The Morning of a Thousand “No’s”
This morning started like all others in our house — with a human alarm clock named Gemma going off promptly at 5am. She’s our chipper, bright-eyed morning enthusiast. AJ, on the other hand, is more of a “soft-launch” kind of toddler. She emerges around 7ish, bleary-eyed, suspicious of daylight, and already unimpressed.
As any mom with toddlers knows, the morning routine with young children can be a true adventure — full of unpredictable turns and tiny moments that define early motherhood. The plan was simple: wash up, get dressed, devour some green-tinted spinach pancakes, and head to camp. Sounds doable, right? Wrong.
AJ woke up on time. She slept all night. By all measures, she should’ve been in top form. And yet, from the moment she opened her eyes, her response to everything I asked was a deeply contemplative, slightly musical… “mmnnn no.” Not just “no,” but the kind of “no” that makes you giggle because it’s weirdly polite and adorably noncommittal — like she briefly considered saying yes and just couldn’t justify it.
Getting her to shower, dress, and eat took the patience of a monk and the negotiation skills of a hostage negotiator — all part of a day in the life of a mom navigating toddlerhood. But we made it. We got in the car. I sipped my victory coffee. And then, from the back seat:
“No camp today. I want to go backhorse riding.”
That’s AJ-speak for horseback riding — her new obsession. So began Round Two. I caved. I said, “OK, we’ll just go back home and later I’ll take you horseback riding.”
Her reply?
“No. I want to go with sisy.”
…And just like that, my brain short-circuited.
Was I supposed to reverse-psychology this child every hour of the day? Say “don’t shower” so she wants to? “Let’s never eat pancakes again” so she demands two?
By the end of the day, it hit me: her “no’s” weren’t defiance. They were her only form of control in a world where everything — meals, clothes, activities — is pre-decided for her. Saying “no” is her tiny, mighty way of saying, “I’m still me.” And honestly? That’s kind of beautiful.
Exhausting, yes. But beautiful.
These everyday family moments are exactly what inspire us at Gemma & Jules, where we celebrate the emotional world of childhood through timeless pieces like gold baby bracelets, heart-shaped earrings, and keepsake necklacesmade to honor the little stories behind every “no.” Because motherhood isn’t perfect — it’s golden.
Quote of the day:
"No" might just be toddler for "Can I have a say in this crazy day too?" 💛
Love, Gemma and Jules’s mom