It’s no secret that I yell at my kids. It’s how I was raised and it’s a behavior that I’m working very hard on changing.
Since I took the challenge to stop yelling, I’ve only really yelled a couple of times. It’s something that takes effort, but the longer I go without yelling, the easier it is to not yell.
I’ve set up a few techniques to help me along in my journey, but this tip might be my favorite one of them all.
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It’s having physical reminders around me.
I was reminded about how important physical reminders are from a wonderful post from Alissa at Creative with Kids, The Day I realized I Was Bullying My Kids. She uses pink hearts in the most creative of ways as a physical reminder for her whole family to be respectful.
I love that idea, but I wanted to use my physical reminders a bit differently.
So, I cut out yellow hearts…my 4 year old’s favorite color.
Then, I posted them around me as reminders to not yell. I put one in my wallet
Now, when I’m starting to feel frustrated, I just have to look up and find a heart. They remind me to pause, take a breath, and refocus.
The most effective ones for me are:
- The one on the door going out to the garage. I’m often times frantic when leaving the house because I feel like I’m always in a hurry. Having that heart there, is so helpful for me to center myself in all the chaos.
- The one on my refrigerator. I have a tendency to get angry when cooking because I’m trying to multitask and my kids are often hungry and whiny. All I have to do is look up at the fridge, focus on the heart, take a deep breath, and calm down.
- The one on my son’s bedroom door. By his bedtime, I’m done most days. I’m tired and just want him to go to bed so I can have some alone time. This one reminds me to slow down and enjoy this quiet time with him.
It’s simple, yet effective.
I’ve also put up a few of my favorite mantras around the house and even bought a coffee cup
They set me up for a beautiful day, and keep me motivated and on the right loving path throughout my day. I love my mantras.
This tip is just one of the many tips I give in my eCourse, Mama’s Anger Management.
If you want more great tips, including over 50 Calm Down Strategies, you should check it out. It will give you everything you need to stop the yelling and have a peaceful home with your kids.
More For You:
4 Secrets to a Less Stressed Mom
5 Big Myths About Yelling At Kids
5 Ridiculous Ways To Cure a Bad Day
Just had a look at your store and was wondering if you’ll be doing bracelets with your phrase ‘raise your words and not your voice’? Plus do you ship to England?
You know, I have no idea about international shipping…I’ll go check. I’m planning on working on the store soon, and I’ll make a bracelet for you 🙂
Hi! I love the idea of a bracelet with that same quote – would you mind making one for me too? Could you post a picture of what it would look like? I will pay you of course 😉
I loved the idea of a bracelet and I would love to buy one as well! Only thing is, I’m in Brazil…. 🙂
i do metal stamping and can gladly stamp a bracelet for you with that saying..:)
I too love the idea of a bracelet with the saying on. And also live in England. Please let me know if I can get one!! X
I would also love a bracelet! It would be a constant reminder that there are other ways to teach our children to listen! I am really struggling with a healthy, wild, strong willed two year old boy. I came upon your website and feel as though God brought me to you! You are amazing!
try to remember a praise song it works for me scripture song are also helpful go to Hope Sabbath school i agree with you yelling get you nowhere pray and ask God for help and he will try it it works
That’s such a great idea. Thank you so much for the tip. I love it!!
Nice tips. But here, my son is the one who yells at me all the time. I’ll try the opposite wih the hearts. I’ll put blue hearts all around to remind him of being polite! Let”s see if it works…
Thanks!
Hi Daniela,
Check out the post from Creative with Kids, it talks about this exact thing. http://creativewithkids.com/the-day-i-realized-i-was-bullying-my-kids/
Love the yellow heart idea! I’ve been doing pretty good with the yelling, but like you said, when I multi-task it happens a lot more! I need a few hearts on the refrigerator and a few other spots!
Yep, it’s usually when I’m trying to do other things when I lose it 🙂 I hope the hearts help!
Amanda, I admire you for sharing this journey. I don’t “yell” by raising my voice, but in other ways – if that makes sense. I love this trick SO MUCH. Simple but effective. I will be pinning this and tweeting it and Facebooking it and…everywhere!
Thank you Kelly!
Thank you so much for the ideas! I’m a stay at home to a crazy 2 year old boy and 8 month old girl. Things get pretty wild around my house. I’m def going to try the hearts! Thanks!
Beautiful idea! I often find myself yelling in the same example you gave. I might have to give this one a try, thank you for being so honest and sharing 🙂
You’re welcome. 🙂
Thank you!! I will be doing this tomorrow. Joining the group too. I really needed this. =)
I will try anything. I so don’t want my kids to yell, but I am sorry tempered and my 5 and 2 year old are both in that pushing the limits area. My 5 year old has insecurities and is very smart and argues, and throws crying fits easy and my 2 year old is so mischievous! I love them so much!
I hope they help!
When I first started reading I thought the technique was going to be put up a bunch of hearts and every time you yell take one down… At the end of the day you can see physically see the damage you’ve done to their heart.
Interesting idea. I prefer to stay on the positive side of things and not make the Mommy Guilt worse. But I imagine that taking down the hearts could be really effective for some people.
Maybe not take one down when you were yelling but when it helped you not to yell? So you may be proud of yourself when you see how often you manage to calm yourself down.
This is such a simple yet excellent idea. And you sharing your most difficult areas has made me feel so normal! Ha!my hectic points are the same, and I tend to lose it most trying to get out the door and trying to get a meal ready. May I link to you’re site on my blog?
The same thought ran through my mind… You sharing your most trying moments each day has made me feel normal. The past few weeks have been so stressful. My 4 year old has been demanding attention and jealous of her 1 yr old brother. She whines a lot and gets upset when she doesn’t get her way. I feel like she’s behaving horrible! And I am now at a point where it doesn’t take much for me to feel angry about her complaining. When I reflect on why I’m so angry, I think it’s that I feel disappointed that she has such a hard time finding happiness in the ordinary. Unless I’m jam packing her day with outings and activities she’s easily upset. But sometimes we have to do groceries and I have to make dinner and I’m sad that during these times when my focus is not completely on kids fun she is so unhappy.
For the whining at dinner, I always start the vegetables first and give them half a serving — or the whole serving — while I’m trying to finish and make plates. It serves three purposes, stops whining, buys me time, and gets their veggies in! I like the heart idea, I’m ready to try! <3
Hi
Thought Id say Hi and say how I appreciate what you are doing! Its amazing thank you!
I was also wondering if you would like to have a backlink or a free advert on my website.
Soon on my website update I am going to be puting together an healthymind tool adulthood parenting page. As I have just completed a course for early years arts. My webiste is about creativity and keeping a healthymind. I love you tools and would love to have your work shown as you on my website as healthymind tools.
If this is possible let me know. Love and light and keep doing what you’re doing the Universe needs you!
Thank you for your Time
Emmie, http://www.mamachechasuniverse.com
How about a cup saying – the way you talk to your child becomes their inner voice.
Love that quote. That has stopped and gotten me to think before I speak many a time…
How do I get a cup? I would like one that say’s Love suffers long, with a yellow heart, my favorite color, and reminds me of sunshine..
I have a child care center. Yelling comes easily there. I’ve mastered “the look”. Even the two year olds know if I have that “look”, it’s time to stop. I don’t yell. As the children turn 4 & up, normally I ask them I’d they would like their friends to do that to them. If it’s the entire room, I let them know how disappointed I am in their behavior and how sad I am that they did that. These are my little tricks that I’ve mastered over the years. I hope it helps.
After taking the time to read the article. My words come from a veiw of todays society and its behavior. This being anywhere no country excluded. Parents have grown soft extremely soft. I grew up on a farm with a paddle that had my brothers and my name on it. As children we needed to learn right from wrong and that pushiment came with making the wrongs choices. Being soft on a child does not prepare them for life if anything its unheathy for them and you. And please dont take this as oh you should beath your children. But the statement spare the rode, spoil the child has merit. Yelling is something they will grow up with from school, work and even relationships. You need to prepare them. Its the responsibility of the parent to use balance with discipline.
I’m sorry Austin, but I 100% disagree with your comment. Children model what is done to them and harsh punishments do not make happier, healthier children. Children who know how to cope and deal with frustration and anger in an appropriate way will be better capable for the world. It’s ok if we disagree though…you raise your children the way you want and I’ll raise mine how I want to.
I write state legislation on domestic violence. All my bill ideas came from watching family court cases. I also volunteer with various groups helping children. As a mom who raised two sons, now grown. I do not believe that hitting, spanking, a swat, whatever people call the physical abuse, or shaming is a way to show a child of any age that you are in charge. It only shows that you are not in charge. Life is messy and bumpy, fun and unpredictable, and this is life. A child is watching you to see how to act. Do you want to raise a child or try to heal an adult? Think about it. We have one go round on raising our kids. What we say, is the inner voice they will hear. My parents believed in spankings. It taught me not what to do -ever. Boundaries are needed, but they should not be done with any physical action or punishment to shame them. We are teaching our children what to accept. If you take the time, as a parent, this is YOUR responsibility, to talk to your kids and it may be over and over, the outcome will be a child with self worth intact and an understanding that they can always talk to you and no mattter what-you will hear them and help them figure out solutions.
Spare the rod spoil the child is a reference to the rod of iron or the word of God. So the rod is the scriptures. Read the scriptures with your child. Teach them correct principles and they will govern themselves.. Children who are not taught well become spoiled or rotten. They have no good values.
I agree with you. I do not think yelling at your children is going to make them into messed up adults. I yelled at my child, when it was necessary and never on a constant basis. She is now 25, and is an amazing, well adjusted, responsible adult. A college graduate and the most respectful child I have ever seen. I think sometimes people go too far with not disciplining their children. Give me a break. If they are not listening to you, it is not the end of the world to yell!
I have nieces and nephews who were never yelled at or disciplined and are high school drop outs and a few are in jail! A few of them had babies at 16, and are on welfare! I think maybe they needed to be yelled at a bit! Just food for thought.
We need to think of the meaning of discipline. To discipline means to teach. Does yelling or spanking teach? In my experience–and I raised 6 children–yelling was the rule when they weren’t listening BECAUSE I was in too big a hurry to look at them face to face, or when I didn’t give them 10 minutes to transition into what was coming next. My children are grown now and are people of whom I am very proud. However, I know that if I had given them the ‘heads up’ transition time, or been more consistent in offering a time out period rather than shaming them, we would have all been happier. Yes, there need to be consequences, but there are so many better choices of consequences that will teach better behavior and respect. Yelling and spanking teach obedience out of fear rather than being a parent’s disciple out of love and respect.
I disagree. You can be firm without yelling. and I tell you something sometimes is more effective.
There’s such generosity in your post Amanda. Blessings on you for you kindness, grace and courage in sharing your journey and supporting us all. X
This has been very timely and I am so grateful! I use mantras and affirmations everyday but it didn’t even occur to me to try something Like this. Thankyou!
I really do applaud your thoughts on this – I was brought up in a house where yelling was normal, the threat of being slapped was carried out regularly and real violence wasn’t far away. Most weeks we were beaten to “show us the error of our ways” and it has had a major effect! I am supremely proud of the fact that, despite my up-bringing, I never did this to my children and they grew up in a house filled with hugs, laughter and love. Children are little for such a short time that we should cherish them and do our best not to yell (although that can be so hard at times). For everyone who is trying not to yell – you are doing the right thing: you can teach your kids the value of discipline without making them scared of you.
I grew up in a yelling house and I hated it too. When my daughter was 2 I realized one day that I had been yelling at her all day. I stopped. I just stopped. I started to lower my voice in tone and pitch every time I wanted to yell. It was very effective. My daughter is 44 and I have only yelled maybe 5 times in 42 years.
To the person whose son yells all the time. Just walk away. You are not required to respond when he yells. Soon he will learn that only one of tone of voice works.
Enjoyed reading, thanks!
“Raise your kids, NOT your voice”!
I need to make some hearts for my home too. My daughter is 2.5 years old and I find that I am always trying to hurry her up to do something or to get out the door to be somewhere. She gets super frustrated and starts to cry, which makes me get even more frustrated. I need to have constant reminders to slow things down so that my little girl won’t get so overwhelmed due to mummy hurrying everything all the time. Thanks for the great idea.
I found a roll of post-it note tape (the WHOLE piece sticks instead of just the top flap of a post-it). I’m going to cut some small hearts out of that! This is just a lovely idea. My boys are just slightly older, 12 and 7, but I still find myself yelling, or just being impatient, rushed, sarcastic and cutting when I’m tired (I’m almost 46 with these young kids!!). Thank you for the reminder to take a deep breath and focus on the “heart” of the matter.
Kirsten
I found at use for my funky heart shaped coloured post it notes.
Thank you .
I once lived next door to a woman whose only way of communicating with her children was to yell – whether indoors or outside. At times she was completely hysterical. Apart from the effect this was having on her offspring, it made it difficult for me to enjoy my own home. Every scream was shared with the neighbourhood. I find this sort of behaviour totally unacceptable. If you’re a screamer, please take Amanda’s challenge and stop!
Scott
Scott, maybe that mother was overwhelmed. It is very difficult to scream and yell all the time unless you are at breaking point. Could you be a good neighbour and offer to help her out a little? Doing something to take the weight off her shoulders would give her breathing space to enjoy her children, and herself, a bit more. Just sending that thought out as a single mother of three very energetic children.
I always tell my kids “Its ok to be mad but its not ok to be mean” I find myself repeated this to myself about as often as I tell my kids. m
I really like that, thanks.
I was recommended a brilliant book called 123 magic ! My daughter challenges me every day she is nearly 4 and She is as bright as a button! I do raise my voice it does not scare her as my raised voice is not very loud (according to my husband) some children
Are so placid that you don’t need to raise your voice and some children are so spirited it’s more like a heated discussion. It’s healthy to discuss but ultimately the book says you at the adult not them ! And they must learn the boundaries
! Very difficult to be a parent! But I’m lucky my mom hAd five of us and did an excellent job! She did not have a book and did raise her voice sometimes! I have never felt anything but respect for her! Every child is different and my family is loud and Mediterranean
In their attitude!
Hi, I’m not sure if this comment has already been mentioned but check out Orange Rhino. She has some great tips too!
Thank you so much for this. This is something I struggle with.
love these hearts.
What about the mantra, “Breathe Joy”? That one helps me a lot!!
Was this post inspired by the Orange Rhino? The Orange Rhino is very similar but much more comprehensive – highly recommended!
Nope, I’ve been talking about not yelling for a few months now. I do know of the Orange Rhino, but don’t really follow her. From what I hear, my challenge is a bit different than hers.
Hi Amanda,
I would like to join the Stop Yelling Group on Facebook but can’t get to where I can friend you first. Please let me know what I’m missing to get connected.
Thanks,
Kristin Morgan
I have thought about doing something similar to this for awhile. So glad to know it is effective for you, I will have to do this. Bedtime tends to really be a downfall for me as well. I can go the entire day, and then fail at bedtime.
Yes, “Stop yelling”, some mommy can’t control themselves when their kids are naughty, I always told them, when you want to yelling, please make a deep breath first for 5 times, then begin to face your kids. After that you will keep calm.
Hi, I would like to join your Facebook group, I can’t find your last name to search you and friend you though. let me know. Thanks, and great work 🙂
I clicked the join link and itgave me an error.. who do we add to join the group?
Thanks
Oh… I wish this website and support was available when my children were young…I could have very much used it !!!
I really loved this concept of the yellow hearts. I wanted to find out other strategies.
I clicked the “join now” button and it said, the link no longer exists. I would of loved to join the private group!
Thank you so much for sharing this feeling and idea! I have a two years and half girl who is just adorable and she doesn’t deserves me to yell at her. I do not do it so often but when it happens i feel so pity for myself…
Let’s cut out some green hearts (her favorite color) and put them around the house! my motto will be “she deserves happiness not yelling” 😉
I love this idea! It’s simple and do-able and yet I can see how it would work. I can completely relate on where they are most effective too. I would need one on the door on my way out, in the van, on bedroom doors, and in the kitchen.
I get the not yelling, this is a great concept for reminding and pray for strength each day not to get angry. But what about the kids that have been conditioned to only respond to raised voices for too many sad years? If I try to stay calm, there is no response until I am finally raising my voice/yelling/acting like a child… How do you back track their response??
Maybe you could try to tell them calmly “I am trying very hard to not yell anymore. But to do so, I need you to start listening to me when I ask calmly”. Every time they dont listen just ask them to please listen to you when you ask quietly, because you don’t want to have to yell at them to get them to obey you.
Say their name first and wait for a response before giving them the instruction. Explain to them that you expect to hear a “yes mum” every time you call their name, even practice it for fun, then have a consequence if they ignore you. You choose the consequence, but make it one that works and, most importantly, keep it consistent. Once you have their attention you can say what you need to in a calm voice. You can also tell them that you are going to working on not yelling, and that they can help by working on listening… Then you need to work on it. Good luck! (My beautiful children are 3, 5 and 7 and I am often working on it…)
Oh! This is what I really need. This is what I need to learn, not to yell at my 1 and half year old naughty kid. I will try these tips coz I really wanna be a good mom. And I relate to some comments, I grew up too in a house where yelling at each other is normal, especially when one is mad. We grew up seeing our parent’s fight and yell at each other. And my mom is usually the one who yells at me and my siblings whenever she does the multitaskings. I grew up with my mom where her form of discipline is through beating us together with her raised voice. Now, I know how it feels like to be a mom and really had a hard time controlling my emotions esp when I’m tired from doing the house chores and your kid is always that hyper and naughty. The times I tried to beat my child brought me in too much frustration and guilt feelings that I should not do that to her. I shouldn’t be like my mom. I couldn’t be like her. I want to be a good mom for my daughter. But certain circumstances push me to my limit that I have to fight hard not to yell and beat her.. I hope I could still change myself for the benefit of my baby. I wish you guys could help me become a better mom.
guess I was raised in a different generation.i would MUCH rather be yelled at.when my mom got quiet,i got my butt busted.however,yelling or butt busting never damaged my poor little psyche.i just learned to respect and obey my elders,which is the result she was looking for.
This is such a good idea! Thank you! Always imagine if you could see your own face, would you still yell? Kids are so young and innocent. We also need to keep from forcing them to grow up too fast. Try to remember how young they really are.
As a receptionist in an urgent care medical office, most days were stressful. Clients came in hurting, grumpy and defensive. Sometimes it was hard not to take it personally and snap back. My mantra was” it’s just the pain talking….” . But that was not always enough. At the Front desk, at the Nurse’s station, in the Supply room, on the Break room fridge, we glued small compact mirrors to remind us how our facial expressions and body language appear to others. Humbling. Remembering to smile when the kids are grumpy or sick can stop a situation from going g bad to worse.
I work at a preschool and the teacher there has an interesting approach to controlling outbursts. She has trained the kids to help her “keep her grumpy voice inside”. When she warns the kids her grumpy voice is coming, they immediately quiet down. Truthfully, I don’t think she has ever yelled, but the kids don’t want to push her limits. Many of the students come from broken, abusive homes and they appreciate the warning.
I absolutely LOVE this idea. I tend to yell at my little ones and I always end up feeling terrible afterwards. I am def going to try this out! Thank you!
Totally agree with not yelling. But PLEASE remember that kids still need discipline. Teach them what is right and punish what is wrong, but always punish out of love, not anger (like yelling). The sticky hearts are a beautiful reminder to stop, pray and think about what you need to do rather than reacting in anger to the situation. Some times you may need to do nothing expect find some patience for yourself, sometimes you may just need to get their attention and give an instruction, and sometimes a harder consequence is needed (my boys are currently banned from electronic devices…) Being calm and loving doesn’t mean letting your kids do what they want.
Hi Amanda. I have a bad problem of yelling at my son. I can use all the help I can get. Its the little things that upset me.
You’re not the only one! It happens every day, all over the world. I hope that this blog helps!
I LOVE this idea! I don’t have kids, but I am definitely going to apply this concept to my life – it is so cool!
I am a special educator who fortunately realized that yelling was not reflecting respect for myself or my students. I began challenging myself to try to get through the year without yelling. That was YEARS ago and my heart rejoices. One year I saw our Principal dive across cafeteria tables after a student. Her behavior and screaming was an example of an adult being totally out of control. Yes, yelling demonstrates out of control behavior.
Yes, all children need boundaries. Consistency, respect and modeling high expectations are the boundaries for adults in a healthy home. When one member of the family is unhealthy you have a dysfunctional home and
I am SO thankful that I found this post. I had been praying for a TANGIBLE way to get out of the “yelling pit”. It had gotten BAD around here. So I printed some hearts off…on orange paper because that’s my “tricky” son’s favorite color…and I added some of my favorite verses to each heart so when I look at them I will be encouraged…or warned…or reminded that I don’t NEED to yell. So thank you for this. If anyone wants some hearts with some sweet scriptures inside of them, print them off for free over here…
http://homespunsprout.com/2014/10/tool-help-quit-yelling.html
Thank you SO much for this wonderful idea. I have been struggling with keeping my emotions/anger in check. This idea has changed the atmosphere in our home in just a few days. To remind me of WHY I shouldn’t be yelling at my kids, I put some of my favorite verses inside my hearts…if anyone would like to print them, they are available here:
http://homespunsprout.com/2014/10/tool-help-quit-yelling.html
Thank you again, Amanda! Your blog is wonderful 🙂
Thank you so much for this! I just printed blue hearts (my son’s favorite color) to put up in my house. He’s really a good boy and I’ve noticed that my yelling is directly related to MY stress which is not fair to him. I’m really making an effort and have noticed allowing extra time to do everything has helped us as well as letting go of perfection. I can’t wait to add hearts to my home for an added reminder!
xo
I so needed to read this. I never used to yell at my kids, but have just started doing so… and I don’t like it. I don’t like it at all, and I don’t know why I started raising my voice. I suppose they stopped listening to me at some point. I also get so frustrated sometimes that the only thing I can think to do is grit my teeth and clench my fists and sort of growl to myself. The kids see me do this, and now that’s how they deal with their frustration. And, again, I don’t like it. my kids are all under 5 years old, so I’m hoping I can stop yelling and not do too much damage to them. I love them dearly and parenting can be frustrating sometimes…. I’m going to try the heart idea. It seems super cheesy (gonna be honest), but I’ll try anything for my babies.
What a great idea. This is the best ‘everyday gift’ that we can give to ourselves and to our kids. Life is tough and life is busy! Little reminders of the big picture go a long way.
Thanks for the practical idea’s in your article. I am dealing with the ‘terrible twos’ and struggling with how to manage the tantrums. Yelling just makes me feel bad and has no impact on the behavior so I will try your idea’s and see how it goes. Best wishes, Sue
Thank you for this tip. I have already cut little creme colored hearts out to pin up later today. I used some of the phrases/suggestions made by others for the bracelets etc. and wrote one saying on each heart. I particularly liked the one that says Love Suffers Long. I added a few of my own to include: “Behold, Children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward” (Psalms 127), “A Soft answer turneth away wrath, grievous words stir up anger” (Prov 15) and “The Eyes of the Lord are in every place…” (Prov 15).
I have all this problems you mentioned, I love your idea. This tip is so simple, yet so genius… I will defintely give it a try… I just hate when I yell, and I do it a lot 🙁
Thank you! I hope it helps.
As a Dad with the same issues, I found these tips to be helpful too!
Thanks for the suggestion. Visual reminders work well for me. I also have to depend on Jesus to give me patience and grace.
I love this idea! I wanted to let you know that I wrote a blog post about this and linked back to you! I used the hearts at home and decided to take it a step further. I have now put some around in my classroom to help me at school as well!
Awesome!! I’m so glad that the hearts are working for you and that you’ve extended them to your classroom. That’s really neat!
People seem to think that this can work for everyone out there. It can’t. For some kids, the five minute time-out on the steps is all it takes, and for some other yelling does work. Not the constant everyday yelling. I have a friend who never yells at her children and it shows. The kids plow all over them, and they do the time outs and the reasoning as if the children are adults. The thing is, they are not adults. Even in the animal kingdom the mom will swat at her babies when they do something wrong. That is why if you get a puppy or kitten that was taken away too early, they have tendencies to bite. That is a fact.
great tip! will try it for sure!
I love the physical reminder idea! My friend used to put a paper clip on his hat. Whenever someone asked him about it (which was often!) it would remind him again. I think it would also be really helpful to make things you already see be your reminder, like trees or a certain color. Thanks!
Thank you, Amanda. Just reading this tip made me a little emotional, cause I know exactly what my physical reminder will be, and I can see it already making a huge difference in my behavior towards my 2 y.o. boy: BLUE hearts (I’m going to copy your idea, lol)… Because blue is the first color he can say (“buuuu” actually, lol). And it is just impossible not to smile whenever he does that. So I can’t thank you enough for such a simple and beautiful tip.
Hello! I am so grateful to have read these articles on anger and being a mom. Im new to this and i feel alone and tired and stressed out, however i do feel better knowing IM NOT ALONE! I felt so guilty screaming out of frustration and anger at my teething baby but its nice to read that it truly happens to almost everyone. I will be hanging pink bunnies instead of hearts (for her favorite thing is a pink bunny blanket) I WILL be better at this mom thing, just have to remember to take a breathe and enjoy her giggles more rather than focus on just her frustrations. Thank you so much