Small, but mighty - YES!

​If I have one mothering regret it’s that I didn’t say yes often enough. Looking back, it’s easy to see so many times when I could have said yes, but chose no. Yes was often the messier, louder, longer, more expensive, more exhausting option...but in the end, would that have been so bad? I don’t believe we should always say yes. I know there are times when no was the best response for everyone involved. But, I said it more often than necessary.

While I’ve missed a lot of opportunities when I could have said yes...it’s not too late to start flexing my yes muscles.

I have all three of my children at home for another 9+ months.

I plan to say yes more often.


I'm not proud of this...
With my children, I often have a terrible time saying yes joyfully. I find that I might say yes, but it’s uttered begrudgingly. It’s cluttered and colored by the huge to-do list in my head or the stress of something that has absolutely nothing to do with what they are asking me.

It’s clear to my children that I’m not happy about the yes I’m offering...so it negates that yes and makes them feel bad. As soon as I utter a miserable yes, I catch myself...but by then it’s already too late.

I am going to try to say a loving yes to many of the million little things I’m asked regularly. The rides to and from, last minute needs from the store, pleas for help in finding a lost article of clothing. I realize that I will dearly miss these opportunities to say yes when my children are grown.

Helping me to see the power of yes, is the adorable Kelly Jensen.

For those of you who are on Instagram but have somehow managed to miss this amazing lady, do yourself a favor and take a pause from reading this and go click follow on her IG account...@kellyejensen.

She’s the real deal.

Don't let her stunning appearance, adorable children, loving husband and incredible photos make you doubt her authenticity. I believe she truly lives what she shares in her squares.

Even now, in the homestretch of mothering, Kelly Jensen is changing the way I parent my children.

My children are narrowing in on adulthood, but I realize there's still time for me to adopt a yes attitude.


Enter...The Live List.

This simple concept is now taking the world of social media by storm.

Kelly Jensen has been creating a personal live list for 20 years. For the past several years, her family of 7 (that's right, she's the mother of five young children) has been committed to experiencing the benefits of a Live List.

To clarify, a Live List is a bit different than a Bucket List. A Bucket List is often considered a list of things you want to do before you die.

A Live List puts the focus on doing things- big and small -to enhance your life now.

The idea is to live your very best life by dreaming and stretching and growing through the items on your Live List.

Here’s the link to a short video of Kelly Jensen explaining the Live List.


Our first family Live List will be created this Sunday.

I mentioned the concept to my husband and children at last week’s family meeting. I think they are on-board. We'll each offer activities and ideas to be considered for the Cain Family Live List.

In addition, I plan to create my own personal live list and I'm hopeful that Matthew and I will create a couple's live list.

That's a lot of lists...but we have a lot of life to live! 

A Live List is designed to encourage you to do things you love...and ultimately make life better...for yourself and for others.

The actions within the concept of the Live List...brainstorming, deciding, planning, anticipating and actually accomplishing...all work together to bring joy to the everyday.

I'm ready for more YES! 

I promise to share more about our Live List after we begin.

I actually can't wait to implement this simple, yet brilliant plan! Thank you, Kelly Jensen. 


How do you feel about saying yes?

Do you feel that you say it too often or not enough?


Thank you so much for following along. I’m going to be sad to see October end. This month of writing every day has been the best kind of challenge. I’m excited about what’s ahead….

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xo Kristen