Yes Way

I had this nagging habit of saying ‘No Way’  to everything that I cannot permit or that which I dislike. Naturally my four year old observant daughter was the frequent victim of this phrase.

She would come near me ask in her sweet voice, “Can I have some Atta that you are kneading?” – I retort with a “No Way”.

“Can I watch Doremon?” – “No Way”

“Please, can I play in the water?” – “No Way”

“Can I have one more chocolate?” – “No Way”

“Can I go out with my cousin brother (who was equally little like her) outside to play on the roadside? – “No Way”

“Can I draw on the walls?” – “No Way”

Now too much of ‘No Ways’ were getting in her way. So using her child like ideas, she started a new reaction to this.  

Whenever I blurted out a ‘No Way’ she would scream and jump with a ‘Yes Way’…

Yes Way!!! Yes Way!!! Yes Way!!! …. And run all around the house shouting out “Yes Way”.

That counter attack phrase pressurised me think of an “Another way” where there is “No way”.

So when she comes again with those same questions, I am forced to think of an alternative way… before she screams around the house with her “Yes Way”.

“Can I watch Doremon?” – “You can after you finish your homework.”

“Please can I play in the water?” – “You can play in water when I give you a bath.”

“Can I have one more chocolate?” – “You can have one more, if you rinse your mouth properly and brush your teeth at night.”

“Can I go out with my cousin brother (who was equally little like her) outside to play on the roadside? – “You can go, not on the roadside, but in the park and I will accompany you.”

“Can I draw on the walls?” – “You can draw on the slate that I have hung up on the wall.”

Although this was as simple as was put up by a 4 year old like her, it hit a deep aspect for an adult like me. This ‘Yes Way’ formula applied and hit situations in my life, when all doors were locked, when no means were available, when stubborn scenarios stared down with a no-resolution look, when I was at the cross roads with a ‘No Way’ out.

My heart sought out the ‘Yes Way’