Talk isn't cheap
I have three kids whom I love very much.
They're all getting older, and, one would think headed toward the sullen and mute stage of adolescence. The headed toward adolescence part is true, at least for my older two, but, the "mute" part? Not so much.
My middle child, especially, is a talker.
No seriously, that child can talk. And talk, and talk, and, talk, and talk.
And, he doesn't move when he talks, either. Forward motion of any kind ceases when he is talking, and, his prime talk time seems to be 3 minutes before we're supposed to head out the door. He's 11 and I've had to physically pick him up and move him to the car sometimes on school mornings, or, we'd never get there.
Some days are worse than others, though. Last weekend was particularly bad.
Another parent brought him home from a birthday party, and, remarked that she wasn't sure how he breathed since he never stopped talking the entire ride home.
I love him, he's funny and interesting (at least most of the time), but, I'm not joking that he can fall asleep talking, and, continue on with the same sentence the moment he wakes up the next day.
Is it bad that I sometimes feel like I need to make sure I have my first cup of coffee in the mornings before I see him? I'm not much of a morning talker.
Now, please don't get me wrong, I'm thankful every single day that my kids are happy and healthy, and, I know my house will be all too quiet someday, but, I'm willing to try out a brief preview of it every now and then.
Comments
Trust me, I understand. My oldest (8) is a TALKER! It drives my husband crazy cause the kid just keeps going and going. Sometimes I feel like I have to remind him to let others around him talk. I come from a long line of talkers, but damn....that kid.
Posted by: LaShawn | February 17, 2008 8:58 AM
As the parent of two HUGE talkers that never shut up, I have hope for you. IME, young teens and preteens talk a lot. Like forever. And then when they approach 16, they tend to spend much more time talking to their friends on the phone in their room, leaving you hours and hours of quiet time only interrupted when YOU need to use the phone.
Really, it does get quieter!
Posted by: margalit | February 17, 2008 3:48 PM
My 4yo daughter Never.Stops.Talking. Sometimes DH and I have to "spell" each other so that one of gets a few moments of quiet! We joke that she is like his mother, which is funny...but not.
Posted by: Katy | February 17, 2008 8:14 PM
It's funny. Neither of my girls were talkers (unlike their mother) for the longest time. This lasted right up until the oldest turned 13. She got a cell phone, started middle school, came out of her shell, and now talks almost nonstop! I'm glad for it, though. I was worried she was going to be horribly shy forever.
The 9 year-old daughter, of course, looks up to her big sister, and is already asking for a cell phone. Our son, who is 7, can't get a word in edgewise any longer!
Posted by: Sophia Levis | February 18, 2008 12:09 PM
"Sullen and mute."
Thanks for the reminder!
Suddenly, I find a renewed commitment to praying for middle school teachers everywhere!
;-)
Posted by: Linda | February 19, 2008 9:11 PM