The wind was whipping through my ponytail flying behind me as I raced across the track. My foot was firmly planted on the green pedal, pushing harder and harder as if it would make my go-kart move any faster. I could see my boys just up around the next bend.
Henry was first, his third time behind the wheel ever. He weaved in and out, making it harder to pass him while I smirked, knowing that as soon as we came around the bend it was time. A few seconds later, I flew by him, grinning at him as I did, him grinning right back and shouting at me. Next up I needed to overtake Brandon, with Harrison in his passenger seat. I got closer and closer and then made my move, flying around them, putting an L in the air directed at them and laughing to myself.
Once I was in the lead, with a massive smile on my face, I took in the track, the clear blue skies, and then glanced over my shoulder to see all three of my boys, the loves of my life, right behind me, smiling too.
At the end of the race, we all unbuckled our harnesses and stepped out while I laughed and shouted WINNER in their faces. We all began talking over one another about who had won what race, and how fun it was.
This, I thought. This is what I never expected before I became a parent. It’s the absolute joy of being with a tiny human that you helped create. The overwhelming amount of love that encompassed me with something as simple as go-kart racing.
//
When I woke up Sunday morning I had the random idea that I would give my kids a YES day. It’s something they’d asked for here and there ever since seeing the Yes Day movie. But in all honesty it just sounded like a pain in the butt - I’d be at the whim of my kids all day? I mean, what’s new, but also to willingly submit myself to it didn’t sound like much fun to me.
But I was craving a day of fun, just the four of us. And I was also just really curious what they’d come up with. So I asked them if they’d want a yes day, with two stipulations:
One, they’d have to agree on all of the things that we did, and two, this was not about BUYING things, it was about EXPERIENCING things together. Obviously money was going to come into play, but one of the first things they asked was that I buy them Crocs (because they know I’m strictly against them), and I wanted to erase the notion that this was a free for all of any items I’d said no to in the past.
Once the terms were agreed to and their first request was in (going to Spirit Halloween?), we were off to the races and my husband and I looked at one another wondering what we’d just signed up for.
//
We had just put in our order at Swensons, an old school drive up dining place with a new outdoor patio area, when the kids asked if I’d play tag. The “no” was right there on my tongue - it had been a full day of STUFF and I was exhausted. But Henry quirked an eyebrow up and reminded me, “It is yes day, you know?” So I got up, tagged Harrison and ran to another patio table to hide behind. Henry, Harrison and I laughed and ran around the small turf, tagging one another over and over. Brandon sat at the table on his phone so the next time I was “it”, I ran over and tagged him, fully expecting him not to join in our game. But to all our surprise, he got up and immediately started chasing the boys.
By the time our dinner was brought out, we were all laughing, slightly out of breath, and grinning. It was the second time that day that I reminded myself to take in the moment. To look at each of these boys and think about just how lucky I am that they’re mine. We ate our dinner, talking about how nice out it was, how much fun we’d had that day, and enjoyed one another without the rush of life tugging us back into responsibilities.
Dinner ended a bit abruptly with the only negative of the day - a bee stung Harrison right in the face and we had to quickly jump into action to reduce the swelling. He was fine after the sting went down - thankfully he’s not allergic.
As we drove home that night I couldn’t help but think about how glad I was that I decided to do this for them. Because it turned out not to be for them only - it was also for us. For each of us individually, but also for us as a family. With school and swim back in session, we have so few times where we get to just enjoy each other and goof off all day, and that’s exactly what this day was.
//
In case you’re curious, here’s what was requested by the kids for their Yes Day:
Candy for breakfast
Robux
McDonalds for lunch
Go-karting
Spirit Halloween
Seeing a movie (Beetlejuice)
Barnes & Noble
Swensons (milkshakes) for dinner
How fun!
Oliver has wanted a Yes Day since we saw that movie, too. I should make it happen! And, also, what's the story with Crocs? I've learned to live mine. Lol.