Monday, May 4, 2009

MAKING YOUR HOME SING MONDAY

I am linking up with my friend, Mom's The Word to participate in her Monday meme, "Making Your Home Sing Monday." It's a day when we share what we are doing to bless our families in our home. If you would like to join in, click here.

Last week, I shared how our attitudes can rub off on our children. It is something that I'm continuing to work on because I can see traits of myself in my kids that I would rather not have them emulate. One of the worst habits that I have is yelling. Sometimes I feel that they are not hearing me, so I yell just to get their attention. BUT, I realize that yelling is also a result of laziness. Instead of me going to them, and speaking to them rationally, I'll yell from wherever I'm at. If I hear them arguing, I'll yell at them to stop! No wonder they don't take me seriously! Now, don't get me wrong, I don't yell at them for every little thing. I'd drive myself crazy if I did that. I just want to prevent yelling altogether. How can I expect them to have self control if I don't have it myself. I'm going to bless my home by praying, and working on having a gentler and quieter spirit.

24 comments:

Susie said...

I completely agree!! I yell waaaaaaay too much too.

Angela said...

yelling is also a result of laziness.

amen sis...from a former yellaholic..

DarcyLee said...

I'm a yeller from way back, too, and have realized that a meek and quiet spirit are much more attractive and productive, but harder for me to put into practice. Have a great week, Alicia!

Alicia W. said...

This is great that you expressed that concern and put it in your blog. I find that being open and honest about something is the first step to fix it. I too have this problem and would love to work on it as well. Great post Alicia.

Beth in NC said...

I don't yell, but I sure have my own issues that I see my little one mocking. Yikes.

I understand and am praying today as well.

Love!
Beth

tiki_lady said...

i understand, i am guilty of this too. Going to them to tell them to stop fighting etc, shows them you care enough. My entire household is loud that is how we are. WE have never been quiet people .

Melissa said...

I yell so much too.... I swear that some days, Kendra is completely deaf! I have to work really hard on speaking gently as well. I'll be praying with you about that this week as well!

Carey-Life in the Carpool Lane said...

I can so relate! I'm a yeller and I can't stand it. This is a great thing to work on for your kids and yourself.

Elizabeth said...

I was not much of a yeller until we had our second child and lived in a two-story home. I found that when I could not find my son, I'd yell for him. Then it stuck and I have found myself yelling more over the years. I hate it about myself and I too, have been working on a quieter way of communicating. I appreciate your openness and honesty. ;)

~*Michelle*~ said...

I came from a yelling household...and I can see how I have continued this vicious circle in my home and have been working on this the past few years.

It really does crank up the tense-meter in the house immediately, doesn't it?

I often pray about it too.

Peace~
*~Michelle~*

Anonymous said...

I'm an Old Yeller, too. ARGH! It is good to know God keeps working on us, chipping off the "yuk" and making us more beautiful! Thanks for being so honest.

He & Me + 3 said...

So me too...great post!

momstheword said...

I remember when the kids were younger I was a yeller and I just felt so guilty. I just struggled with it and agonized over it and shed many tears because of it!

And I think you're right, you just want to be heard, lol! But sometimes it was just I was tired or whatever.

But God is faithful, my friend. He does care about what we care about.

I don't really yell anymore but I do occasionally raise my voice or get an annoyed tone and so that is the thing that I am wanting to overcome and praying to work on.

oh, I do yell down the stairs when dinner's ready...does that count? LOL! Thank you for joining us today my friend!

really.truly said...

I had an interesting day the other day....I was sick and my throat was so sore. I could not yell if I wanted to. Felt so much more peaceful!

Erin said...

Huh, I'd never thought about it that way, that yelling is a manifestation of laziness. I'll definitely be putting some serious thought into that idea this week. My very best friend in our old town is a woman with four children who never yelled at her children, seriously, she never raised her voice. I admired her so much and it made me aware of how much I did yell. (Knowing her was a blessing in so many ways...I still miss her daily presence in my life...sigh.) Anyway, since seeing that big difference, I've made a conscious effort to lessen the yelling in our house.

As for calling the children from afar, I will call them, but the only response that is acceptable is "Coming, Mom" I don't engage in yelling discussions.

Pilar said...

I am so with you. I need to ask everyday from God to help me be the mom He wants me to be. My girls sure deserve it!

BeLoVed AiMeE said...

oh I am with you on that one! I don't yell at my kids on a regular basis..I nag them a bit but not yell. BUT I do do the lazy yell...sitting in the kitchen and hear them arguing in the bedrooms so I yell for them to stop instead of getting up and dealing with it on a normal level. It's a hard habit to break but we need to be the example right!

Kelli W said...

That is something I really need to work on too!! It really does feel like sometimes they just aren't listening and the only thing you can do is yell!!

Debbie said...

I think this is a constant struggle for me. Some days I am better than others!

Unknown said...

This is such a good reminder Alicia! Very, very timely!

Denise said...

Totally agree sweetie.

Trina said...

what a great post . . i am a yeller myself. Oh how I need to work on myself and become the mother that my children need.

Daphine said...

What a great post!

Girl, I have no idea how I fell so behind in reading your posts!!!!! Bad blogging friend I've become:~(

Milk and Honey Mommy said...

Alicia,

I have noticed this much in our home. I'm a yeller and I agree that laziness plays a part in there somewhere. You're right. Telling them to "stop yelling" as I do so from another room or other than where they are is not the way.

Thank you for visiting my blog.