6th Annual Yes Day

Once a year, my kids get a day where the answer is always yes. Six years ago we watched Jennifer Garner’s movie, Yes Day, which of course sparked the idea in our own home and we decided to give it a go. But, unlike the movie, I decided some ground rules would be best for us or else we’d probably end up with some new pets and tummy aches.

What started as a fun way to end the summer has turned into one of our most memorable family traditions. It’s chaotic, joyful, and honestly, it’s taught my kids more about budgeting, compromise, and kindness than almost anything else.

Before the day even starts, we sit down and go over the ground rules together. They’re non-negotiable, but everything inside them is fair game:

• $150 Limit
• Everyone must agree (negotiations with one another encouraged)
• Nothing that lasts into the future (puppies/piercings)
• Nothing that harms our bodies (danger/100 donuts)
• Must be responsible and kind
• 40 mile radius
• Not a shopping spree (this doesn’t mean take the money and run)

Our limit was $100 total for the first two years, but I’ve since bumped it up as the kids have gotten older, prices go up, and so does what they want to do. We figure $50 per kid, which feels like the sweet spot: enough for a day full of fun, but tight enough that they actually have to budget and prioritize.

That budgeting is where the real magic happens. One year, rock climbing shoe rentals ended up costing $5 each — and you couldn’t climb without them. It wasn’t listed anywhere online when we were researching activities ahead of time, so I made the call not to count it against their total. Little surprises like that are part of the deal too, you plan for it and roll with it when it happens.

This year, we did something different. Instead of a day built around the kids, we gave our pup, Bruce, one of the best days of his life because we know we’re nearing the end of our time with him. There were wagon rides, a bacon breakfast, and long stretches of snuggling under his favorite blanket. He hasn’t looked this happy in a long time. Gwyn made a beautiful keepsake of a framed craft with one of his handkerchiefs and his paw print pressed onto it.

We took him to his favorite store for a new toy, treat and outfit. There was no budget this year, this was Bruce’s day to shine. While he napped, I made him a batch of treats perfect for hiding his medicine, which you can find HERE.

Later, we walked across the river, got snow cones (plain ice for Bruce), and ran through the splash pad together. We ended the day with a great steak dinner and curled up on the couch to watch The Sandlot as a family.

You don’t need our exact rules or our exact number. Set your own limit. Write your own list. I know there will come a year when the kids are too old for this, when Yes Day becomes something we did once, back when they were little. I am just trying to soak in all the sweet moments while they are here.

<3 Shannon