Day 4

     Today was a long day. I had a photo shoot outside in the cold and the rain all afternoon. Followed by a (very loud) birthday party for a few of my Husband's family members. I have a mountain load of editing I need to get caught up on and thinking about it stresses me out a bit, I'm not gonna lie. On days like today, the little things the kids do tend to feel multiplied by a billion, and then the yelling starts. I don't do it on purpose, it just happens, and then I feel like a terrible Mom all night. Not today though. I wasn't going to let the Yell Monster get the best of me. SO, I sucked it up. When the kids started to knit pick at each other, I started to sing in my head. I made it the whole day! No yelling, yay! I almost slipped once I think, but I got through it. I'm so glad I'm doing this. My husband is doing it right along with me, and we're feeling good. Every day feels a little better, I can't imagine what 365 is gonna feel like. Hope whatever your challenge is, it's going well for you! One day at a time.

Day Three - Fun all around

  This weekend has been one of the best. We got to do family things all weekend long. It was so nice because the Husband and I are both working so much, it's not often we get a whole weekend to just spend with the kids. Today we had a great breakfast as a family. Then we dropped off Little and Baby with some family and headed out to take Big on her first zip lining trip. She was a little apprehensive at first. But willing to give it a go. It was a long drive to get there, and she fell asleep right away, lol. It was worth the drive. It was a fantastic day. We don't get to spend enough one on one time with Big, so it was nice to do something just for her. It was so wonderful to see her face light up as she was headed down each line. There were 10 in total.  She got braver and braver each one. When we were all done we found a sweet little restaurant and had a great dinner just talking and laughing and sharing what our favorite part of the day was. We all ate too much! Lol. Then the long drive home, we let her call her best friend and have her over for the night. She was beyond excited. She must have thanked us a million times. Baby was so happy to see me when we got there to do the pick up. I love that so much, seeing him light up and get so excited. Melts my heart. I didn't even have one reason to consider yelling today so it was an easy day. We will have to try and do things like this more often. Day three. I am feeling good about this challenge. We're super early on, but everyone just seems happier all around already. How's it going for all of you?

Day Two

   Well, today was family day. Hubby and I both took the weekend off of work to spend with the kids. Today we went to a Renaissance Fair. We had a blast. It was our first, and it surely won't be our last. So many good shows, and we met so many amazing people. The girls got themselves some gypsy skirts and they have been dancing all over the house since we got home. There wasn't much reason to yell today. Everyone just laughed and played all day. At one point we had to get after Big and Little. On the car ride they had a slightly hard time getting along, but they patched it up quickly. And at one point they wandered away from us and about gave me a heart attack. All is well that ends well though. I had to count a lot in my head before talking to them about running away because they scared me half to death. I think not yelling made it easier to listen to me. Tons of memories were made today and it was a day I will cherish forever. I hope the kids will as well. They go their faces painted, they laughed so much, they got to run and play and get dirty. We got a whole day of fresh air. What could be better?

Day One - I made it!

  It's the end of day one of my no yelling challenge. The kids are tucked sweetly and safely in bed. Let me tell you, having a preteen is trying! Lol. I came close to yelling twice today. I have 2 girls and a boy. We will call the oldest girl Big, the middle girl Little, and the baby boy Baby for the sake of not using their real names and embarrassing them royally! ;)

  So remember I said there were two almost yells today? The first time was because Big didn't want to let Little into the room they share. Little went in to get something and Big was telling her to just get out and leave her alone. Now, I get preteens need their alone time, but Little hasn't been home for a few days, so Big has had plenty of alone time. When I asked her why Little wasn't allowed in, she said Little was too annoying, and asked too many questions. As I was trying to point out that she did the same thing at that age she began to talk over me and tell me she didn't care, she just wanted her to go. I *almost* yelled. I took some deep breaths though, and made it through. We had a talk about respect. And about how that is Little's room just as much as it is hers, and she has plenty of other spots in the house she could go for some alone time, but she can't kick little out of her room. I think she understood, and I'm sure it was much easier to listen to me since I wasn't yelling at her. Go Mom! ;)

  Time number two was when I repeatedly asked Little to stop picking up Baby. She is far far too small to pick him up properly and she's almost dropped him numerous times. Well, I went to grab Baby his snack and what did Little do? She picked up Baby, and he slipped out of her arms. He was crying and I was angry. Why couldn't she just listen? I took a deep breath. Baby is fine. He stopped crying after a second. What was yelling going to do? I had yelled at her in the past to not pick him up and clearly she's still doing it. I could tell she felt awful, so I just sat and talked with her again about all the reasons I didn't want her to pick up Baby. It wasn't because I wanted to ruin her fun, or because she's not a big girl. It was because it just wasn't safe, and no one wants Baby to get hurt. She gave me a hug, and we shared a moment. A moment we wouldn't have had if I had yelled. Maybe she'll think twice next time? Probably not, but I hold out hope!

  Day one down. 364 to go. Off to a good start!

Well Hello!

Hello out there. This blog was actually started back in 2007. My Mommy group friends and I all had one. We would all check up on what was going on with each other through our blogs. I was a terrible blogger. I never managed to find the time to write a blog, and when I did the first 3 lines were explaining why I sucked at blogging, lol. Well, that's all about to change.

My name is Jen. I am the mother to 3 beautiful children. I am the wife to the best husband a girl could ask for. I am also a photographer. For the most part life is good. 

In the last few weeks I have read blogs of many mothers who are trying to change the way they parent. I have been inspired, and that is what I intend to do. Don't get me wrong, I have an amazing relationship with my kids, and I love them to pieces. However, I'm busy. I mean really busy. I don't get enough time to take care of myself and in the last few years I have found myself becoming more and more of a  *gasp* Yeller. I grew up in a house where everyone yelled, about everything, all the time! I vowed I would not become that kind of a mother, and I did well keeping that vow. Until, life got crazy. Recently I have realized myself yelling more frequently, and that is just not the type of mom I want to be to my children. So here I am, on a journey to change that. 

This is day one of what I intend to be a 365 no yelling challenge. I know it won't be easy, but I'm going to do everything in my power every single day to not yell. Not even once. To let my children be children, and make mistakes and messes. I hope you will follow along on this journey, though the point of this blog is just for me to have a place to track myself. To watch my progress and document the other things that I am sure will change when the yelling in our home stops. 

So what about you? Do you have something you'd like to change? Also a yeller? Less distractions? More outings? Whatever it may be, I hope you take this journey with me. We all have to start somewhere, and I am starting right here.