You are doing it again!
Yelling at your children over big things, little things, and all things in between.
But why?
Why do we parents feel the need to yell when our point isn’t getting across?
Why do we have to resort to screaming to get our kids’ attention?
The reality is—we don’t have to. We are making rash decisions in difficult moments that are teaching our children bad habits.
Janet Lehman, a veteran social worker who she specializes in child behavior issues says:
“When chronic screaming becomes the norm, children are also apt to think it’s okay for them to scream all the time, too. You’re teaching your kids that screaming is a suitable response when you’re frustrated or overwhelmed. It doesn’t teach anything positive, just that life is out of control—and emotionally, you’re out of control.”
Wow—that hit home!
Believe me, I am not judging.
I was (probably) the world’s worst about yelling when my kids did something wrong, wouldn’t listen, talk back, seemed defiant — the list could go on and on.
I was a chronic yeller.
But I had a terrible wakeup call when I ended up in the middle of a feud that happened in my extended family. Though this person was totally out of line when making accusatory statements, one thing that was said to me was, “Well you’re a horrible mother because I’ve heard you yell a lot!”
Ouch!
What could I say? “No, I’m not a horrible mother! I am just human”? But I did yell a lot!