe, that can help us tackle some of the tough stuff that we desire to protect & guide our girls through in this culture. 

It's just a theory. I'll let you know how it goes.