YELLING!!

Last week, I felt like I was home with the kids a lot. We stayed in the house due to cold temps and what not. I really felt like I was yelling all the time. Then, on Sunday night, my husband said, "you need to relax, all you do is yell." Even though I was thinking the same thing, it was like a slap in the face. I feel like I am constantly at my highest stress level lately. I don't know why. Even after the kids go to bed, I feel so tense. It's starting to give me headaches and pains. I don't know what the deal is lately. By nature, I'm a very quiet person. I wouldn't say easy going though. Those that are really close to me know, that I get stressed out easily. Anyways, I'm tired of yelling...all the time. I reached my breaking point today. So, I decided that for tomorrow, I'm going to try to act like I have a guest in the house because I don't yell in front of other people. I know it sounds funny, but it might really help.
I've tried the whole counting to 10 deal, and taking deep breaths, but it never works. As for walking out of the room for about 30 seconds to myself, forget it. The kids just follow me. My son has started the whole, "what?" routine. I didn't think it would start until he was a teenager, but it has started at age 4. Every time I say ANYTHING, it's "What?" I know I can be soft spoken, and sometimes even mumble, so I raise my voice slightly higher, and repeat myself. "What?" Then, I am yelling, and the volume is up for the rest of the day..or so it feels that way.

I should put in a note here, too. They are not bad kiddos by any means. They are wonderful. They are just being a typical toddler and infant. So, I also need to keep that in perspective as well.