Loud…Louder…Loudest!

There are certain sounds that make a mother’s heart soar.  The sound of her baby gulping in satisfaction as he drinks his milk and then sighs as he drifts off to sleep.  The sound of her baby’s first coo, first babble, and first word.

Nothing is sweeter to a mother’s ear than when she hears her child say “Mommy you’re the best mommy in the whole world” or “Mommy I love you to Jupiter and back.” 

A mother revels in the sound of her children using good manners at the table, and having respect when talking to adults. 

Her heart swells as she hears the laughter coming from another room as her children play nicely together.  As they discover new things that tickle their funny bone even if it has to do with bodily functions. Or even if they are just watching something funny on the TV.  Laughter is good.

What is not good…what can send a mother over the ever loving edge is the fighting, the constant bickering, the never ending “BUT MOOOOMMMM!!” or “I’m NOT going to” or “NO WAY!” when asked something as simple as “please go brush your teeth.” 

It’s not just the sassy back talk or the outright defiance, but it is the volume in which these comments are made.  The sheer volume that is created in this house is enough to make my teeth ache. 

I don’t know, maybe it’s because the start of school is just around corner, or maybe it’s because I’ve had three solid months of listening to boys fight over things from toys to socks…yes I said it, my boys have fought over socks!!  But I’m at the end of my rope, and my ears are paying the price.   

The volume that is generated in my house of three boys is enough to break the sound barrier several times over.  I kid you not, the windows vibrate!  You can only imagine what it does to my ears.  Doesn’t matter if it is fighting or just some good ol’ rambunctious playing, it seems that as the summer has rolled on the volume has been turned up to MAX like on a stereo knob of a 1980’s boom box.  Big T and Sweet Pea can be right next to each other playing and they are yelling at each other, or the simulated car noises they are making are that of what you would find at a Monster Truck rally.

It’s INSANE!

Then of course if I want to get their attention I have to take my volume up to concert deafening levels just to get their head to turn in my direction.  Ohhh, I should really get a microphone to save my voice.  Sorry, random idea for survival gear for next summer.  Anyway, all the while the baby is chiming in with a scream here and a yell there as if to tell his brothers to knock it off.  He’s like his mama and doesn’t like all the noise in the house. 

I’d send them outside but then I would for sure have a house that is constantly being egged by the neighbors because really, who wants to listen to all the noise my boys can make?  I can’t subject my neighbors to that!

*sigh*

I know one thing; my boys should get a commission from our local wineries.  After all the noise this summer, I have definitely contributed to their spike in sales!! 

I try to remember that one day, most likely sooner than I’d like, the house will be quiet and I won’t know what to do with myself.  I will be begging for the loud eyelid twitching noise to come back.  That the moment the house goes quiet is the moment my children are grown. 

So I’ll take the window vibrating, boom box blaring noise and deal with it, and just pray that I make it to the start of school without losing some of my hearing in the process.

How do you keep your kids volume at a manageable level in your home?