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Angry Shouty Parents Anonymous

230 replies

Fuckingmentalme · 18/07/2023 08:57

Are you an angry shouty parent?
Are you constantly wound up?
Are you on the edge?
Do any unexpected noises that your children emit leave you twitching? Did you fail to produce perfect children who follow you like ducklings when you're out and about? Do they instead tumble out of the car shrieking war cries? Do they shriek a lot? Do they laugh in libraries? Do you have a large living room with plenty of space yet the children choose to sit practically on top of each other to do any activity and then each claim the other is annoying them?Do they ask you endless hypothetical questions? Do they repeat your answers driving you to the brink of insanity? Do they fight constantly?

If so then I do not have the answer but I am sick* of being angry and shouty. It makes me feel unwell. I want to stop today. *I'm inviting other ASPs to join me who also wish to stop. We can check in on each other and generally be nice and supportive.

I plan to separate or distract as soon as bickering or shrieking occurs. That's my plan. That's it. Wish me luck

OP posts:
BertieBotts · 18/07/2023 20:33

Lol, I posted a thread a bit like this the other day and have been making a bit of an effort. My 4yo is in an especially trying stage and is doing a lot of screaming and shouting and threatening and demanding. Except I think some of it is from me Blush

This is what I've been doing so far:

  • When DS2 (4) is asking endless questions, or annoying his brother on the tram, I engage him in a game like I Spy.
  • When DS3 (nearly 2) is making a horrid screeching noise I start singing wheels on the bus at him. He insists that I do several rounds but it's better than the screeching.
  • When trying to engage them in instructions or they are getting wound up about something, I go right down to their level and take a big, obvious deep breath - apparently this triggers mirror neurons and they will breathe too. IT WORKS!! It doesn't instantly calm them down but it takes them down a notch or two, which helps a lot usually.
  • Making an effort to try to moderate my voice and make requests in a low, pleasant, calm voice, rather than barking them because I'm already annoyed.
  • Likewise when I want 4yo to stop screaming/shouting I make my voice really low and calm to model what I want.

I've been doing the course on Coursera called ABCs of Everyday Parenting. Some of it is patronising/obvious but there are some useful tips. And honestly though I was watching it thinking well duuuuuh of course you should ask children nicely to do something instead of being an army drill sergeant, when I started to listen to myself I realised that I quite often get irritated and let that irritation colour my tone or volume.

I've also been really into Conscious Discipline by Becky A Bailey recently after listening to her on a couple of podcasts. That's where I got the deep breath/mirror neuron tip. They also have this thing called breathing icons, so I googled that and found a youtube video which shows you how to demo 4x simple breathing exercises for children and a PDF which you can print out with the breathing icons on them. I started doing them just for fun with the 1 & 4yo and they now ask to do them all the time. So we are doing this just whenever we want to when we are already calm, and then I'll try to suggest them when they are not calm. I printed the PDF and stuck the icons in the living room and bedroom, which is where we spend most of our time.

I have this book called When Your Kids Push Your Buttons which I bought when DS1 (now 14!) was 3 and driving me absolutely nuts all the time - I keep getting it down off the shelf but haven't read any more of it currently.

I started taking some iron tablets, in case I'm anaemic. I've been pregnant and/or breastfeeding since December 2017 - so this wouldn't be totally unheard of. This seems to be helping a lot but I'm unsure whether it's the iron or whether I was just pre-menstrual Grin

I also tried to notice exactly what triggers the aaaaaaaargh RAEG and one of them is when people are stupid/wrong on the internet, and then even more so when other people agree with them. So I have been avoiding the places on the internet where I'm likely to encounter wrong people. The vast vast vast majority of microcontent winds me up (instagram, youtube shorts, FB reels) and there are certain topics that are likely to trigger this too so I've stopped clicking on threads like that on MN. I did actually hide AIBU for a bit too, though recently I unhid that.

To replace this I've joined a couple of charming groups on FB about doll house furniture and tiny things, and I rearranged my reading list so I have something to read and I have some puzzles and I like building houses in the sims, and I'll queue up some series to watch. I feel like this all helps avoid the doom scroll.

MrsFarmerTom · 18/07/2023 20:34

(To clarify, I have never shouted at DS for stammering, or tried to hurry his speech up in any way. But it definitely adds to my general underlying feelings of stress and frustration, and makes me less patient with him in other areas, so I end up shouting at him for something else a bit later.)

Has anyone read Sarah Ockwell-Smiths "How to be a calm parent"? Is it any good??

Strawberryfieldsforever12345 · 18/07/2023 20:36

So many women on Prozac…. Or gin.
im a totally ‘ normal’ loving hard working mum. With very high standards and I literally had to numb myself via AD’s for a 6 month period due to ND husband and ND children. If I had much shorter standards I probs wouldn’t random shout and feel hella guilt…. I would just drag them up…, I would have set lower standards if I had my time again.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Fuckingmentalme · 18/07/2023 20:36

MrsFarmerTom · 18/07/2023 20:29

Oh God. Here are my people 😅😭
My most shameful, awful, horrible-mum trigger is that DS (3.5yo) has a stammer, and once he starts stammering he has to go alllll the way back to the start of the sentence and start again, and he says ALL his thoughts out loud and it's a CONSTANT stream of consciousness and stammering, and getting stuck, and having to start again and I want to shout "OH MY GOD, JUST SPIT IT OUT!!!" except I can't because it's not his fault and he's trying so hard, but it takes up So. Much. of my Time. waiting for him to tell me something like "Mum, in 'Go Dog, Go' there's a big white dog under all the manhole covers". Like what the FUCK does that even mean and also don't answer that because I DON'T CARE.
And then 10 minutes later he's singing his Lego men to sleep, and it's so beautiful and sweet, and I'm the worst person ever for feeling so frustrated with him 😭😭😭

Singing his lego men to sleep. How precious! My eldest had a stammer for a bit. He never shuts the fuck up and he never shut the fuck up when he had a stammer either.

OP posts:
noglow · 18/07/2023 20:37

Fuckingmentalme · 18/07/2023 20:22

I laughed but the insanity is real. I get uptight after the second identical question and say "I just answered your question, we are not going to talk about it anymore" or the more hysterical pleading "why are you asking me the same question again? Stop!" Or "that's what I just said!"

I find "what do you think?" (Not in a sarcastic snappy way) works sometimes.

Also..leaving the room and having a glass of water.

onlylovecanhurtlikethis · 18/07/2023 20:37

I have twins going through the terrible twos and a six year old who may as well be 16 the attitude I'm getting - im a single parent as of a year and honestly feel awful now being a shouty mum but im outnumbered and no one seems to listen to me 😩

ThisIsTrifficult · 18/07/2023 20:38

Oh hello fellow ASM's!
Yes, I am one. I'm trying to be better and have found using a grey rock approach very helpful.

noglow · 18/07/2023 20:38

ThisIsTrifficult · 18/07/2023 20:38

Oh hello fellow ASM's!
Yes, I am one. I'm trying to be better and have found using a grey rock approach very helpful.

Ooh what is this please? I keep hearing it mentioned.

BertieBotts · 18/07/2023 20:39

I had a horrendous day the other day when I had accidentally sent some important deliveries (passports!!) to a DHL locker thing which was a huge walk away in direct sun and I had to do it with the two youngest. I was stressed because I wasn't sure if I was really supposed to have redirected passports there. DHL was also sending me texts about delivering the old passports to my house and I was stressed about what would happen if I wasn't there.

So I got to the locker and it was blazing hot direct sunlight down on the screen so I could barely read it. I was trying to follow the instructions on the app but they didn't seem to correlate to what was on the screen. I was going around in circles and getting more and more desperate, the DC were getting bored and I was snapping at them, I even tried to call the DHL advice line and just got a stupid automated voice helpline thing and then DS2 nearly pushed DS3 out of the buggy and I screamed "DS2 NO!!!! STOP IT NOW!!!" and then almost burst into tears and hung up the phone. Texted DH saying I gave up. Luckily he said OK no stress, I'll download the app and try and get a code for you, go for a walk. We went into the shop and he managed to get a code and it was all fine. (My app was an outdated version). Got the passports. Got home again. DHL came about ten minutes after we arrived home, so all was fine but gahhh.

Fuckingmentalme · 18/07/2023 20:42

BertieBotts · 18/07/2023 20:33

Lol, I posted a thread a bit like this the other day and have been making a bit of an effort. My 4yo is in an especially trying stage and is doing a lot of screaming and shouting and threatening and demanding. Except I think some of it is from me Blush

This is what I've been doing so far:

  • When DS2 (4) is asking endless questions, or annoying his brother on the tram, I engage him in a game like I Spy.
  • When DS3 (nearly 2) is making a horrid screeching noise I start singing wheels on the bus at him. He insists that I do several rounds but it's better than the screeching.
  • When trying to engage them in instructions or they are getting wound up about something, I go right down to their level and take a big, obvious deep breath - apparently this triggers mirror neurons and they will breathe too. IT WORKS!! It doesn't instantly calm them down but it takes them down a notch or two, which helps a lot usually.
  • Making an effort to try to moderate my voice and make requests in a low, pleasant, calm voice, rather than barking them because I'm already annoyed.
  • Likewise when I want 4yo to stop screaming/shouting I make my voice really low and calm to model what I want.

I've been doing the course on Coursera called ABCs of Everyday Parenting. Some of it is patronising/obvious but there are some useful tips. And honestly though I was watching it thinking well duuuuuh of course you should ask children nicely to do something instead of being an army drill sergeant, when I started to listen to myself I realised that I quite often get irritated and let that irritation colour my tone or volume.

I've also been really into Conscious Discipline by Becky A Bailey recently after listening to her on a couple of podcasts. That's where I got the deep breath/mirror neuron tip. They also have this thing called breathing icons, so I googled that and found a youtube video which shows you how to demo 4x simple breathing exercises for children and a PDF which you can print out with the breathing icons on them. I started doing them just for fun with the 1 & 4yo and they now ask to do them all the time. So we are doing this just whenever we want to when we are already calm, and then I'll try to suggest them when they are not calm. I printed the PDF and stuck the icons in the living room and bedroom, which is where we spend most of our time.

I have this book called When Your Kids Push Your Buttons which I bought when DS1 (now 14!) was 3 and driving me absolutely nuts all the time - I keep getting it down off the shelf but haven't read any more of it currently.

I started taking some iron tablets, in case I'm anaemic. I've been pregnant and/or breastfeeding since December 2017 - so this wouldn't be totally unheard of. This seems to be helping a lot but I'm unsure whether it's the iron or whether I was just pre-menstrual Grin

I also tried to notice exactly what triggers the aaaaaaaargh RAEG and one of them is when people are stupid/wrong on the internet, and then even more so when other people agree with them. So I have been avoiding the places on the internet where I'm likely to encounter wrong people. The vast vast vast majority of microcontent winds me up (instagram, youtube shorts, FB reels) and there are certain topics that are likely to trigger this too so I've stopped clicking on threads like that on MN. I did actually hide AIBU for a bit too, though recently I unhid that.

To replace this I've joined a couple of charming groups on FB about doll house furniture and tiny things, and I rearranged my reading list so I have something to read and I have some puzzles and I like building houses in the sims, and I'll queue up some series to watch. I feel like this all helps avoid the doom scroll.

Great post! Are you me? I also have to hide content on the internet or be stern with myself not to engage! Because really does it fucking matter? No! I was wasting my life being wound up! Like i was looking for it. I read and do puzzles too.

OP posts:
wobblyweasel · 18/07/2023 20:44

I started off by wanting to be a calm, serene earth mother type! 😂😂 I ended up an angry, shouty mother! My 2, DD35 & DS26 survived. I know they'd say that angry/shouty was fine, it's when I spoke quietly and precisely that they knew to run....

Fuckingmentalme · 18/07/2023 20:47

noglow · 18/07/2023 20:38

Ooh what is this please? I keep hearing it mentioned.

Be boring!

OP posts:
Fuckingmentalme · 18/07/2023 20:49

noglow · 18/07/2023 20:37

I find "what do you think?" (Not in a sarcastic snappy way) works sometimes.

Also..leaving the room and having a glass of water.

Not wine?

OP posts:
Smoky1107 · 18/07/2023 20:51

I'm now 19 and 17 years in. My advice, build a loft room and make it out of bounds, total peace and quiet and lie ins. I'm sure that's how we've made it this far!

BatheInTheLight · 18/07/2023 20:51

Love my children but at times I'm absolutely sick to death of them. I NEED A BREAK!!!!! I actually say STFU in my head about a million times a day for various reasons, the arguing between siblings, the inane chat talking absolute bollocks, the whinging, oh my GOD

Windercar · 18/07/2023 20:52

But surely if you’re angry and shouty then they’ve just learnt their behaviour from you. It’s unfair to blame them 🤷🏼‍♀️

Fuckingmentalme · 18/07/2023 20:56

BatheInTheLight · 18/07/2023 20:51

Love my children but at times I'm absolutely sick to death of them. I NEED A BREAK!!!!! I actually say STFU in my head about a million times a day for various reasons, the arguing between siblings, the inane chat talking absolute bollocks, the whinging, oh my GOD

We're strict about bedtimes in my house because we don't want to end up insane.
The relief when they are in bed.
My kids laughing about bums: do you like bums mum? hysterical laughter.
Me: -
My kids: do you think poos coming out of anuses are funny?

OP posts:
Screamingabdabz · 18/07/2023 20:57

I have no evidence but I actually think shouty mums are the best mums… builds resilience, character and a sense of humour in kids. That’s what I’m sticking to anyway.

Fuckingmentalme · 18/07/2023 20:58

Windercar · 18/07/2023 20:52

But surely if you’re angry and shouty then they’ve just learnt their behaviour from you. It’s unfair to blame them 🤷🏼‍♀️

There's always one. This thread is meant to about be self-improvement. We're acknowledging there's a problem here. Hmm

OP posts:
Windercar · 18/07/2023 21:04

I’ve only seen one poster talk about self improvement (with some great advice). The rest have been ‘angry offs’ and asserting angry parents are best.

If you do actually want tips then this is a fantastic resource about how to raise confident resilient children with lots of great parenting tips including how to have conversations and diffuse situations
https://instagram.com/biglifejournal?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Instagram

https://instagram.com/biglifejournal?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

chenilleblanket · 18/07/2023 21:05

ChequeredPastel · 18/07/2023 19:59

Oh my gosh the repeating back of answers!!!!

child: what’s this?
me: a tomato
child: a tomato?
me: yes
child : this is a tomato?
me: yes it’s a tomato.
child : really? There’s a tomato on my plate ?
me: JUST EAT THE TOMATO
child: eat the tomato?

This sounds like my partner..pity welcome!

BertieBotts · 18/07/2023 21:09

Re: That's why we're trying to change - Exactly Grin

Has anyone read Sarah Ockwell-Smiths "How to be a calm parent"? Is it any good??

I also second this question, TBH I am a bit sceptical about it, although I thought it was a fairly good idea for a book, I do think that one of the biggest glaring problems in modern parenting is all the guilt-inducing advice (including a lot of hers, ahem) about attachment parenting/gentle parenting.

Because I don't know about the rest of you but particularly with DS1 I would find myself being all gentle kind gentle nice gentle lovely OH MY GOD JUST DO THE THIIIIIIIIIIIIIING and it was totally unhelpful. But you couldn't seek advice from the gentle parenting support groups/threads and admit that you'd shouted! And you'd just end up in a spiral of shame where you're like oh my god I am the worst person ever. Their behaviour must be because I'm not gentle enough. Then you keep trying the gentle stuff, it still doesn't work and you flip again and repeat everything.

Because the problem is that gentle parenting advice only really works if you're starting from a position of being fairly no-nonsense, really confident as a leader, unafraid of conflict and have strong boundaries. If you're much less confident, conflict avoidant, people-pleasing, afraid to upset your child and wishy washy then the standard gentle parenting advice will be a total disaster. It took me a long time to realise that.

Anyway. I was hoping her "how to be a calm parent" would include some groundbreaking, not necessarily anti-gentle-parent stuff but some CONTEXT and stuff about how and when to have boundaries with kids and how this works but I listened to a load of different interviews and read the contents page and kindle sample and I just don't think this is in there and I think it's really important.

Fuckingmentalme · 18/07/2023 21:10

Windercar · 18/07/2023 21:04

I’ve only seen one poster talk about self improvement (with some great advice). The rest have been ‘angry offs’ and asserting angry parents are best.

If you do actually want tips then this is a fantastic resource about how to raise confident resilient children with lots of great parenting tips including how to have conversations and diffuse situations
https://instagram.com/biglifejournal?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

I take it you didn't see my update where I said I didn't shout at my children today. I don't mind if people use this thread to let off steam. Lots of posters have said they're unhappy with how much they shout. Acknowledging the problem is a start. Thanks for the link. I'll take a look.

OP posts:
LaMaG · 18/07/2023 21:14

Fuckingmentalme · 18/07/2023 19:25

Also same. How the fuck should I know?
What?
Nothing darling, have you tried opening your eyes and you know, looking?
That's why I'm better at finding things because I don't open a door and look blankly in front of me and give up.

For a time a few years back, if I saw DH just chilling out or looking for jobs to do I would say 'now might be a good time to go around the house and familiarise yourself where everything goes, so you don't need to ask me anymore'. It wrecked his head - but he rarely asks me anymore!!!

BertieBotts · 18/07/2023 21:15

DS2 is obsessed with trams and is also in a very why phase.

So I get a lot of repeated questions.

Mummy why does the S2 and 3 come here? Why is this one a connecting tram? Why don't they have connecting trams on the 2? Why are there lots of connecting trams?

He is often unsatisfied by my answer but WTF? How can you answer "Why does the number S2 and 3 come here?" I DON'T KNOW can you please go and bother the person who writes the timetable?

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