smiling mom carrying child piggy backAs parents, we say “no” a lot. Sometimes it’s to our children, sometimes it’s to our partner or a fellow employee. Sometimes we say it to ourselves. Whether it’s, “No, you can’t have that now,” or “No, I don’t have time to fit that in,” or “No! Don’t do that!” I’ve come to realize there are some fun, stress-free, and enjoyable ways to work “yes” into your routine. Because everyone needs a little “yes” in their life!

For my child…

I say yes to pajama days. Why not? Granted, I usually pick days when I know he’s going to a grandparent’s house or not going out anywhere. But pajama days are a fun treat that mean less stress over making sure your kid is wearing matching socks. 

I say yes to breakfast for dinner. I like to sneak veggies into food wherever I can without making a big deal of it, and having breakfast for dinner can hit all the food groups! Breakfast for dinner feels special because it’s not a regular occurrence. 

I say yes to helping. OK, I do say no to “helping” scan groceries, because that is a nightmare. But I say yes to my son helping pick out groceries or putting things in the cart. I say yes to helping make meals or prepping food, even if it’s putting bread in the toaster. 

For myself…

I say yes to self-care. Whether it’s going out for a massage or pedicure, or doing a face mask (or even wearing under-eye gels in the car), I make time to unwind or unplug for a bit. 

I say yes to help. When it comes in the form of someone helping care for my child, this means I can get a few hours to myself or with my partner, which can be so needed!

For my relationship…

I say yes to late nights. With work, life, and a child who loves to extend “good night,” some nights my husband and I know we should probably go to bed but say yes to staying up to get extra time together.

I say yes to scheduled “us time.” My husband and I LOVE traveling together. Of course we love traveling as a family, too, but sometimes it’s nice to do something special and kid-free. When we travel without children, we’ve found that nothing compares to being able to wake up whenever we want or skip the wait list at a restaurant because we can just sit at the bar together.

Courtney Medlin
Courtney was raised a Navy brat, growing up in Washington, South Carolina, and Virginia before her family put their roots down in Florida. She studied at Loyola University New Orleans earning her degree in communications PR with a minor in English, and she earned her master's in marketing from SNHU. She moved to the Boston area in 2008, where she met and married her partner-in-crime, John. Mother of Jackson, 5, and stepmom to two 16-year-olds (boy and girl) and dog mom to Riley. Courtney is raising her family with a love of the outdoors, scary movies, and lots of laughs. Courtney works corporate communications/marketing/pr and lives on the South Shore. She has a passion for cooking and traveling. She volunteers her time as a Gold Award advisor for the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts and serves on the planning gala committee for South Shore Health. She loves days that start with a latte and end with champagne.