One evening, as we were settling the kids down for bed with all the windows wide open, I found myself giving them a not-so-quiet lecture about the importance of listening. Just then, the doorbell rang. My initial reaction was sheer panic: “Oh no, what did they just overhear?” When I opened the door, a friendly older couple stood there, their smiles warm and welcoming. Without thinking, I blurted out, “Did you catch my lecture?” They chuckled in that knowing way that only seasoned parents do, replying, “No, but did they need it?” I laughed nervously while my husband probably wished he could vanish. Meanwhile, my kids, in their pajamas with hair still damp from baths, looked on, unsure of how to react.
Let me be clear: I’m a great mom, I promise. Sure, I might raise my voice occasionally, but that doesn’t define my parenting. As a child, I swore I would never yell at my kids—little did I know how naive that promise was. Parenting is a whole different ball game, and unless you’ve been in the trenches yourself, you can’t judge my skills (or lack thereof).
Kids have a unique ability to push your buttons in ways you never saw coming. And those moms who claim they never yell? Well, I suspect they might just have a different genetic makeup than I do. I can only imagine that they struggle with other aspects of parenting—like laughing at their kids’ fart jokes or throwing spontaneous dance parties after dinner, both of which I excel at.
So, to everyone out there who might question my parenting when they see me in the Wal-Mart parking lot, yelling at my 3-year-old to get buckled in, just know I’m a good mom. What you didn’t see was the two minutes I spent waiting for him to turn around and get in his seat, during which I felt my patience waning. Forgive me for losing my cool in that moment.
And to the neighbor who hears my voice carrying through the open windows while I’m trying to coax my kids away from their impromptu mirror dance party to brush their teeth, remember: I love my kids dearly. I just yell a little because their attention spans resemble those of small animals.
To my friend who saw me losing it when neighborhood kids attempted to put my child in a trash can, let’s just say that a little fear keeps them respectful around me. And to the customer service representative who hears me shout at my child to quiet down while I’m on the phone, just know—I’m a good mom, but they never allow me to finish a call without interruptions.
I’ve made significant strides in reducing my yelling. I acknowledge that constant yelling can be harmful, and I am genuinely working on it. I understand that breaking bad habits takes time, and an occasional shout when they’re running late for school isn’t going to scar them for life.
I’m not perfect, and I own that. So yes, I yell sometimes, but I have my reasons. I’m always striving to be that mom who doesn’t raise her voice, but I refuse to stop being the mom who laughs at silly jokes around the dinner table.
If you enjoyed this piece, you might also appreciate the insights in our other blog post about home insemination kits, which can be found here. And for those curious about pregnancy and fertility topics, I recommend checking out this excellent resource from the Cleveland Clinic here.
In summary, I’m a dedicated mom who sometimes raises her voice. I’m constantly working to improve myself while also embracing the lighter moments of parenting.
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