Tired of Saying NO

I didn't get a chance to post yesterday because I was working diligently on the two projects I would most like to see completed. I am almost done tweaking my book. Then I get to turn it over to someone else who wants to tweak it all over again. I have a feeling I'm going to be sick of my own work before this is over! Anyway, I am extremely excited to announce that our equine spa is up and running! We are still looking at some modifications to our driveway and putting in a permanent power source, but for the time being we are are using a generator. We are planning to put our first patients through the spa today! It has taken many hours of blood, sweat, and tears, (a few dollars, too) to turn this idea into a reality. We have dealt with issue after issue and things are finally coming together.
The spa we bought is manufactured in England. It took a very long and slow journey here by boat. There are only about 50 of these in the entire country. To the best of my knowledge, ours is one of the only two ECB spas with wheels under them. Our major issue has come from the fact that these things are not designed to be mobile, thus requiring a custom trailer and careful consideration about a myriad of other subjects. We are definitely still working out the kinks, but at least we can get started treating patients here at our home.
Today I am tired. Not just physically tired, but mentally exhausted as well. Mainly I am tired of being the one who says, "No." Do any other moms out there just get tired of being the killjoy in your family? Dad wants to say yes to everything. "Can we eat all 27 of these cupcakes?" "Sure, why not? It's Tuesday, after all." "Do we have to use our mouthwash? Can't we just skip it tonight? "Sure! Don't tell your mother." "Can we be Brownies? And cheerleaders? And join the soccer team?" "Of course! Why not?" It goes on and on. I really do get tired of being the one who threatens their lives because they refuse to shut up during Sunday service. And slapping a veto on the shorts and flip flops that they want to wear to church. Sometimes I just want to say, "Yes!" Yes, you CAN stay up until 10:30 on a school night to watch the same friggin' movie you've already seen 87 times because "it's on TV!" Yes, you can skip your bath and smell like pigs tomorrow! Yes, you can wear mismatched clothes and have stringy hair! Why, yes, let's eat cupcakes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! Yes, yes, yes! Let's just make life one big party, and I'll be your friend instead of your mom. I'm sure you'll find a great therapist who can get you all straightened out someday.
Now, we all know I won't do that, because I'm your mom, and someday you'll be blaming me for the way you turned out. So just know that I'm doing my very best to turn you into decent, kind, compassionate people who can eventually take care of themselves. Even if it means using that nasty little word.