Parents Expect New Baby—Tears at What They Do So Daughter Feels Special

A couple’s heartwarming “yes day” for their 5-year-old daughter before the arrival of her new baby brother has captured the internet’s affection.

In a viral TikTok video with over 819,000 views, Jo and Jess Wong, 31 and 33, respectively, showcased their thoughtful approach to a big family transition with a voiceover from their daughter, AJ, on a day left totally to her design. The Wongs spoke to Newsweek about how the idea for a “Yes Day” came to be, and about AJ’s transition to siblinghood.

“Come with me with my two mommies on a yes day,” AJ said in the video. “And a ‘yes day’ is when someone needs to…say yes to everything.”

The couple said they decided to dedicate an entire day to saying “yes” to their daughter while Jess was eight months pregnant. The day, as seen in the video, was filled with AJ’s favorite things, from donut breakfasts to park adventures, all in an effort to make her feel cherished before becoming a big sister.

The idea for the special day was born out of a desire to make AJ feel exceptionally loved during a time of change.

“We had seen and heard other parents on social media doing the same thing and loved the idea,” Jo said. “As parents, we often feel like we end up saying ‘no’ more than ‘yes,’ so, we wanted to spend an entire day saying ‘yes’ as a way to celebrate her. We wanted to show her how special she is to us and to celebrate such a big change in all of our lives.”

AJ’s first request of the day was a donut breakfast. And her moms knew some version of this was coming.

“Her favorite food is ice cream, so we knew that request was coming at some point,” Jo said. “We just didn’t expect it at 7:00 a.m. We had to tell her that her favorite ice cream shop wasn’t open that early, but we could go get it later in the day. Her second favorite food is donuts, so that was the next natural choice for her to make.”

The day continued with a trip to a local egg hunt and festival.

The timing of the day was crucial for the couple, too.

“It was important for us to do something like this before the baby came, because a lot of change was about to happen,” Jo shared. “She has been our sole focus for five years, and we wanted to make sure she knew that even with a new addition to our family, we were not going to love her any less.”

As for becoming a big sister, she added that AJ is “so excited” for her baby brother to be here: “She is already calling him ‘her baby’ and wants to spend every waking second with him.”

The Psychology Behind A ‘Yes Day’

Licensed clinical child psychologist Dr. Dorianne Wijesekera, founder of the Milika Center for Therapy & Resilience, told Newsweek that the instinct behind a “yes day” before a life transition is natural, and can be meaningful if done thoughtfully.

“Done thoughtfully, a ‘yes day’ can be a sweet bonding experience and a way to create positive memories,” she said, adding that giving a child some choice can be empowering with clear boundaries.

“If it’s framed with structure, like giving choices within limits and explaining that this is a one-time special day, it can be really meaningful.”

However, she cautioned that saying “yes” without limits can send the wrong message.

“Children thrive on structure and predictability during times of transition,” she said. “If a child starts to believe that saying ‘yes’ is how parents show love, we unintentionally send the message that boundaries are flexible and that rules are negotiable. That can backfire, especially once the baby arrives and the ‘yes’ is not happening.”

Her advice? Anchor your child with love and consistency. “Involve them in baby preparation, give them routines and offer emotional connection, even if it’s just ten minutes a day,” she said.

In AJ’s case, the Wongs said the day was about a moment of joy and memory-making before a big transition. And judging by her smiles in the video, it’s a day their daughter will likely treasure. “She loved it,” Jo told Newsweek. “She loved knowing that every request she made, big or small, was going to happen.”