What's Wrong With "Yes"? :)

I've decided that my tendency as an older sister is to say "no" to too many things. True, at times, the requests I deny are quite ridiculous like Gracie's the other day: "Rachie, can we go in the 'prinkler in our bathin' suits?" (40 degrees outside! :P)
Many times I say "no" out of genuine reasons to protect my siblings from foolish behavior or danger I can foresee that they can't. But there are the times when I say "no" out of purely selfish motives.
"Rach, can we build a tent with the dining room chairs?" (Don't want a mess to clean up, so I answer, "no".)
"Rach, can I borrow your hoop?" (Don't want to have to clean any more dirt off it next time I wear it than is already there, so I answer "no")
"Can I help 'make' with you?" (Want to get dinner fixed as quickly as possible and a pair of little hands are rather clumsy with a potato peeler so I answer once again, "no")

There is probably no genuine reason for my declining the request. I just don't feel like dealing with the extra mess or noise. But a little while ago I began wondering, "How often do I say 'yes' to their requests? Do they already anticipate I'll say 'no' before they even ask?"
And I could not answer that question as gladly as I hoped I could. Too often my stock answer is "no". So I began looking for opportunities to say yes to simple, harmless things the kids would love doing. It hasn't always been really easy to let them have their way in those areas once in awhile- I still don't relish the extra work. But I'm no longer looked upon as a "fuddy-dud". :)
After all, what is wrong with letting Benjamin and Abby play spies in the place beneath the stairwell? Or pack lunch in a picnic basket instead of slapping it onto plates? Or letting the music stay louder than I'd like while they dance to it? Aren't these all things that delighted me as a child?
As Mama always says to me: "I don't care if I come back and the house is a wreck, so long as the little ones' eyes are shining." :) ~Rachel