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The Musings of a Defiant Mother

"To love. To be loved. To never forget your own insignificance. To never get used to the unspeakable violence and the vulgar disparity of life around you. To seek joy in the saddest places. To pursue beauty to its lair. To never simplify what is complicated or complicate what is simple. To respect strength, never power. Above all, to watch. To try and understand. To never look away. And never, never, to forget." - Arundhati Roy

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  • Behind the voice of command

    Yesterday afternoon Monkey scaled the bookshelf to retrieve a large jar of lavender buds which she proceeded to carry to the couch and dump over her head. She didn't stop there but spread it around with her little hands, in every crevice and nook. Where was I? I was doing dishes and oblivious to her stealth-like ability to climb and carry in absolute silence. As I rounded the corner around the bar which separates our kitchen from our living room I stopped. I stood there, mouth hanging open, for a good 15 seconds as she sat up straight and barely moved a muscle as she stared at me with wide eyes. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1....I screamed, "MONKEY!!! WHAT ARE YOU THINKING, DUDE??" as I stormed over and lifted her from the couch and sat her in her chair on the floor. I began cleaning up the mess, hands shaking and she walked over and tried to watch what I was doing. I yelled at her again saying NO NO NO over and over. I didn't even know what to say other than that and eventually I said, "Not cool, dude, not cool!". I was very conscious not to use the word "bad" because it really disturbs me. Like when people say, "No! Bad girl!" - it reminds me of something you say to your dog or something, not your kid. Just because she does something I don't like doesn't make her, or even the action, "bad". It's just not a word I want to incorporate into my disciplining repertoire. She sat back in her chair quietly and waited until I was finished cleaning up to run over and dive into the sofa head first. She sat there and started giggling. I thought to myself, does she even get that I wasn't happy with what she just did? Or did she already accept it and move on and I should take a cue from that?

    Thing is, as of late, I've really been examining my reactions to situations. I am a yeller. It's what I do. It's what I've always done. Whenever I lose it over whatever Monkey has done in that moment to warrant an explosion from me, it brings back memories of my childhood and my mother's tendency to yell and I realize I learned it from my parents but that's no excuse, really. I've been in therapy enough years in my life to know all about breaking cycles and choosing how you react to things. I've just become lazy over time and it doesn't help that I always feel rather high-strung and my temper is always simmering near boiling point. So when Monkey does things like the lavender incident or pours her milk all over Mr. Egg's rug he brought home from Turkey years ago and then lays on her belly and tries to suck it out of the carpet (I guess it tastes better that way??) or climbs onto the table to get the pen which she then tries to write on the wall with or she gets up from her training potty in the bathroom and runs into the bedroom and pees all over the bed - I lose my shit.

    There is this nagging voice in my head that tells me there are some people with infinite patience who spend all their time baking muffins with their kids and never raise their voice or lock themselves in the bathroom for a few minutes to collect their thoughts. Or at least I'm led to believe, in this society of SuperMoms, that these individuals exist though I'm not sure where they are as I haven't met any. And if they claim to be I think they are liars. I know everyone loses their patience at one point or another and I'm not the only mother out there who yells at their child.

    But I've begun to worry about how much yelling is too much yelling. Maybe it's any yelling at all? I don't want to continue this cycle which began with grandparents who knows how many generations ago. Or is it simply the natural human condition, to get angry and yell? I know I balance it with plenty of snuggles and kisses and assuring words and airplane rides and lots and lots of tickles. But in those moments? The ones where I lose control and yell at her and she looks up at me with those sad eyes and quivering lip I feel like the worst mother ever.

    What are your thoughts about yelling and how do you cope with it?

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    • Blogger hypoglycemiagirl says so:
      December 3, 2008 9:48 AM  

      I'm usually relatively patient, but I do yell and sometimes I say shit I really regret. I'm more worried about the actual content of what I say (hurtful) when I explode than how it's said (yelling). top

    • Blogger thailandchani says so:
      December 3, 2008 9:56 AM  

      I think it's important to realize that most of the things we get upset about are things that won't matter in a week or two. I try to consciously think "will this matter so much in two weeks". Most of the time, I realize it won't.. and let it go.

      What issue were you really upset about? Was it that Monkey wasn't respecting someone else's property? Was it that she put herself in potential danger by climbing up something she shouldn't have.. or was it only about orderliness?

      Once you look at that, probably you'll get your answer. :)

      As for yelling.. no one is perfect.. and we all do it. Still, it's a good idea to realize that yelling is a form of verbal assault.


      ~* top

    • Blogger Gwen says so:
      December 3, 2008 10:06 AM  

      First, I do not know those SuperMoms and I don't want to. Everyone yells at some point. I think that the drudgery of parenting is what makes staying even difficult.

      I'm guessing if you feel uncomfortable with your levels of yelling, it's probably too much. And I agree with hgc above that I worry more about what I say than how I say it, because damn if those words don't come back to bite me in the ass. top

    • Blogger what I'm about says so:
      December 3, 2008 10:16 AM  

      Being as I don't have kids I'd go with the voices of experience here rather than me if you have to choose. However, perhaps it should be a priority to explain exactly to Monkey why what she just did wasn't a great idea.

      Of course she understands more and more of what you're saying these days but she's still developing her language comprehension (and more crucially her appropriate behaviour in certain situations comprehension) so I suspect clear and simple is the key.

      And, bonus, it's harder to explain clearly whilst shouting so it might force you to bring your voice down. My little brother used to laugh at my mum telling him off all the time. She just made a point of keeping a straight face - get the giggles and you've blown it! :)

      Tbh, getting discipline right has to be the hardest task. My mum never ever yelled but she constantly made me feel like I'd disappointed her which comes with its own set of baggage. You can't win, but you can do your best with what you have and what you believe is right. top

    • Blogger Lara says so:
      December 3, 2008 11:22 AM  

      I hear you, sister. I've been noticing lately how I explode when my little one does something that flips me over the edge. I think it comes with the territory and you should give yourself credit for being conscious of your discomfort and willing to change your practice. That takes guts and insight.
      I wish I had more suggestions, but the "usual" ones like time-outs and naughty steps, etc. don't work on my strong-willed kid, so I'll leave it to others to share their secrets. :) top

    • Blogger ExPatSW says so:
      December 3, 2008 12:08 PM  

      Lots to comment on here! First, those supermoms who never yell? That's because the valium is in control!

      It's not the yelling; it's how much and what you say. Yelling can actually be an effective safety tool. The yell can actually stop a child who's about to cause serious injury to themselves. Unless, of course, they're so used to you yelling they have learned to ignore it.

      Yelling is also a way to release anger and frustration and can actually prevent physical aggression. It's WHAT you yell that is the most important. Making a child feel demeaned by your yelling is abuse, plain and simple.

      Recognise that there is also a difference between yelling and screaming. Never, ever scream at your child!

      Finally, do you remember waking up from a nap (you were about 3), sneaking into the kitchen, climbing up onto the counter, getting the sugar canister, climbing down and taking it into the den on Dreaux? I walked into the den and found you, sitting in the middle of the sofa, sugar all over the place, grinning at me. I took a deep breath, walked to the telephone, called your father, and told him to come home from work immediately to stop me from killing you! Of course, I didn't and he didn't but you were totally clueless that you had done anything wrong. You were just immensely proud of your accomplishment!

      BTW, I'd much rather clean up potpourri than sugar! Bwahaahaaa! top

    • Blogger nonlineargirl says so:
      December 3, 2008 1:39 PM  

      My first impulse is to yell too. Not sure anyone has infinite patience, but I know I will never be even close. top

    • Blogger jess says so:
      December 3, 2008 8:50 PM  

      Everybody yells sometimes, the supermoms just don't admit it.

      I got a lot better when I realized that the situation would be the same whether I got upset over it or not. For ex. you still have to clean up the lavender whether you shout and pull your hair out or just roll your eyes and laugh. The former just makes everybody feel worse. It's easier than I thought it would be (sometimes) to step back and view the situation objectively before reacting. top

    • Anonymous Anonymous says so:
      December 4, 2008 2:59 AM  

      ahh

      i always luv

      luv sugar story top

    • Blogger Magpie says so:
      December 4, 2008 10:31 AM  

      Oh, there are those days. I try not to, but finally she pushes a button and one must yell... top

    • OpenID wheelsonthebus says so:
      December 4, 2008 11:25 AM  

      We all do it. I think the most important thing is to forgive yourself your imperfections, because as soon as you begin to beat yourself up, the guilt will spiral you to more yelling.

      For the record, I would have made her help me clean. After yelling.

      I have gotten better over the years, mostly by writing about it. It kept me honest to have to report my bad behavior. top

    • Blogger MsPrufrock says so:
      December 4, 2008 1:44 PM  

      I have suddenly become a bit of a yeller, because I'm telling you, 2 is a rough age. Well, for my little hellbeast it is anyway.

      Last week I completely freaked out, shouted too much, and then whisked her off to bed in a far too brusque manner. I felt bad right away, and cried for the rest of the night.

      This is my long-winded way of saying that yes, I hear you, and that I have no good advice. I'm so helpful. top

    • Blogger flutter says so:
      December 4, 2008 2:56 PM  

      my response is so the opposite. i give a mean stink eye. top

    • Blogger Jessie says so:
      December 5, 2008 8:43 PM  

      I believe that changing an ingrained emotional reaction is very difficult, however, I believe you have the strength and mindset to make that change. top

    • Blogger Jessie says so:
      December 5, 2008 8:44 PM  

      This is actually Lisa - didn't realize I was signed in as Jessie (as if he would make my previous comment ;) top

    • Blogger jen says so:
      December 6, 2008 1:30 PM  

      i'm not a yeller. but i use a terribly lousy tone of voice. what i hate is the way M looks at me, like i've wounded her on some terrible level. top

    • Blogger jess says so:
      December 8, 2008 10:49 AM  

      I hope my comment didn't sound all self-righteous. I definitely didn't mean it that way. Did I mention that I don't even have my own children yet?

      Oh, and would you really have taken pics for me? That would've been awesome. :) Next time I'll have to commute up to your neck of the woods. top

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