It is time, and such a short time it is, to say yes.
Can I write the tooth fairy a note asking to keep this tooth?
Can I sleep with you?
Can I ride with you?
Can I walk with you?
Can I go with you?
Can I keep the bottle cap?
Can I save the ribbon?
Can I have the last piece of candy?
Can we go to Disneyland?
Can I get this doll?
Can you wash my jacket because at lunch I looked down and saw a bug on it.
Yes, I say, yes, yes. Because there is an end to these questions, and yes is what you say when you see them go.
Oh good, she says. Because I was afraid I was supposed to outgrow it.
Sometimes I’m challenged by the balance between saying yes because I can and keeping consistent boundaries.
But, it does feel good to say yes and see a small face light up. Yesterday i let my daughter eat chips in my bed while watching a movie. When she was done, we swept the crumbs off my sheets with our hands. It was okay.
Comment by 6512 and growing — November 14, 2010 @ 4:38 pm
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Ted (Baba) Katrensky, Karen Maezen Miller. Karen Maezen Miller said: Because their questions end, and yes is what you say when you see them go. http://fb.me/ADzjejlQ […]
Pingback by Tweets that mention the particular sadness of yes | Karen Maezen Miller's Cheerio Road -- Topsy.com — November 14, 2010 @ 7:09 pm
Yes. Yes. Yes! I agree. I find, the more I can say YES to my 2.5 yr old daughter, the stronger and more confident she becomes. I do say NO sometimes, but I am more inclined to say Yes!!! It is a practice I have made.
By saying YES to my daughter, I often find I am freed of limiting and strongly held ideas and notions of how I think things should be!
Free at last…. to just be!!!
Comment by Mama Baba — November 14, 2010 @ 8:26 pm
what a wonderful reminder….lately i find myself saying “no” and then asking myself, “why” or “why not”? you are right, it is a short time. peace, jamie
Comment by jamie — November 15, 2010 @ 12:43 am
Crying my eyes out over here. xox
Comment by Lindsey — November 15, 2010 @ 1:40 am
Thank you, Karen. These words remind me of what is important. Yes to saying yes.
Comment by Ines — November 15, 2010 @ 5:32 am
I love this! I am parenting my 4th and last baby. She is 9. It goes so fast… YES my lovey!
Comment by Annette — November 15, 2010 @ 4:38 pm
oh I love this, it made me cry in that way that beautifully sad things do. my daughter is 4 and this is a great reminder to slow down and be right there to answer each of these questions instead of rushing through them, as I sometimes do.
Comment by Katie Murphy — November 15, 2010 @ 7:47 pm
Absolutely lovely expression of the gift of motherhood. Thank you.
Comment by Kelley Somer — November 16, 2010 @ 5:08 pm
Neale Donald Walsch says God knows only one word: Yes.
We say (or think) how it is and God says “Yes.”
So I look at my childeren and I say “Yes” because they are such a joy to me and my life and I know absolutely how God must feel.
Have a wonderful day!!!
Comment by Simone — May 8, 2012 @ 6:09 am