Our “Yes Day” - Becky's Mindful Kitchen

Our "Yes Day"

The truth behind our “Yes Day”. 

I was going to write about how we did a “Yes Day” weekend for the girls, where they got to choose activities that we would say yes to. 

I was going to write about how important it is to quiet the reflex to say “we don’t have time” , “maybe next weekend”, “I need to finish this work first”- and do things you normally wouldn’t with those you love. 

I was going to write about how great it was to lean in and say yes. 

It would have been a post that made me look like a mom who puts doing things like this above the pull of emails and work. 

The truth is that I see on my social media feed families who seem to be always doing ‘yes days’- full days of doing special things with their kids.  We did a Hawkeye soccer game, trampoline park, playing with puppies, shopping for new shoes- spread out over 3 days.  

I see families posting photos of what seems like nonstop weekend road trips and attending every event their children are in. We drove 2 hours for the state cross country meet. 

I see photos daily of families cuddled up reading together. I’m typing this while watching New Girl with Vivi while Finn is watching animal videos on YouTube. 

I used to see all of these photos and posts and feel like a crap mom. 

I used to feel inferior to these other parents. 

That was then. This is now. 

Now, I see these photos and I know that I’m only seeing part of the story. 

I can see their adventures and just feel happy for them.

I can be inspired to try new things out of a place of curiosity not inferiority.

I know that what works for others, may not work for us. 

Sometimes emails win. 

Sometimes I choose work over family time. 

Sometimes I yell at my kids when I am over tired and overwhelmed. 

Sometimes my kids are buttheads. 

We did our version of a ‘yes day’ and it was great. 

It worked for us and that’s what matters. 

Make sure whatever you do works for you. 

Let social media be something that inspires curiosity and reflection, not shame and feeling less than. 

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About Becky

Becky Schmooke (pronounced “Smoke”) is a Mindful Leadership Consultant and Speaker, focused on providing action based mindfulness and leadership training to organizations and businesses who are ready to do things differently.

Becky’s Mindful Kitchen, is located outside of Iowa City, and provides truly unique team building and leadership retreats, strategic planning workshops, private parties and classes and weekly summer camps for kids. The commercial teaching kitchen, treehouse, archery range, bush craft skills, first aid training, wood fired pizza oven, chickens, baby goats and timber adventure playground provides endless opportunities for hands on activities.

As a mom to three girls, 60 chickens, 4 goats, 2 dogs and a fire fighter’s wife- life is never boring and provides Becky with endless stories which she uses to illustrate her approach to mindfulness in daily posts on social media.

In all that she does, Becky has one goal, to build confidence in others to take action to live their best life, not just pass time.