Are You Quacking Yet?

Over the past three days, I've been living to a new mantra: Let it roll off your back, like water off a duck. When I think it, I even give a little shimmy, like I am shaking that water right off. You see, Monday night, H was throwing a a stuffed puppy around, and it ended up under our bed. I was having to fish it out first with a coat hanger, then with the handle of a toilet bowl cleaner, and I got angry -um- mad, really pretty mad. I just let loose with a scream, and W burst into tears. I apologized to both boys, but I decided that is not enough. I have to make a serious commitment to letting some things go. Obviously, I wasn't angry about having to get the toy. I was upset that the night time routine had gotten screwed up. Still, who cares? How often does anything go perfectly? So, today, when W was throwing food off his high chair tray and dumping milk on the floor, C looks at me and says, "Are you quacking yet?" (obviously I'd told him all about my new mantra, had to explain my shimmy-ing and all) And you know what? I am quacking pretty darn well. I still raise my voice, but I quickly remember to tell myself: shake it off, girl, water off a duck. Later today, we took the boys to a nearby walking park and fed a mother duck and her ten adorable ducklings some bread, and I paid attention. I noticed those little ducklings didn't stick to momma like glue, but as soon as she quacked, they fell right in line. So, my plan is to try to speak more softly (most of the time), so that when I give a loud quack, I find all my ducks in a row!