I have four tweens/teens: a 16-year-old boy, twin 13-year-old boys, and an 11-year-old girl. Teens can ask for some of the most random things. Another laptop, shopping sprees, beauty products, and a whole host of material things. And throughout the year, I find myself saying, “No,” “What do you think your allowance is for?”, “Absolutely not!”, and “That seems like something you need to ask your uncles to buy you” to several of their requests. Honestly, I feel like if I give them a decent allowance and provide all of their needs, they can at least spend their own money on any gadget, game, or beauty product they want. My purse is shallow and the strings are tight.
Except for one day a year. The last day of the year to be exact. New Year’s Eve.
On New Year’s Eve, my husband and I give the kids a “Yes Day.” It’s simple: Whatever the kids ask for, we simply say, “Yes.” We only ask questions for clarification, and we don’t deflect or say no.
Here’s a list of things and experiences our tweens/teens asked for:
“Can we eat breakfast at IHOP?”
“Can we go to Jumping World?”
“Can we eat pizza for lunch?”
“Can we get a hotel?”
“Can we go to the Amuse Adventure Museum?”
“Can we shop at Best Buy?”
“Can we go to Target?”
“Can we go to Hobby Lobby?”
And of course we said “Yes” to every single request!
The kids had a blast! We ate breakfast and picked up a few crafting materials from Hobby Lobby. Then we did a little window shopping at Best Buy and Target. Next, we went to Jumping World. By the time we checked into the hotel, I was already exhausted. We ate an early dinner at Rock’n Dough Pizza and had the most amazing server. Next, we went to the Amuse Adventure Museum and had a blast. Fun fun fun! Lastly, we did a grocery store run for snacks before heading back to the hotel. I passed out. The kids and Hubby played video games. I woke up and played games as well, then I went back to sleep. Finally, the New Year came and concluded our Yes Day.
If you’re wondering about the financial cost of a Yes Day, I’ll be very transparent with you. Our Yes Day cost $537 for this family of six. The most expensive tickets were the Amuse Adventure Museum and Rock’n Dough Pizza, both over $100. If you would like to do a Yes Day for your kids but you’re concerned with getting a lot of materialistic requests, then set some parameters. Explain to your teens that their request must create an experience and be centered around engaging with the family.
While Yes Day is very fun, we did make time for something very serious. Now, we don’t do New Year’s resolutions. Tweens and teenagers are still developing a sense of self. New Year’s resolutions can unintentionally bring about stress from trying to be this perfect image of themselves that they’ve placed in their mind. And as an ever-evolving teenager, perfection is impossible.
So instead of focusing on achievements, we focus on exploration. Everyone chooses three hobbies they want to nurture for 2025. While the hobbies can be brand-new or something you’re still learning, there is a short guide. You must have a physical hobby, something that gets you moving. You must also have a creative hobby, to explore new ways to express yourself. Lastly, you must have a social hobby, something that brings you together with other people. Here are our 2025 hobbies (physical, creative, social):
Anthony/Dad: running, learning to play the piano, and running with a club
Patricia/Mom: yoga, sewing, painting, and learning Spanish
Aiden (16): jogging, playing the piano and reading sheet music, and hosting events at home
Elliott (13): stretching, creating new video games, and TBD*
Elijah (13): biking, creating a YouTube channel, and creating a video gaming club
Eve (11): ballet and dance, and sewing with a club
*It’s okay that he doesn’t know how he wants to engage with others. He has a low social battery threshold.
For the rest of the year, I will scour the Memphis Flyer for events and activities that pour into my kids’ hobbies. If you hear of any, please feel free to share it with me via Instagram @memphisismyboyfriend.
Patricia Lockhart is a native Memphian who loves to read, write, cook, and eat. By day, she’s an assistant principal and writer, but by night … she’s asleep.