I’ll admit it: I have a tendency to raise my voice. There’s a certain satisfaction in cutting through the chaos with a loud command. That brief moment of silence that follows a yell is almost euphoric, akin to a serene vase holding the cash I’ll eventually pass down to my children’s future therapists. Yet, I genuinely dislike yelling and aspire to do it less. So, I’ve set a modest New Year’s resolution: I won’t yell at my kids for a whole 24 hours.
It’s often said that the key to sticking to a New Year’s resolution is to keep it manageable. Instead of vowing to make sweeping changes, I’m opting for a small, achievable goal. One day without yelling seems like a reasonable start that I can build upon. I’m not deluding myself into thinking I’ll completely eliminate yelling from my parenting style—after all, I believe that, in moderation, a good yell can be beneficial for kids. And let’s face it: I’m only human.
While I don’t yell every day, it was the dominant form of communication in my household growing up, and I’ve inadvertently adopted it with my own children. Despite its occasional effectiveness, yelling isn’t pleasant, and it would surely be better for everyone involved if I moderated my volume. However, I anticipate numerous challenges during my 24-hour experiment.
The Midnight to 6 AM Challenge
Take the hours between midnight and 6 AM, for instance—these are the wild west of yelling hours. Once your child hits a certain age, those late-night wake-ups become less endearing. Initially, you’re sympathetic when they wake up crying from nightmares, but after a few weeks of 2 AM disturbances, you start to question your sanity. “What will it take for you to understand that there are no monsters?” I might find myself wondering. Resisting the urge to yell “go to sleep!” in those moments is going to be a considerable challenge.
The Morning Chaos
Then there’s the morning chaos of getting ready for school. Daily battles over misplaced shoes and “forgetting” to brush their teeth might require me to adopt a zen-like demeanor. While I generally keep my cool during school hours, the moment I pick them up, it’s like flipping a switch. The car ride home is a prime time for sibling squabbles, and their bickering can turn the air electric faster than you can say “road rage.”
Homework and Dinner Time
Let’s not ignore the delightful chaos of homework and dinner time. To avoid raising my voice during these critical hours, I’m embracing a “natural consequences” philosophy. Don’t want to do your homework? Fine, you can explain that to your teacher tomorrow. Not interested in dinner? Looks like you’ll be hungry later. I might end up with undernourished and uneducated kids, but at least I won’t be yelling.
Bedtime Challenges
And of course, there’s bedtime—the true Jekyll and Hyde of parenting. You’re filled with love as you say goodnight, but the moment you leave the room, requests for “just one more hug” or “I need water!” start rolling in. Before you know it, you’ve transformed into a frazzled parent who’s ready to lose it.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while there are plenty of valid reasons to yell throughout the day, I’m committed to taking advantage of fewer of them. I’ll need to find a different outlet for my frustration, perhaps by taking up knitting for tiny animals—or maybe I’ll just scream into a pillow instead.
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