Friday nights are my favorite, because Friday nights are yes-nights.
One of my most deeply held parenting philosophies is to say "Yes" to every single thing I can. The number of times I shout "No!!!!" at my kids is in the hundreds of millions. I choose "Yes" so that their young lives aren't one big giant "No."
Can you wear the cape to church? Yes.
Can you paint? Sure. Just whatever.
Weeknights, for us, are a marathon routine of dinner-bath-bed. There is no margin. During the week, the most loving thing I can do for my children is to make sure that their little bodies get enough sleep..
I love them by making sure they eat enough protein, so they don't get hangry and get disciplined for being poorly nourished.
I pack their lunches, I wash their clothes, I tuck them in. I say "No" a lot. That's how I love my kids during the week.
But Fridays.
Friday nights are YES-NIGHTS.
Can we color, Mommy? Yes.
Can we play Super Mario, Mommy? Yes.
Will you read us another book, Mommy? Yes.
Will you lay with me, Mommy? YES.
On Friday, there is no alarm clock waiting for us on the other end of the night. There are no lunches to pack. Bedtime is kind of ... eehhhhh.
On weeknights, my love looks like boundaries to my children. It's the same love, but it looks like a bunch of rules. On weekends, my love delights them.
I'm obsessed with Friday nights. Because on Friday nights, I get to go home and say "Yes."