Who do you think you are, picking on little children who are barely learning their words let alone having logic behind their decisions? You think by yelling at them you will be heard. You think screaming will get your point across. Well, we get it.... You're mad. You don't always like what your kids are doing, but guess what? They're kids. They don't always have the ability to think things through. And guess what else? They. Are. Kids. They should be making messes and getting dirty. It should take them an hour to eat a meal. They will spill drinks and leave crumbs under the table. Playing with water in the bathroom sink when they should be going potty is totally normal. They may not walk as fast or move as quickly as you want them to.
They are tiny, lovable and innocent. They don't think like us and they don't hurry through things just to get the day done. They live for the moment. They aren't worried about what bills need to get paid, how much housework needs to get done, or where their next meal is coming from. All they are worried about is that their green crayon just broke or that they can't find their favorite toy. Their lives are much more simple (just as our lives were when we were their age).
Maybe you should learn some lessons from them. Slow down and relax. Maybe it should take an hour to eat a meal because we are actually taking time to chew it and taste it and maybe, heaven forbid, having a little fun eating it. Maybe we all should walk a little slower and enjoy the beautiful things around us. Step back, mommy, and allow yourself to see the world through your child's eyes. Stop yelling. All it is accomplishing is (temporarily) scaring your child into doing whatever you are trying to get them to do. Instead, take it easy, breathe, maybe get your camera and pause to capture some of the good times. Make memories... Good ones. Not memories full of stressed out yelling. Stop rushing through your life (and your child's) and enjoy every moment you can. Your kids will not be small for long.
Your life will be so much more enjoyable if you sit back and let things just happen. You may have to accept the fact that it is sometimes necessary to do things on a different level than you are used to. You are not always in control. So as I sit here looking in the mirror at the woman I always see yelling at her children, I beg her, please pay attention to the words in this post. You love your family more than anything in the universe so why is it okay to take out your frustrations and stress on them? Life is short and time is precious. Value it and use the time wisely. Choose your words and actions wisely.
You can't bully your kids into doing things the way you want. Instead, teach them kindly by taking their hands and walking (at a childlike pace) through all of the joyful beauty their childhood has to offer.
