In the game Mother May I, players take turns asking the mother for permission to do something. The player who is currently the mother can either grant or deny permission. If she grants permission, the player gets to do what they asked; if she denies it, they have to take a step back.
The game is played with a group of people, with one person acting as the mother and the rest of the players taking turns asking for permission. The object of the game is to get as close to the finish line as possible without getting sent back by the mother.
Players can ask for all sorts of things in Mother May I, from taking big steps forward to small ones, or even going backwards or sideways. As long as the request isn't too outrageous, like flying or jumping over buildings, most mothers will usually grant permission. It's all up to how creative you can be with your requests!