What "Saying 'Yes'" really means

I have a friend with a three-year-old son who is VERY physical.  She's unable to work much outside of her home, because, even though her husband has a great job "in the world," childcare in Los Angeles is very cost-prohibitive.  So she's a full-time, stay-at-home Mommy with business partners who give her enough freedom to also "work from home" as much as possible.

I had indicated to her that we are saying "yes" to more and more things, as much as possible, this time around in LA.  That meant driving an unfamiliar distance to an unfamiliar neighborhood to help her husband celebrate his birthday... which led to Stephen making a new friend, and us staying longer than we might have, to catch up in general, with my friend the wife.

... which led to her asking (one day this week) whether today might be a good day for her to bring the son over for a swim.  I called it "Park, Picnic, and Pool" and invited other moms with young sons to join us.  Who cares that we all live on different sides of town?  Let's make a "Play Date" and get all these little boys socialized!  I am, after all, the Best Auntie Ever!

So another Mommy was happy to bring her not-quite-two-year-old over for a swim, if nothing else.  I was happy to see them both, even if the little one took his sweet time warming up to me (I get it - I met him when he was a true "infant" and then went away - it'll take awhile!).  We figured out where to put all the picnic items and then the other family arrived (the daddy, too).  The third family asked for a "raincheck" - we'll definitely be hosting this kind of deal again, so no problem!

Once all expected parties were here, we went down to the pool with some of the food.  Not ready to walk to the park in hot/humid weather, when we can just spend all day in the pool!  That's fine.  The two little boys befriended each other and will likely become better friends as they get a little older, if we manage to get them together to do so.  The Mommies had enough in common that they'll find a way to become better friends, and therefore socialize their sons.  And the menfolk had all day to "conversate" (can you believe that the OED has added that as a new "word?"), and I'm STILL The Best Auntie Ever!

Single Mom and Youngest Child left after a good, long visit.  They had evening plans and still needed to squeeze in a nap.  Family with Very Physical Three-Year-Old stayed a good LONG time, and I had time to give Stay-at-Home-Working-Mommy a "grown-up" break (they all talked politics while I got to play cars and superheroes and shooting rubber bands and nerf guns with the kid).  It was a fabulous day, even though the sun never quite broke through the clouds, and it slowly but surely melted into a fabulous evening/night.

Saying "Yes" means MUCH MORE socializing.  Today was not cost-prohibitive for any of the participants (to my knowledge), and it was really really lovely.  I can't wait to "Say Yes" some more!