I’m a yeller.
You probably didn’t know that unless you are related to me, are married to me or have seen me driving in rush hour traffic.
The mornings are when the Banshee awakens and starts her wailing song. It sounds something like this…
“Hurry up E, we are running late.”
“E have you put your shoes on?”
“Where the *&LL is my cell phone, car keys and kitty.”
“Let’s get in the car people.”
“No I can’t read you a story. I have to go to work.”
“No I can’t cuddle on the couch. I’m going to be late for work.”
See, it gets kind of annoying and monotonous.
Like the mind numbing sound of a Banshee. You probably don’t know this either, but a Banshee is a mystical creature that wails right before someone is going to die.
Are picking up on the irony…NO ONE is going to die if I’m two minutes late to work, but unfortunately I make it out that way.
So, because I hate the yelling Banshee just as much as E, G, B2 and that person driving next to me, I silenced her this week.
I held my tongue.
Took deep breaths {lots of deep breaths}
And when E asked me if I’d stay and read him a story before I left for work, I said YES!!!
We sat on blue shag carpet square our limbs intertwined, and read a story about a helicopter that rescues people. I don’t really remember the story, but I do remember the silence and peace. His heart beating against my chest, a moment shared.
And you know what, because of that moment he had a GREAT day at school. No chair throwing, Bobby Knight type freakouts.
Just a VERY happy little boy.
I have to admit it’s hard to silence the Banshee and she has a way of sneaking up on me. But I’ll remind myself that NO ONE has ever died from slowing down, but they have from going too fast.
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This is great! …banshee yelling before someone’s going to die…and all the irony that you’ve woven through the piece. Also. Let’s not miss the point that you DID IT!!! You had a different week…quieted down, held your tongue and slowed down. This is a huge, huge deal. I’m so happy for you. The MAIN thing that got me over the years (more and more the older they got) was getting everyone out of bed. I’m not a banshee by nature…more of a stuffer, pouter, silent treatment kinda gal….but boy, those sleeping teenagers brought out all my latent banshee tendencies!
THANK YOU!!! Yes, it was hard for sure, but like I said no one will die if I’m two minutes late for work. It’s all about priorities and slowing down.
A banshee being a creature that yells right before someone is going to die? HA! Oh, Brook — this is me more often than I’d like to admit. And the fact that nobody has ever died from going too slowly, well that just makes my day. The thing that makes me yell more than any other is dilly-dallying.
Deep breaths will get us through.
Either that or we’ll hyperventilate and pass out and wake up the next day, wondering what happened to all the freaking out…
Bwhahahaha!!! YES! Why do kids go so slowly, especially when you are trying to hurry. Grrr….I’ve been really having to work on that one especially since G wants to do everything himself now, that and I work at a retirement community, and everyone moves a little slowly there. Keeping it all in perspective…
I think all of us have a screaming banshee in us! I know I do… quieting it and knowing when to let it loose are the biggest lessons motherhood can teach us
Love that picture, what a sweetie!
What a poignant reminder for all of us! I’m glad you silenced the Banshee this week and had such lovely outcomes. I’m not much of a yeller (except maybe in traffic) but I have a feeling that being a mother could bring it out in me!
Yeah…I’m from a long line of yellers, so it was inevitable, but the mom-think yeah that kind of exacerbates it for sure.
Fabulous. I didn’t know this about the banshee, but boy! does that put it in perspective. I will be thinking of your words for days.
You’re writing, this lesson, your honesty … all refreshing and wonderful. I love that you silenced her and let the real mommy come out.