When you hear “Yes Day” or “No Rules Day,” does it make you break out in hives? If you’re not familiar with the ideas, they’re both based on the idea that you let the kids let loose for the day and Mom and Dad ease up on the rules. Abby did a Yes Day with her sons over the summer and lived to tell the tale on this episode of the iMOM Podcast.
There’s no right or wrong way to start, but Abby learned a few good lessons. One, decide before you talk to the kids if you want it to be a Yes Day or a No Rules Day. They’re similar, but Yes Days tend to be more “go and do,” while No Rules Days tend to focus on staying home and running amok. Of course, you can always set parameters. Abby made her boys sign a contract!
You’ve got to listen to the episode to hear the types of things they did, but one takeaway Abby had was that she says no way too often and for no good reason. Sure, it’s stressful to allow kids to do things that might make a mess or that require parents to be more hands-on, but she realized that more often than not, her “no” is just a kneejerk reaction. The Yes Day was also a gift to her and the kids because they didn’t have technology out all day. She did push them in the direction of a screen-free day, but if your kids want to challenge you to a video game tourney, say yes!
If the idea of a day with more chaos or mess stresses you out or feels like just one more thing you’re supposed to do as a mom, don’t sweat it! We’ll also provide some ideas for how to modify your day for the more risk-averse moms.
Articles We Mentioned
Why You Should Try Out “No Rules Day”
8 Easy Ways to Be a Fun Mom
Our No Rules Night
Printables We Think You’ll Like
Have you done a Yes Day or a No Rules Day? How did it go? If you haven’t, it’s OK! What’s holding you back?
