“Mommy? What does a butterfly’s legs look like?” My sweet-faced, girly-voiced five-year-old asked me, while coloring the big box I gave her so she could make a pretend car.
“They’re small like..”
“Princesses?” She interrupts.
“No, baby. Let me finish. They’re like..” I attempt to continue.
“Ladybugs?” Interrupting yet again.
“Baby? Can I finish what I’m trying to tell you, please?” I plead with her, blood simmering to boil within me.
“Otay.” She seemingly sounded sincere.
“Butterflies have little legs kind-of like..”
“Legs?” Interjecting. Once. Again.
By this point, my head has exploded. This has become a ritual, from the oldest (sixteen) down to my youngest speaking child (Baby Dude, age three). I am getting adult ADHD because I can never finish a thought, conversation, or anything without constant interruption.
“BABY? Forget it! You don’t want to listen to what I have to say because you keep interrupting, so you can figure it out yourself, now.”
“But…” she begins, “I can’t! I don’t know what kind of legs a butterfly has?” She pleaded with me.
“Well, I’m sorry. Perhaps had you have LET ME FINISH my sentence, you would have known by now, and could draw your butterfly. Would you really like to know? Will you let me finish my sentence now?”
“Yes, mommy.”
—
It’s constant.
I raise them better, I know that I do. But this seems to be an interruption epidemic of epic proportions, because it’s EVERYFRIGGINWHERE. Parents everywhere are experiencing this same phenomenon and I can’t explain why. When did our society become such an impatient one that we can’t simply let a person finish their sentence? (Ahem, Kanye.) Is it because of TV? Is it from school, or the playgrounds?
I’ve reprimanded my oldest on MANY occasions when I’m having an (actual) conversation with another adult (y’know, a rarity when raising wee ones at home is adult conversation without words like “poopy” and “doo-doo”), and she interjects, completing my sentence before I get the chance to. I get that she wants to insert herself into more adult conversations, but that is NOT THE WAY TO DO IT (thankyouverymuch). And yet, it keeps happening.
With the youngers? It’s waaaaay worse.
Once upon a time, when my olders were still littles, and I’d talk on the phone with a person with older kids who would interrupt CONSTANTLY, I vowed I would not be that person, ever. I vowed to myself that, when mom (me) was on the phone, the kids would go to another room, be quiet, and wait until I was finished to talk to me.
HAHA! WROOOONG!
Despite my constant instructions on manners, not only do they interrupt while on the phone, they interrupt ALL THE TIME! GAH! (A finished thought? What is that?) I am a better parent than this. I know parenting is not easy (by a long-shot), but THIS? This is flat out insanity.
Why can’t they wait? And, when asked a question, why can’t they wait for the answer? Or, have we just become slower with our responses, because we’re so beaten down with constant interruptions, we can’t even formulate the completed thought right away? (I guess I hadn’t considered that as an option, either.) I’ve actually noticed I STUTTER at times because of this. STUTTER! What the what?
And don’t even get me started with our repetitions to them, either.
Do your chores.
Do your chores.
DO YOUR CHORES!
IF! I! HAVE! TO! SAY! IT! ONE! MORE! TIME!
It ends today. Right here, right now.
I’m taking back the respect, the manners and the freakin’ QUIET! I don’t know what I’m going to do. Maybe I’ll pants myself again and embarrass them, I don’t know, (and if you have any suggestions, please leave ’em) but, starting today?
NO MORE FREAKING NICE MOM.
Are ya with me?
Do you agree and want to join me? Take your button here!
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