A famous 19th century Impressionist painting entitled The Scream by Edvard Munch has been one of my favorite pieces of artwork forever. If you have ever taken an art history class or left your house, you probably know of it:
Courtesy of Wikipedia.
It is said that the haunted looking figure in the foreground is inspired by a Peruvian mummy, but over the past week, it has reminded me of another kind of mummy. Namely me. Wide-eyed, distressed look on face? Check. Hands covering the ears? Check. Dressed all in black? For today at least. Bald head?
Possibly. If things don’t change soon, I’m bound to start pulling out my hair.
So what has me comparing myself to this pale, terrified-looking wraith? It’s the Scream. How such an extreme level of noise can possibly come out of a person so small is beyond me. I have no idea how any glass items in our home are still in tact. We are now on Day 6 of Betty exercising her vocal cords in the most shrill, ear-ringing, headache-inducing way possible, and me tearfully pleading with her to keep it down even though I know she has no concept of what an “inside voice” is.
I should probably mention that she’s not just screaming because she’s necessarily sad or upset about anything, though she does it then too. She’s just SCREAMING. About everything. All the time. Happy? Screaming. Bored? Screaming. Hungry? Screaming. Excited? Screaming. Sleepy? You get the idea.
In the blink of an eye, I feel like I’ve gone from having the well-mannered, social baby that everyone ooohs and ahhhs over to having “that kid”. We all know “that kid”. That’s the kid you don’t want to sit near in restaurants and definitely not on an airplane. (Thank god we have no plans for air travel anytime soon.) I think I’ve apologized to people more times in the past week than I have since she was born. I know they understand and that this kind of thing isn’t unheard of; it’s just such a new thing for me. Betty is a chatty baby, but was never especially loud before now. Loud would be more manageable. The Scream is so bad sometimes that I feel like it could crack my teeth. Plus it’s unpredictable and has scared the crap out of me on more than one occasion.
Frankly, it blows.
Unfortunately (and I guess fortunately) The Scream is age and developmentally appropriate. She is doing this because she wants to communicate with me. Also I think she just really likes the sound of her own voice, and thinks that everyone else should like it too. Seeing as she’s only 9 months old, I can only say “no” firmly until I’m blue in the face and it’s most likely not going to make a damn bit of difference (and just be met more screaming).
So this morning at breakfast, I tried a new tactic. Sign. Signing wasn’t part of my original plan as she goes to daycare all day Monday thru Friday and I wasn’t sure how consistent we could be with it. Besides, Betty has always been very verbal and I naively figured that she would be talking before the signs became all that necessary. Because she screams in any and every situation, I don’t know how being able to sign “more” and “all done” is really going to help, but at this point I’m willing to try anything just to make it stop.
I’ve got my Baby Signs book, my earplugs, and my sanity by a thread. Let’s do this. Wish me luck. (I need it.)
Oh man, good luck! My friend’s baby just went through a phase similar to this, but it turned out she had three teeth coming through. I hope your sanity hangs on!
Ugh. I do NOT miss those days. I have no advice, but to hang on tight! The find their voice age was hard on everyone, including the cat. Maddie would literally run and hide. I’m sorry! I hope she finds her inside voice soon!
Thanks, Kal. I can’t even imagine doing it x2!! That must have taken some serious patience!
Hang in there! If it helps, I think the most frustrating kids/babies tend to be the easiest kids later on.
Here’s hoping she’s just going through a phase and will get bored with screaming soon! I am definitely going to need to shore up my patience levels before having kids.
I’m trying to remember to check over here more frequently, you aren’t popping up still.
I remember this phase! Nate was a super high pitched trill that sounded similar to that rolling ‘r’ sound in Spanish? All the time for whatever reason. Hang in there Momma!!
I absolutely love that painting, though I am sorry to hear it’s representing literal screaming in your house:) Good luck with the signing!
I’m still in the “babies are mysterious creatures” phase of my life and this post just might keep it that way.
I hope this is a quick phase for your sanity.
I think Chase had like a screaming day or two. We completely ignored it. Scream until you are blue in the face kid you will get no reaction from us. So he was over that pretty quick. Good luck! He’s always been a babbler but he loves to sign. He makes up his own signs for stuff it is the cutest. When he wants his stool he stamps his foot on the ground. Eat? he sticks his finger in his mouth.
Just popping in to say hi! Also, if I was a baby Ravens fan, I would do a lot of screaming too. I mean, c’mon Joe. Start being that “elite QB” you claim you are. Or give the ball to Tyrod or something.
I’m really surprised J hasn’t had a coronary yet. As I was expecting my colts to go 3-13 this year, I’m pleasantly surprised. But I still watch the Ravens the vast majority of Sundays when the TV wants to play them
I am obviously not ready for children – I’d have to watch them during the games?
Haha luckily as they get a little older, you can just give them some toys and Puffs and they will entertain themselves for a little while.
That game was HORRIBLE. Honestly, I’m shocked we’ve won as many games as we have. I had no delusions of grandeur at the beginning of this season, but this past Sunday we really should have won. Ugh.
It’s so good to see you!! xo
Ouch! I really want to learn baby sign with my lil Piglet. I have heard great things. So what sign do you give her when she’s screaming? Is there one finger involved? Lol. I kid I kid. But seriously I hear they grow out of it. I know my niece and nephew would scream when they were excited and it was awful!
That is my all-time favorite painting.
Good luck. My niece went through this – she still has times that she will scream to show her excitement but when she first discovered her voice, in Mike’s parent’s very echoing home it was full tilt. I’m shocked so much can come from such a small human being. I hope it gets quieter for you soon. I’d suggest screaming with her, but that might freak her out. Clearly we see why I don’t have children yet right?
if I was back in school I’d snag that snazzy lunchbox – love all those goodies
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