Just Say Yes :: How a Holiday “Yes Day” Can be a Sanity Saver

Just Say Yes :: How a Holiday “Yes Day” Can be a Sanity Saver

Ah, the holidays. When the kids are out of school for weeks, extended family is in town, chaos is at hand, and everyone is getting on each other’s last nerve … If this sounds familiar, I’ve got an idea that might just save you. Give your family a “Yes Day.”

Background

“Yes Day” is a 2021 movie starring Jennifer Garner and Jenna Ortega. The plot follows a family (2 tired parents, 3 kids) who seem stuck in the doldrums of life – until Mom (Jennifer Garner) decides that, in order to prove to her kids she isn’t boring and authoritarian, the family will take a day where the parents say yes to their kids’ wildest requests – with a few ground rules. What follows is a fun family comedy adventure.

You may be thinking that this all sounds great in cinematic form, but don’t know how to actually bring it to life for your family. I thought the same thing last year, but my husband convinced me to give it a try, and we made some core memories for our kids.

How it Works

There are many ways to approach this, but for our “Yes Day,” we divided up the day into block of time, giving each family member 2-3 hours to plan for the whole family. We set parameters around things we couldn’t do (doesn’t cost more than $100, doesn’t cause destruction to property or create huge mess inside for Mom, won’t likely send someone to the ER, etc.). Other than that, we let the kids be creative and try some things they wouldn’t necessarily get to do any other day.

Obviously, the specifics are up to you, but here’s a glimpse of what our “Yes Day” looked like:

  • 6am-8am: Dad’s choice – Family serves with a favorite nonprofit serving breakfast to the unhoused in the French Quarter
  • 8am-9am: Kid’s choice — Beignets for breakfast at Café du Monde

  • 9am – 10am: Kid’s choice – Family time at the neighborhood park
  • 10am – 11am: Kid’s choice – Science experiment in the back yard
  • 11am – 12pm: Kid’s choice – Lunch at a family favorite burger spot

  • 12pm – 3pm: Mom’s choice – Christmas movies and snuggles on the couch
  • 3pm – 5pm: Kids’ choice – Game time!

  • 5pm – bedtime: Family choice – takeout pizza (kids pick the place) and more Christmas movies

Why it Works

I’m sure there are lots of reasons a “Yes Day” feels so fun for kids (feeling a sense of authority, the sheer fun of it, etc.) but in my experience, the most impactful aspect was the sense of intentionality with which we approached what we were doing. As a busy mom, I am often only partially engaged when the kids are at home and I’m trying to manage work and other plans, but on this day, schedules were cleared (literally and mentally) and my entire focus was on the people in front of me. I still remember it, and I hope my kids felt the difference.

If you plan a family “Yes Day” this holiday season, I’d love to hear about it.

Sarah Brichetto
Born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, Sarah moved to New Orleans in 2009 after graduating from the University of Tennessee (Go Vols!) and is proud to call New Orleans home. She is a CPA and the Finance Director at a local real estate development company. Sarah lives in the Freret neighborhood with her husband, Matt, and their three kids: Elizabeth, Paul and Isaac. You can often find them roaming the neighborhood streets, taking streetcar rides, or enjoying one of the many local parks. In her non-existent free time, Sarah loves to try the newest local restaurants, cook, read, and write.

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