How can I stop shouting?!

[shoutypants]

I find myself reacting to the smallest thing by raising my voice, unless I'm consciously trying not to.

I end up shouting like a fishwife to make myself heard or to tell someone to do something for the 100th time, or to stop big brother beating up baby sister or to stop him pulling a whole load of cake mixture off the table ...

I hate it. it makes my head hurt. And I am always saying 'sorry I shouted' a few minutes later. It's not even that I have an especially fiery temper, I just can't help shouting! How do I stop doing it?!

and they stop?! my dh does this too but to v little effect!

So you're shouting without losing your temper?

i shout without losing my temper.

They IGNORE normal voices ... well, ds1 does, ds2 can be chattered along quite nicely on his own.

I have to use a teacherish "raised and authoritative voice" with ds1 and it is WEARING.

I reguarly resolve to minimise shoutyness when I get up, but agree that I have to resort to raised tones crescendo-ing towards barky sergeant major to get them out of the house in the mornings... Have to tell DS a minimum of 4 times to get dressed and he totally ignores me unless I throttle up.
That is the worst time of day though....evenings and bath time/bed generally OK.

Oh, I don't have any advice for 'calm shouters'.
When I shout it is because I have had enough or they are upstairs and I haven't got time to go up and speak in a normal voice (morning scramble).

Mamij, I have yet to come across anyone who admits to getting more than one child out of the house on time without at least one barked order.

I am a terrible shouter The only that kind of stops it isto issue warnings:

"I'm getting cross. I'm going to start shouting" etc. Dcs don't like the shouting so do respond.

But that requires me to actually think about what I'm doing - which I'm notv ery good at.

I'm not very good at typing either...

Don't shout as such, just turns into a rant, Try a raised, authority like voice - a bit like a teacher. It really works for my kids and you get to feel like you are in charge for a minute, without losing your rag and feeling shite after.

I shout at EVERYTHING i hate myself for it everyday and its no excuse but i just get so frustrated when i am having to tell ds1 off for jumping on his brother for the 100th time in an hour and when he just wont listen to what im telling him!

I would do anything to stop.

I find that tallking in a lower, firm tone and smiling confuses the hell out of them and scares them a bit too... they stop to listen to see what is happening.

Shouting doesn't help beyond a theraputic level anyway.

Deep breath, count to 10 (or 100 of 10000000).

Ruby I completely agree with opera method. Has everyone put on their shoes? and then they tend to answer because they want to sing back yes we have. but i had forgotten about it and reverted to bellowing. Do people shout at dogs in the park when they are running off into undergrowth or what method do they use to attract attention? I feel it is a bit like that when we are out and about and everyone is running in different directions - how can one avoid shouting? Agree that at home one can be more quietly authoritative and this works much better.

Try the "film crew" technique - imagine you're being filmed for reality TV round the clock. Apparently imagining Kirstie Allsop is the presenter is most effective.

LOL at the dog analogy.

DH whistles at the children to attract there attention when we are out and about.

He used to do it to me but I put a stop to that. I listen when people call my name.

Kirstie Allsopp in voice over
'Today TheGreatChristmasEvie has showed exemplarary parenting skills in NOT losing her temper when her two DD's fought for the 500th time over a toy mobile phone, and managed the situtation with skill and aplomb'
Ah but what the viewer didnt see is when TheGreatChristmasEvie retreated to the spot the cameras cant see in the bathroom to mouth 'fuckofffuckofffuckoff' behind kids backs, from behind door and kick the bathroom bin with vigour