I scared them!

Yesterday, I was cooking, while my two little ones (4 years old and 2 years old) were in the living room.

Not playing, fighting. One did not want the other to touch his car, but when the other went to another activity, the first one wanted to change too… It was the 3rd or 4th time that I stepped out to the kitchen to try to get things back on track, having even tried “It seems to me you two need a little time apart: Anatole, could you go play in your room?” (which lasted about 3 minutes) and I was feeling more and more angry, annoyed that I couldn’t have 10 minutes at peace to cook a little.

Then I hear yelling again, and find them fighting over a flexible book, on the verge of tearing it, each pulling one side!

Immediately, I intervene “Stop, stop, STOP, STOOOP!!!”

On that note, the two let go of the book and start crying, Léon plugging his ears with his hands!

I stop immediately, get down to their height and ask:
“Did I scare you?
— Yessss…”
I was sorry, but thinking back on it, I don’t know how I could have reacted differently…