Survival. That’s our mantra around here until summer vacation.
Our mode of survival involves the tried-and-true method of discipline loved by the parents the world over…
“No, no, no, no…YES!”
That is, restricting a certain item (for this illustration, the pictured umbrella) for weeks.
“Mommy, can I play with the umbrellas?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Please can I open the umbrella inside, whacking my sister in the process?”
“Of course not.”
“Can I do a dance routine that involves flailing the umbrella around, dangerously close to my baby brother’s head?”
“No. No. No.”
And then, without warning, on a sunny afternoon when everyone (including mommy) has had more time-outs than anyone can count…Yes!
Umbrellas! Take them outside and dance! Unlatch them repeatedly! Open them to the sky and run freely! The forbidden is now the celebrated! This is SPECIAL so if you bonk your sister in the process, everyone had better know not to complain to mommy.
YOU ARE PLAYING WITH THE ELUSIVE UMBRELLAS!
The nonononoYES! strategy also works with six-year-olds and gum. Mom or Dad’s phone. TV shows. Sitting in the driver’s seat of the car and turning on all the buttons. You get the idea.
Sure it takes a lot of energy to say no so many times. And for what? For the pay-off of a few celebratory minutes of glee.
But all those nos?
That’s saving for the preverbal rainy day.
I LOVE the Yesses! Perfect post.