As a parent, I often find myself wondering why simple requests to my children feel like a futile exercise.
Me: “Sweetheart, could you please go brush your teeth?”
Silence.
Me, growing more frustrated: “Hey! Go brush your teeth!”
Still nothing.
Me, on the verge of losing it: “LAST WARNING! TEETH. NOW!”
And yet, nothing.
Me, practically shouting: “HEY! IT’S TIME TO BRUSH YOUR TEETH, RIGHT NOW!”
Still no response.
My partner: “Did you hear your mom? Go brush your teeth.”
And just like that, tiny feet scurry off to the bathroom, leaving me perplexed and a bit exasperated. Why is it that my children seem to be immune to my voice, yet respond immediately to their father? It feels like I’m speaking a foreign language at times.
It’s almost as if my kids are afflicted with a condition I like to call Selective Listening Syndrome. They don’t hear me unless I’m practically yelling, which is exhausting. A gentle nudge or polite request often goes unheard. If I didn’t raise my voice now and then, we would accomplish nothing.
While it’s easy to take their lack of listening personally, I suspect I’m not alone in this struggle. Perhaps the issue lies not with me, but with them. Kids, after all, have a tendency to tune out parents, and studies suggest that boys, in particular, may have a harder time hearing women’s voices due to the way their brains process sound.
Maybe the solution is to sing everything. I’ve been known to belt out requests to the tune of popular songs, but those methods don’t always yield results. I often hear about other parents who manage to get their kids to listen without raising their voices, and it leaves me bewildered. What’s their secret?
I’m not looking for solutions—believe me, I’ve tried the suggestions about whispering or getting on their eye level. My kids are generally well-behaved; they just get wrapped up in their activities and sometimes tune me out. And there’s nothing wrong with me either, or you, if you find yourself in a similar boat. We’re just moms trying to get our kids to listen, and sometimes we need to vent to one another about it.
It’s not just about chores or requests, either. Even when I ask if they want something, like breakfast or a snack, I’m often met with silence. While this could be frustrating, there’s a silver lining—when my kids are oblivious to me muttering under my breath while indulging in a snack, it makes the experience much more enjoyable.
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In summary, the struggle with getting our kids to listen is a common parenting challenge, often leading to frustration. However, it’s important to remember that it’s not just you—many parents face the same issue. Sometimes, a little humor and understanding can go a long way.