I'm for real this time...

I always tell myself, "This week I'm going to write at least ONE post" and it never happens! I get some free time and the last thing I want to do is sit in front of the computer for 30 plus minutes, but I know I should. I just love being able to vent and get my thoughts out there. So, "I'm for real this time" on to the post...

 

The big kids are now 2! I can't believe it! It's so cliché, but the time really has flown by. My sweet little babies aren't babies anymore. They are fun, crazy, wild, little kids. They talk up a storm and know what they want, fight, play really well together, fight, sing, dance, and fight... and are trying to be so independent (which is so cute and so frustrating all at the same time). With that new found independence comes some head butting, (with each other and me). I try my best to keep my temper under control. But I have those days, moments, minutes that I lose it and... I hate to say it... yell. With that yelling comes the guilt... the guilt of being a "bad mom"... the guilt of making my kids sad (poor Lotte can't take being reprimanded). I can't stand the guilt! So I started thinking... maybe yelling isn't the answer. Around the same time I really started trying to stop raising my voice I noticed a lot of moms on my facebook did the "no yelling" challenge. I think it was not yelling for 90 days or something like that. Well I've started doing it as well. And I've noticed something... my kids do what I say. Sure, sometimes I have to say it twice but it has been working like a charm!

Now when I say "charm" I mean that 90% of the time my kids are doing what I ask... with a smile. We still have our moments. Like... this morning at breakfast the big kids started throwing their fruit. After multiple "calm" tries I lost it and then... I felt bad. Real bad. But thank goodness 2 year olds are so forgiving because I started over. Everyday is trial and error, and we're getting better everyday. I don't care how long you've been a mom or how many kids you have there are days you lose it. They've pushed you and pushed you and you reached the end of your rope, but I've learned that taking a minute to compose yourself makes a world of difference!

So mommies having a hard time... just count to ten and TRY (I know it's easier said than done) to take on the kiddos with a more understanding and calmer perspective. :)