Don't raise your voice and other advice moms ignore

In a mom group I'm in, a while back we were discussing a book about parenting. The book suggested that when your child has a tantrum, you speak in a quiet voice and tell your child he has the option of calming down or going to his room.

I laughed at this advice and told everyone in the group that my wailing, thrashing son would never hear me if I spoke in a quiet voice. I told them I would have to yell to be heard above him.

One of the moms said when she speaks in a soft voice, her children get quiet so they can hear her. Another mom seconded this approach and said raising your voice only makes your child want to get louder. Both of these women have children who are three years old and up, so they have the language skills that my not-yet-two-year-old does.

But anyway, I left that day feeling guilty and like a mean mom who yells at her kid.

This week, though, I happened to talk to one of those women on the phone and was surprised when I heard her tell her child, "Knock it off!"

So, ha!

What a relief to know not every mom can live by her own advice all the time....