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Wednesday, August 24, 2011

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?

30 comments:

Minivan Mama said...

Wine is definitely good medicine! Before kids, I didn't realize how much joy a few moments of silence could be!

Reese said...

When it's too hot to send them outside, they're sent to their rooms if the noise gets to be too much. But maybe investing in a whistle would be a good move. That would surely get their attention and I wouldn't have to shout so much. Hmmmm...

Robin | Farewell, Stranger said...

Oh, I know! I only have 1 boy and he's too loud for me. The thing that really gets me is when I make noise (with the blender or something) and he comes over and turns it off and yells, "too loud!" Uh, yeah. Whatever, kid.

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Minivan Mama,

Wine helps. Wine and silence? Pure heaven!

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Reese,

Oh a whistle. You could totally pull of Captain Von Trapp!!

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Robin,

Thank you so very much for visiting and commenting!

It's strange isn't it? When I turn up the music in the car (mostly to drown out their voices for a few moments) I get the "MOM, turn it down...it's too loud!" Whaaaaa???

It lovely having you here, I do hope you visit again soon!

Jamie said...

If you figure it out PLEASE let me know!!! There is only one volume around here too... nap time and bed time = heaven!!

Oh and my boys fought over who went down the stairs tonight. I want to scream at them... WHO GIVES A EFFFFF!!!

But I didn't. I opened a bottle of wine instead!

Rach (DonutsMama) said...

My kid does not yet understand the concept of silence so I'm not much help, lol! Hope you get some peace soon.

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Jamie,

I'm honored by your visit! Thanks for stopping by and commmenting!

Yes, nap time and bed time must have been created by the gods!

It's amazing what boys will fight about isn't it? My boys constantly fight over who is first to wash their hands for dinner. Ummm I thought they were boys and only wanted to fight with me over the fact that they DON'T want to wash their hands!

Wine is the cure all, of that I am convinced!

I hope you come and visit again soon!

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Rach,

Thank you! School is just around the corner. I will get a break then.

Jessica said...

My kids sometimes yell at each other. But I always win, I can be louder than both of them.

School starts soon....

Sandra said...

Or you may not. By then, you will have found your own stuff to strive towards. They'll be making their dreams come true and you're be working on yet more of yours!

Missy | Literal Mom said...

I turn the TV off sometimes. I'll send them to their rooms. Or outside. Sometimes saying "it's too loud" backfires and they get even louder!

Megan (Best of Fates) said...

I don't have kids, so sadly have no brilliant advice, but I'm sending silent thoughts to your house!

Shell said...

Mine are SO LOUD.

I am going to admit to how much I loved the quiet today, with two of them off at school all day.

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Jessica,

I wish me yelling over them stopped them. They are quiet for a few moments, then BOOM right back at it again.

School starts soon is my current survival mantra!

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Sandra,

You're so right! I might not miss the noise. It's hard to believe when you are in the thick of things that it will ever be different! But they will grow up, and then my head won't be filled up with noise, but with other things.

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Missy,

I've tried sending them to their rooms and they end up just yelling at eachother through the walls.

*sigh*

Only a few more weeks. I think they are completely sick of each other.

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Megan,

Thank you so much for sending the glorious silent thoughts my way. They may be working as the boys haven't yelled all morning! WOO HOO!!

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Shell,

It's amazing the amount of sound that can come out of such a little being isn't it?

And I can't wait to be in your shoes. Just a few more weeks, a few more weeks, a few more weeks. I can do this!!

Unknown said...

JDaniel gets loud and we try to gt him to use an inside voice. I sometimes think loud is his inside voice.

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

JDaniel4's Mom,

I totally understand. When we ask Sweet Pea to use his inside voice he yells. Then when it is loud in the house for some reason he whispers.

The kid has it backwards!! LOL

angela said...

It's bad when they're together, but it's even worse (sometimes) when Dylan is sleeping in or napping. Abbey basically screams everything, even if she's right next to me :(

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Angela,

I find myself wondering almost daily why they didn't hand out earplugs at the hospital. I mean they hand out everything else. Why not earplugs?

Thanks for coming by and commenting! It means a lot to me!

Kate Fineske said...

Ha! THAT. SOUNDS. LIKE. MY HOUSEHOLD. (Look! I can't even type quietly???) And just to give you piece of mind, I have 2 boys and 1 girl and the boys are WAY louder than the girl ever was.

This is my new strategy while in the car: When arguing gets too loud I just turn up the radio FULL blast. The kids all just stop. They look. And they get confused??? by the loud music (because I am always the "shhher/quiet-all" momma.) They can't even hear themselves argue the music is so loud... Even the baby stops crying ...

As if to say: "How in the world can something be louder than my screams???" * **

*No eardrums were hurt in this experiment! I promise ;)

** The look of surprise on the kids faces is priceless!

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Kate,

I can't tell you how comforting it is to know that I'm not alone!

I do the same thing in the car with the boys! They can hear a thing because it's too loud, then they will start yelling at me to turn it down!

Too funny! Were we sisters in another life?

Anonymous said...

My one son is extremely loud at times. I can't imagine 3 of them. However, you definitely put it into perspective when you mentioned one day the house will be quiet again. I guess I have to remember that as I am yelling be quiet over him, and sometimes dad too!
To keep the volume down, I try to make him switch to another activity...a more quiet one, of course.

Anonymous said...

I am blessed.

Not with quiet. Oh hell no. My 4.5 year old and my almost 2 year old can sound more like a hoard of children, with high pitched wails, screeching that could shatter eardrums, and those are often the happy sounds...

No, I am blessed with the ability (if reading) to tune out noises around me. If they are constant. Which of course, the noises my children do are.

I'm convinced it has saved my sanity.

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Optimistic Mom,

Yes with three boys in the house it often doesn't feel like a house, but rather a stadium!

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

danceswithchaos,

Thank you so much for coming by and commenting.

Is there a certain class I can take to acquire this wonderful ability of yours? I'd sign up in a heartbeat!

Hope you come and visit again soon!