November - YES - And What A Mom!

The Challenge: Each month I’ll choose one characteristic I want to build upon to help me be the best mom I can be. I will determine several goals to help me carve that path, and I’ll report back on my successes and (undoubted) failures, too. In November, my theme is YES.

November Goals:

1. Read a relevant, popular book on the subject and start taking action as I read. November Pick: Year of YES, By Shonda Rhimes

2. Determine one goal I want to achieve by the end of the month. November goal: Say “Yes” to any request that is feasible (within reason). Whenever I hear someone begin to ask me a question, especially if they sound like they need something from me, my brain flies into excuse mode. The alarm goes up, and my head starts developing excuses to say no… before I’ve even heard the whole question. Do you do this too? Well, it’s silly really. Why do I go in fight or flight mode with every question? Is my survival on the line? Absolutely not. I have to wonder what kind of opportunities I’m missing out on every time I turn down a party where I’ll only know one person, or a favor for a friend, or a meeting that doesn’t sound like a perfect fit for my objectives. It’s worth experimenting for one month at least to see what would happen if I did say YES. If I stepped out of my comfort zone. Well, within reason of course. If someone asks me to bungee jump in November, this all goes on the window. Just sayin’.

3. Try one new activity that may help me accomplish my goal. November activity: Do one BIG thing I’ve never said YES to before. My husband’s been trying to get me to join him at a marketing conference that he attends in Nashville every quarter. He’s raved about the presentations, the dynamic, the participants, and he thought I might get a lot of out it. I’ve been making excuses for years… “Oh no, I’m pregnant… oh no, not with a newborn… oh no, can’t leave the toddler at home.” Well, enough. It’s only three days, for peat’s sake. So I said YES. I’m going. It’s a big step for me but this month is the month of YES.

4. Determine how I will involve the husband and kids so it’s a family experience, or at least, family benefit. November plan: Say YES to more family events. “Oh, you’re party’s at 1 p.m.? So sorry, that’s nap time. Oh, you want to have dinner on a school night? Um, no.” Not everything can be perfectly timed around my fairytale schedule. I know this. But most of the time, I say NO. Why risk a potential tantrum? Or the mother of all disasters — the mommy meltdown? But again, what am I missing out on when I say NO to these opportunities? Playdates, lunches, kids’ birthdays. New friends, great conversation, Kodak moments. Just say YES, Celeste. Just this month. If it’s a total disaster, I can make December’s theme “NO.” Bwahaha!

This month, I am a YES mom.

The Challenge: Each month I’ll choose one characteristic I want to build upon to help me be the best mom I can be. I will determine several goals to help me carve that path, and I’ll report back on my successes and (undoubted) failures, too. In November, my theme is YES.