Discipline without yelling.

Three easy words. But why is it so hard to do? I've never wanted to be the mommy who yells. But it seems that lately its been happening more than often.
I read an article in the most recent Parents magazine. It's about a mommy like myself, who hates yelling, but feels that its the only way to get the point across. Now, don't missunderstand, I don't ALWAYS yell. There are times, being a mommy of a tenacious three year old, that I just feel like exploding. So I yell. After telling Gavin ten times (I'm not kidding, really TEN times) not to hit, not to wake up his sister, not to stand too close to the tv, not to do this, not to do that...yelling seems like the only (effective?) alternative. I hate doing it. But what am I supposed to do?
The article follows the mommy over a short period of time as she tries to not yell. Does it prove to be effective? Yep.

So I've been trying it for the past two days.

Have I yelled?

Just once.

Does it seem to be working?

Hmmm...amazingly yes it does. It may be too early to tell, but so far it seems to be working. Gavin has been quite tenacious lately and there are many, many times where I would just like to yell and scream, I realize that by doing that it'll just make the situation worse. And by holding back and talking calmly to him about the situation, he seems to be *gasp* actually... listening...to...me. Wow. And I feel more in control of the situation. Hmmm...I think daddy is going to have to try this method, too. I know it'll be a challenge for him, being as he is a corrections officer and yelling at the inmates actually IS effective. :0)

So although I haven't yelled today, its still early, and even if I do slip and yell, at least I am TRYING and THAT is good.
I CAN DO THIS.