I shout at my children fairly often, but it isn't in anger. It is so they will actually pay attention to me. I swear, the older two will just keep doing what it is I am telling them not to do without even registering that I am speaking! I guess it is just normal for kids to be this way. They know I love them and I know they love me, but for some reason they think it is fun to test the limits of my sanity day in and day out. I'll say to the middle one, "Put that down" or "Give your brother his toy back" and she hears me but is somehow hoping that I will forget what I just said. If I have to tell her something more than three times, I end up scolding her and sending her to her room or something. Sometimes I go and turn off the television, which works wonders. Then I hear "Mo-om, why'd you do that?????" Other times, I tell them "Look at me. Yes, look into my eyes! I want you to actually hear what I am saying." I prefer to do that instead of shout, but when I am cooking something on the stove and I need them to pay attention right away, I end up hollering.
My kids are well behaved in general, they just like to make me work for it.
As far as yelling in anger, that doesn't happen too much. My sister taught me long ago that the first person to lose their cool, loses the argument. I have a nasty habit of staying calm and rational to the point of driving the other person mad.
