Sometimes the best way to teach your children some thing is to provide them with an example.
This example can be of how you want them to act or it can be of how you don’t want them to act.
In other words, give them a taste of their own medicine.
We have a problem with interrupting in our house especially when Jeff and I are trying to have a conversation. And if that is not bad enough, the interruptions are usually to tell us something random like talking just for the sake of talking.
It drives both of us crazy.
We have been trying to teach the kids the proper way to interject into a conversation by waiting till there is a pause and then saying excuse me but they are just not getting it.
So one night, we tried a different approach.
“Ok, so tomorrow, you will need to pick up the kids,” I began to tell Jeff about the plans for the next day.
“Mommy.” Jake yelled across the room.
“You need to get the kids tomorrow because I have that thing…” I began again.
“MOMMY! I need dew,” Jake called.
“I have that thing to go to tomorrow…” I tried yet again.
“MOMMY! I need dew come see the purple dinosaur on my shoe,” Jake said now dancing around us, “Purple dinosaur on my shoe. Purple dinosaur. Purple dinosaur flying on my shoe”
I tried to concentrate on what I needed to tell Jeff but the dancing purple dinosaur boy was really distracting.
“Jake!” Jeff said sternly, “Mommy and I are talking and you are interrupting us. Go and watch TV and wait your turn.”
Jake left the room and I started again to tell Jeff about the plans for the next day.
“Guys! You are too loud. I am watching TV!” Jake yelled at us from the living room.
Jeff and I both looked at each other as Jake shouted his reprimand at us. We knew this was our moment to teach him a little bit about interrupting and how it feels to have someone make noise and distract you from something.
“DINOSAUR ARE AWESOME!” Jeff yelled.
“I LIKE BLUE BOATS!” I yelled.
“BATMAN WEARS A CAPE! Jeff yelled.
“Guys, you are too loud.” Jake called back to us.
“IRON MAN FLIES A ROCKET!” Jeff yelled.
“BATS FLY INTO BUILDINGS” I yelled as Jeff gave me a dirty look saying, ‘really? are you even trying?’
“Dewed guys, BE QUIET!” Jake yelled at us at the top of this lungs. “Plweeese, I watching Dora.
Jeff and I smiled at each other when he heard Jake sigh.
We knew that we had made our point. We had won.
Jake now saw how annoying it was to be interrupted and distracted from something he wanted to do.
Parents: 1 Kids: well, let’s not tally their score. I am just going to focus on this win.
*click image for source
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{ 36 comments… read them below or add one }
I love this! I tried it and it totally backfired on me. Em thought it was hilarious and now does it even more….at the top of her lungs! lol
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I am totally laughing over here, it is such a good point to make, my kids interupt me all the time, especially when I am on the phone! I’m not sure I could do this though, not without busting up laughing, I’m just imagining his cute little voice, ha, love it!
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Whining at kids is similarly successful. At least… usually they’re so amused by it, they stop whining!
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Yes. Focus on the win. Parents win so rarely that it’s important to savor the moment.
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That is hysterical! I hope it works.
But it won’t.
Sorry to be Debbie Downer.
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Jen Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 10:14 pm
That’s alright.
It did work but only for about 3.4 minutes.
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Dew guys are awesome!
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Like I always say – win the battles one by one and maybe someday you might win the war. Or not.
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Bats fly into buildings!
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Hilarious, and perfect timing. I am secretly waiting for the day I can do this. Usually what bothers my boys is when they are watching TV and I am drying my hair in the bathroom, apparently that is so loud, they can’t hear, lol!
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Those poor, poor bats.
And those stupid, stupid buildings.
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Um, yeah. Right. You totally won that one. I’m sure he’ll never interrupt again. {smirk}
Seriously though, if that worked please shoot me an email and let me know.
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Jen Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 10:15 pm
Well, it worked. Sorta.
Ok, fine it only worked for like a minute but hey, it was worth a try.
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Congrats on the win.
Bats DO fly into buildings.
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LOL Bats fly into buildings. Good one. Congrats on the win!
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Good one! We do that one all of the time:-)
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Think dew could come over here and teach my husband not to interrupt?
Congrats on the win!
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We do this sort of thing with our kids a lot. Especially now that they are older it is surprising how much of an impact it makes on them.
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Hilarious. How long until he forgot and interrupted again?
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Jen Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 10:16 pm
Oh only about 4.3 minutes.
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And it’s a win for the parents! I love when parents win!
And I think giving kids a taste of their own medicine is a great way to teach.
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Hee hee. That is totally something we would do. And even small victories are sweet – you gotta take what you can get.
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This is so great on so many levels. Not only did your son get a first hand experience at how annoying it can be being interrupted but also allowed you and your husband to enjoy ten seconds together. Life is so hectic (with/without kids no less) its nice to have a good laugh. Good tip to file in the back of my mind.
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Yeah Team Parents!
[WORDPRESS HASHCASH] The poster sent us ‘0 which is not a hashcash value.
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I hope this works!…wouldn’t hold my breath, but I HOPE! The rest of us need the hope!
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HAHAHAHAHA!! Too funny. My kids do that interrupty thing too…especially when we are on the phone- so irritating!!! That’s a great idea to flip it back on them. I won’t tally our score either. I am (and you are too) sorely outnumbered. I rarely get to win!
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If only these victories would last. Bravo you guys!
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We have this same problem … nothing like a little “taste of your own medicine.” And yes … that kid’s score is better left untallied!
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I totally get this. I hate being interrupted and my kids are guilty of it. But we are working on it.
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That is hilarious! I know I totally enjoyed the time I lay down on the floor and kicked and screamed along with Alex… though well she just kept doing it.
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That is awesome! Love those kind of parenting wins. So fun!!
Thanks for sharing.
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I love how your husband played along without missing a beat. My husband would have looked at me like I was nuts and told me to stop yelling
Yea, we’re in sync like that around here.
I’m all for any win we can get. Savor the moment, for sure!
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Bats fly into buildings… HAHAHAHAH! I love you:)
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My parents used to do things like this to us all the time. And not only when we were little kids. It was especially annoying when we were teenagers and they would act out scenes of our teenage angst.
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Jen Reply:
January 23rd, 2011 at 8:44 pm
Oh, I like that idea. I am totally going to remember that.
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Nat throws these super silly, arm wiggling, dancing like fits. And, every time, I do it to her. She stops, and starts laughing. Guess she realizes how nonsense it is, too.
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The interrupting is BEYOND annoying. Anytime I get on the phone or Josh & try to talk. I am going to use your tactics. Thanks for the parenting tip!
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This was entertaining to read! Good for you for teaching your child a lesson. Most parents wouldn’t have taken the time to do that.
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ha! great strategy. I totally know what you mean though…I swear I’ll try to talk with the kids through dinner or in the car and they’ll have nothing to say but the second I start talking to Paul….they all are yelling, demanding and begging for something! sheesh!
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Hehe, too funny! Give ‘em a taste of their own medicine!
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