We recently did a Yes Day for our son. Because of my son’s disability, we had to do a little adapting. Since he is non-verbal, I printed out sets of two of his favorite things and let him pick between the two. I guess it was more of a Pick Day than a Yes Day.
What is a Yes Day?
A Yes Day, or in our case a Pick Day, is when parents agree to say yes to everything that day. I know that sounds a little crazy, but there are general rules to a Yes Day:
- They are generally used as a reward and are earned.
- You can’t do anything dangerous or illegal, obviously.
- Nothing can be for the future (like getting a puppy).
- The fun happens within that day. No trips across the globe.
- Set boundaries on where the activities will take place.
- And most importantly, have the most fun and make the best memories.
These are just some general rules. If you so choose to do a Yes Day, you get to make your own rules, hopefully keeping in mind the no dangerous or illegal activities rule.
Our Adventure
Choice #1: The Starting Activity: The Muse OR Ripley’s Aquarium
My husband and I were hoping our son would pick the aquarium and he did! Either way, we knew he would be happy. We waited for him to wake up and then hit the road.
Bonus Choice: My Coffee: Caramel Cold Brew OR Regular Cold Brew
I always go back and forth about which coffee drink I want to order, so why not have my son pick for me? He picked a caramel cold brew and it tasted better because he picked it.
We got to the aquarium within an hour of it opening, which I highly recommend. The only downside to this was that it was a bit congested at the entrance. We ended up skipping that part and went straight to our favorite part: the shark tunnel! The older my son gets, the more he notices things, which is so much fun. He loves the clown fish tank which one can crawl into. It is not the easiest thing for me to squeeze into, but it was completely worth it when I saw his face. We got up close and personal with all the fish. I love being able to get so close.
Side note: We met up with friends at the Muse in Knoxville later in the week. Also super fun!
Choice #2: Lunch: Mashed Potatoes and Gravy OR Queso
A child after my own heart, my son picked queso. It was a convenient choice for us as we walked across the street to No Way Jose Cantina. The food was amazing! We got Flynn his queso which he ate by the spoonful. He also had some rice, so I can say he had some real food.
Choice #3: Which Ride: Merry-Go-Round OR Ferris Wheel
After lunch, headed to the Island for a little extra fun. It started to drizzle, but we weren’t going to let that stop us. We let our son decide which ride he wanted to go on. He loves merry-go-rounds, so it was no surprise that is what he picked. He had a little bit of a surprise when we went on the Ferris wheel, too. He had never been on a Ferris wheel before, so I was a little scared to see how he would react, but he absolutely loved it!
Choice #4: Snack Time: Chick-fil-A OR The Yard
We made sure snack time lined up with the next time he needed to eat. With ice cream being his favorite, we thought that would be a nice treat for him to decide on. I have been dying to try The Yard milkshake shop in Pigeon Forge, and I am happy that’s what he picked! The milkshakes may have been a bit on the pricey side, but they were huge, filling and you get to keep the super cute jar it comes in. Flynn was so excited to see the milkshakes when they were brought to the table. Peanut butter mixed with whip cream was a winner. Still being responsible parents, we gave Flynn a pouch of vegetable purée as well.
The Yard has a secret menu with special items. The employee told us about it and showed us the QR code to scan to find it. If they don’t tell you, make sure to ask about it!
After being so full of yummy food and with a bank full of great memories, it was time to head home. It wasn’t long before he was asleep.
Choice #5: Movies: Shrek OR Toy Story
Flynn’s final choice of the day was a movie. His two current favorites are Toy Story and Shrek. I am not surprised that Shrek won. It has been the only movie he has wanted to watch recently. His dad and I enjoyed sitting and relaxing while watching the same movie we had watched a million times already.
If you have the time and ability to do a Yes Day, I highly recommended it. This was some of the most fun I have had with my son. As the day went on, he got so excited whenever he’d see the choice cards. As a non-verbal child, being able to pick all the activities for the day was a huge accomplishment. When you have your Yes Day, make sure your camera is charged. You’ll want to document all the fun!
