I don't yell at my kids. I think I have twice in DD1's life. I have the ability to stay pretty cool through meltdowns, tantrums, challenging behaviour, little to no sleep. I'm a pretty chilled person I think the thing I'm most proud of is defying people's preconceptions of what sort of parent I might be. Initially you see a young chick with a nose ring and a tattoo on her collarbone, wearing a beanie and crazy leggings, but then they see me respecting my toddler as an individual and a human being, teaching her beautiful manners, teaching her empathy through my own actions, interacting and cherishing her. I can tell the people who had already decided in their minds what sort of mother and person I'd be before they had even had time to see me in action, and I love their reactions when they realise that they were too quick to judge. This thread is timely. I spent the day with my mum today, and just earlier got a phone call from her, where she told me that she thought I was a wonderful mother, and that she was proud of me and I was doing a good job. This means so much to me. My mother hit me as a child and teenager. She told me tonight that she was proud that I wasn't like her, that I've broken the cycle of violence that she was stuck in. That is probably my greatest achievement.