Interruption

I am guessing I’m not the only parent who has trouble with their kids interrupting them. I feel sometimes like I can’t even complete a thought let alone a sentence when I’m talking on the phone or with Matt. I’ve tried some of the things that the “experts” suggest, like making sure I give them my undivided attention so they feel like they are heard. I’ve also gotten fed up and put the kids in time-out after repeated interruptions or just lost my temper. But nothing stopped making them interrupt, no matter how politely they did it, “Excuse me! Excuse me!”

So a week or so ago, I put Tabby in time out after constant interruptions, but when her time out was over, I talked to her. I explained to her that when she interrupted me it was like she was saying that what she had to say was more important than what I had to say. I asked her, was that the case? No, she said. Then I explained to her that it was pretty much saying that she was more important than me. Was that true, I asked? No, she said, everyone is equally important. Correct, I said. We talked about how hard it can be to wait, but that it was the polite, kind thing to do.

And just like that, it’s been days since my last interruption … from Tabby. Ben is a different story. We’ll civilize him one of these days! Maybe. I don’t know that it will be long-lasting, but so far this has been the only thing that’s even helped. So I’m hopeful. It is lovely to have her at an age where logic and reason are possible.