Inspiration Comes From Everywhere

This morning I read the following blog and decided that I need to try this again. With four children, I have to admit that yelling is my least favourite thing.  Before I ever had my first child, (I've mentioned this many times, I know) I saw the episode of Oprah with the man who authored "How to Behave So Your Kids Will Too".  When the explosions go off in my house, they are loud. 
Diary of a Doting Mom: 30 days and Yell-Free! Five things that I learnt from my challenge

One day I might order that book.  I get the premise, loud and clear, so I've never seen the need to actually read it.  Anyhow, let's get back to embarrassing truths.  I grew up in a family that yelled.  I was also spanked with wooden spoons.  I kept the yelling for my own kids but left the wooden spoons out.  I also had children in a time where parents were suddenly (and I do mean suddenly) being called to task for child abuse if they disciplined their children in public.  Now perhaps the media made this more sensational (no, not the media) but it freaked people out.  My own decision actually came from the inherent hypocrisy in constantly telling O and E not to hit and, then what? Attempting to get your point across by hitting them?  Even as a new and completely inexperienced Mom, I realized it wasn't going to work for me.

credit: vector-art-graphics.com

So, the next best thing I guess, from my own upbringing is that I yelled.  And now each of them yell.  When everyone gets going it's incredibly loud... and embarrassing.  I remember Nana saying to Mom back in the day "Quiet down! What will the neighbours think?" At that point of course Mom was so mad that she would yell back "I don't give a damn what they think!"  That's probably the censored version.  Actually, it's definitely the censored version. I remember something about "flying"...

Of course, I grew up in a different time and situation.  I remembered how stressful it was with the constant yelling and I've tried to stop before.  I have a feeling this will take a few tries.  But thanks to the success story of another, I am adamant that I will now try again.  In fact, since I've started writing this, I've already had a chance to practice because Hunter peed on the carpet.  How lucky am I to have this constant test of my abilities?  Probably luckier than I feel at this exact moment.