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So there I was, mid-argument with a 5-year-old over why pants are not optional for school, when it came out of me like a demon being summoned:
“Because I said so, that’s why!”
I froze. My child froze. Even the dog looked personally victimized.
Did I… did I just channel my mother?
You guys. The flashbacks were immediate. 1997.
I’m ten, begging to wear glitter lip gloss to church.
My mom, standing in the kitchen with her arms crossed and that mysterious mom-power energy pulsing off her, says those exact same words.
And I SWORE I’d never say them. Not ever.
And yet… here we are.
The Curse of the Mom Voice
Nobody warns you about this.
You prep for diaper blowouts. You prep for first days of school.
But the slow, sneaky possession of your mom’s tone of voice?
That hits like a rogue LEGO underfoot in the dark.
Sharp. Sudden. Spiritually jarring.
One day, you’re a laid-back, cool-ish mom who lets her kids call sandwiches “sammies,” and the next you’re yelling “Do I look like a short-order cook?!” while reheating dinosaur nuggets for the third time.
Why It Happens (Science or Sorcery?)
I’ve decided it’s less about genetics and more about survival.
Our moms weren’t trying to scar us—they were tired. They were just doing their best with 90s coffee and zero Pinterest.
And now, WE’RE the tired ones. The torch has been passed.
We’re the ones handing out snacks like vending machines with attitudes.
It’s like some primal motherhood autopilot takes over.
You try to be gentle. You try to be reasonable.
But your kid asks you why they have to wear socks for the 11th time and suddenly you’re like,
“In this house, we wear socks!“
What to Do When the Mom Voice Strikes
It’s gonna happen. But here’s how I’m trying to de-escalate the generational drama:
- Laugh About It
Sometimes I catch myself mid-rant and just… burst out laughing. It breaks the tension, and my kids look at me like I’ve grown a second head. Bonus: laughter resets your brain way better than guilt spirals. - Make a “Reset Phrase”
I’m workshopping things like, “Let’s try that again,” or “Wow, we’re all losing it right now, huh?” It’s not foolproof, but it buys me time to not shout like I’m auditioning for a Lifetime movie called Mom Snaps Again. - Channel the Good Stuff Too
My mom may have had a yell that could shatter time, but she also gave the best back rubs and could whip up a grilled cheese like it was a love language. If I’m going to inherit her voice, I’m going to inherit the soft parts too. - Apologize When You Snap
Yes, even to the pants-hating 5-year-old. It models emotional honesty and helps you both move on. Plus, I swear kids are born with lie detectors for fake apologies, so keep it real.
Final Thought From the Yell-Zoned Mom
If you’ve ever stopped mid-sentence and thought, “Oh no. I’ve become my mother,” you’re not alone.
Welcome to the club, we meet weekly, usually hiding in the pantry with chocolate chips and a lukewarm coffee.
But here’s the truth: sounding like your mom isn’t a failure. It’s a full-circle moment.
A messy, loud, humbling reminder that parenting is hard, and we’re all just figuring it out as we go one inherited phrase at a time.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go whisper apologies to my child and maybe to the dog, too. He’s still giving me side-eye.
