Behold the chatterbox

Written by

I KNOW that the visual of a woman with a telephone in one hand, head nodding, arm flailing and mouth flapping at a 100 miles an hour first starts to take shape about age one. I also know that when Zoey from GoodGoog sent out the tweet: “ The child is trying to kill me by continuous talking and never stopping EVER’’, I felt a huge amount of empathy for her.

With a one-year-old and four-year-old princess, I already have a chatterbox in each ear going from about 6.30am until 7pm EVERY day. I’ve learnt to just nod and say “that’s nice, darling’’ every minute and a half. Although, that often fails because every second sentence from the four year old is often a question.

The following incident then happened yesterday, which I know just reinforced my fate.

Princess Ella trailed behind me as I took Little Holly into the nursery for her morning nap. Ella knows she’s not allowed in there while I’m trying to put her to bed. She usually only hypes her sister up by singing and playing peek-a-boo, none of which help Holly settle.

On this day, instead of leaving when I asked, she popped herself up into the feeding chair and began the following dialogue:

“I’m a big girl now, aren’t I, Mum? I’m allowed in here, because I can be really quiet, can’t I, Mum? I won’t say anything. See? I’m being quiet. I’m a good girl.’’ And it went on.

I rest my case.

Do you have chatterboxes? What are your coping mechanisms?

Linking up Shae from Yay for Home’s Things I Know.

Comments

50 responses to “Behold the chatterbox”

October 28, 2011

LisaW

Oh yes! My daughter talks non-stop!! I swear sometimes my ears are going to start bleeding. She even talks in her sleep. Pity help me when she’s a teenager and discovers calling friends on the telephone. Feeling your pain Kellie.

Reply
1. October 28, 2011
  
  Skyelee
  
  I’m sure thats why text messasges were invented – by Mums wo had had enough of listening to their daughters!!
  
  Reply
  1. October 28, 2011
    
    Kel
    
    LOL!! Love it! 😉
    
    Reply
2. October 28, 2011
  
  Kel
  
  Oh my goodness, Lisa. Talking in her sleep is just taking it way too far! LOL! 🙂
  
  Reply
October 28, 2011

amie

Brings to mind our conversations that start like this: “mummy”, “yes honey”, “mummy”, “yes honey”, “mummy”, “yes”, “mummy”, “MAYA” – and the thought in my head “thats my name don’t wear it out!!”

Reply
1. October 28, 2011
  
  Kel
  
  Oh yes, we have that conversation too! LOL! 🙂
  
  Reply
October 28, 2011

Zoey @ Good Googs

I would be ok with it if everything didn’t require a response! I’m with you on them not being allowed in when you are trying to get the baby to sleep! Piper loves Riley far too much and is far too interested in her to do anything as mundane as going to sleep when she’s around!

I do find the chatterbox thing really challenging. In some ways I love listening to her internal narrative. In other ways as an introvert I find it exhausting as well. I tend to let her know that at certain times through the day she can go on talking but I’m going to be quiet.

The other day I asked her for peace and quiet for a minute and she responded by offering me some toy food ‘here you go mama. A piece of quiet’ That’s as good as I’m going to get, I think.

Reply
1. October 28, 2011
  
  Kel
  
  ROFL! That is classic, Zoey. Love how their minds work.
  I think the conversations that require constant responses are the most challenging. Especially when they involved the word “why?”.
  Hope you don’t mind me sharing your tweet too. It really resonated with me! 🙂
  
  Reply
October 28, 2011

Sonja Greenwood

When i found out the sex of my third baby we told my excited 3yr old princess but told her how important it was that she kept it a special secret.
When her Poppy who didn’t want to know the sex came to visit, we again told her how important it was that she didn’t tell him.
Her first sentence when he walked in the door? “Hi poppy, Guess what? I’m not supposed to tell you that we are having a (insert sex here) baby!! I’m good at keeping secrets aren’t i poppy”

It’s amazing how our children always learn something new like a new song, But as soon as you ask them to sing it for someone they go all shy! Yet ask them not to say something, and garunteed it will come out sooner rather than later!

Reply
1. October 28, 2011
  
  Kel
  
  LOL! That’s too funny, Sonja. I can just imagine. We have similar scenarios here. The Bloke in The Shed takes Princess Ella out some Saturday mornings to give me a rest. He sometimes spoils her with a lollipop or similar. She then comes home and says: “Dad bought me a lollipop, but I can’t tell you because it’s a secret.” She then starts giggling. I think it’s more the fun of spilling the beans, than it is about not knowing what keeping a secret means!!! 🙂
  
  Reply
October 28, 2011

Maria Tedeschi (Mum’s Word)

Yep, ALL of my kids are chatterboxes. And Lucas who just turned 2 has some words but mostly talks to you in gibberish. He’s been doing that since he was about 1. So far it’s cute because he used tone and inflection just like you or I would but the bonus is it doesn’t how I respond.

But I know that when he actually wants a genuine response from me as his vocab improves I’m going to go nuts.

My kids will come and wake me up in the morning to ask me about something that’ happening next week.

Oh and my daughter is 10 so when I ask her how her day was she literally gives me a blow by blow account which is exhausting. I ask my 8 year old son how his day was and usually I get “it was okay”. Not informative at all but sometimes a very welcomed response.

Love & stuff
Mrs M

Reply
1. October 28, 2011
  
  Kel
  
  Love that they wake you just to tell you something that obviously could wait! That’s children for you. 😉
  Not looking forward to a blow-by-blow description of Ella’s days in the future either. Mind you, at the moment when I ask her what she did at childcare, she says: “I can’t remember”. Sometimes I’d like just a LITTLE more information than that! 🙂
  
  Reply
October 28, 2011

Ali

Every day is made up of a long list of questions – why, why, why, what would happen if…, why, why, how do you make a…, why why. I start off the day doing my best to answer all the questions, by the end of the day she generally gets and exasperated ‘jeez, i don’t know’. I love her curiosity but sometimes it drives me crazy!

Reply
1. October 28, 2011
  
  Kel
  
  Hehe!! I asked Ella if she could stop asking “why?” the other day and she responded with, “but why Mum?” Grrrr…. 😉
  
  Reply
October 28, 2011

Becky from BeckyandJames.com

I have three! I was told, when I announced that our third child was a boy, that he would be quiet and probably not talk for a long time, that his sisters would talk for him.
Turns out he talks just as much as them so I have three going non stop all the time!

Reply
1. October 28, 2011
  
  Kel
  
  Oh, you poor thing, Becky. Two is challenging, so I can’t imagine three! As much as I love them to bits, I do enjoy the peace and quiet when they’re tucked up in bed of a night. Especially when their chatter has been extra enthusiastic throughout the day! 🙂
  
  Reply
October 28, 2011

danneromero

my boys are talkers.. love to tell me everything that interests them….

my mind set is one that ‘who knows if they will be here tomorrow’…. i don’t want to reflect back and wish i listened more…. so i do… i look them in the eye and listen….. my 20 yr. old son doesn’t talk as much, like when he was a child….

so….. i say take the time to enjoy the chatter… no matter how busy or not in the mood…. it will not last forever… and you’ll miss it….

Reply
1. October 28, 2011
  
  Kel
  
  Couldn’t agree more with you. I do love my princesses to bits and enjoy hearing what’s going on inside those little heads (well, Ella’s at least. Holly is more jibberish at the moment)! And often it can be downright hilarious! Sometimes it’s even incredibly touching. So I am very grateful for that, for sure.
  I think sometimes, at the end of a loooong day, a five minute stretch of silence would rejuvenate me! 😉
  
  Reply
October 28, 2011

Elise

Tweenie has not stopped talking since the day she discovered her vocal cords – the only time she clams up is when I show a genuine interest! And Miss 5 months…well jury’s still out, but by the broad range of sounds and babbling she is producing, I think she will be just as talkative. Mine are both girls – I don’t know if thats the key factor

Reply
1. October 28, 2011
  
  Kel
  
  Hmm, I wonder too, Elise. We girls do love to natter!
  Funny how when you want something specific from them, they suddenly can’t find their tongues! I wonder why that is? 🙂
  
  Reply
October 28, 2011

Nee

Oh, I hear you!! Both my kids talk at me constantly. Mostly questions and my four year old won’t except “I don’t know” or “we’ll talk about it later” as an answer. The other day he instructed me to google something when I brushed him off with an “I don’t know”! I’m counting on them becoming teenage boys who just grunt at me but I’m not liking my chances.

Reply
1. October 28, 2011
  
  Kel
  
  Haha! Love that you’re being directed to Google to gain answers now, Nee. That’s brilliant. Whatever did our parents do before internet! 😉
  
  Reply
October 28, 2011

kirri

I don’t have too much trouble with the chatter…I can chitty-chatter with the best of them (as long as they are under 6…with adults I get lost!) but what drives me nuts is the fact that my three must all chatter at the same time, competing for air space and gaining volume by the millisecond. I try and remind myself that in ten years they may no longer want to talk to me so I best make the most of it while I can 🙂

Reply
1. October 28, 2011
  
  Kel
  
  So true, Kirri. It’s easy to get frustrated by the constant chatter – and volume that comes with it. But to know they may not share anywhere near as much as they do now later on is a good reminder to pay attention while they’re asking for it. I can imagine these posts will read very differently in 10 years time. 🙂
  
  Reply
October 28, 2011

Caz

Oh yes I have 2 of those in my mix of 3. Little pink is the worst (okay let’s say the worlds best) chatterbox. Some days I feel like it’s going to do my head in, that and the world mum! Mum Mum Mum Mum!!! I just keep thinking that in a few years they’ll be hiding in their rooms and I’ll be desperate to hear their voices 🙂

Reply
1. October 28, 2011
  
  Kel
  
  Exactly, Caz. Can you imagine the type of posts we’ll be writing then? We’ll be looking back on posts like this one and pining for these days again! 🙂
  
  Reply
October 28, 2011

nellbe

It never ends. I have a 6 year old and it does not stop. To cope I try to remember that when he is 14 and grunts at me then I will wish for the chatty him back again so I just try and enjoy it.

Reply
1. October 28, 2011
  
  Kel
  
  I know what you mean, Nellbe. Goodness knows what they’ll be like in another 10-odd years. Relishing the insight into Ella’s mind right now, for sure.
  If only there was that perfect balance of chatter from them, starting from their first word right through until adulthood! *sigh*. We can dream! 🙂
  
  Reply
October 28, 2011

Skyelee

You are describing my Miss 5 to a ‘T”. From the minute she is up to the minute her head hits the pillow I am inundated with questions, observations, statements and just general NOISE! I love that she is so curious about everything but I wish there was some kind of word limit she had to stick to!

Reply
1. October 28, 2011
  
  Kel
  
  Ooh, a word limit would be wonderful, Skyelee! The perfect balance, for sure! 🙂
  
  Reply
October 28, 2011

tiff

My house is full of motor mouths. I don’t know how that happened because Dave and I are really quiet.

Reply
1. October 28, 2011
  
  Kel
  
  Ah, that’s very interesting, Tiff. The Bloke in The Shed was apparently a chatterbox as a kid, so I blame him! 😉
  
  Reply
October 28, 2011

Natalie

Argh! The toddler insists on shouting “I’M BEING REALLY QUIET COZ YOU ARE ON DA PHONE MUMMY!” for my entire phone conversations! It’s never ending *sigh*

Reply
1. October 28, 2011
  
  Kel
  
  LOL! Oh, you poor thing, Natalie. I get: “Can I have a talk, Mum? I’m being quiet” at the top of her lungs! 😉
  
  Reply
October 28, 2011

Ai Sakura

YES! my lil bub is a chatterbox too. Kinda cute most of the times. .but sometimes it’s a bit difficult when we are in public areas like restaurants or libraries. And she will go up to chat with pretty much everybody! Lil miss social she is..

Reply
1. October 28, 2011
  
  Kel
  
  Oh, I have one of those too, Ai. Miss socialite here! 🙂
  
  Reply
October 28, 2011

rachel

the Little Emperor started talking at 14months and has not stopped for even a second ever since. he is now four and a bit. he just always seems to have something to say and he never says it once. he will repeat each statement or question over and over, each time in a slightly different way, until he gets a response, which inevitably leads onto a next question…. it’s exhausting! I love that he is so inquisitive and eager to learn things but sometimes…argh! I guess it’s my payback because my nickname as a child was ‘little miss chatterbox’….!! he is so much like me in personality!

Reply
1. October 31, 2011
  
  Kel
  
  Oh, the repetition is the toughest part of a chatterbox, I reckon Rachel.
  Hehe! Love that you recognise he takes after you! Too funny! 🙂
  
  Reply
October 28, 2011

Grace

That’s too cute ! As identical twin boys, talking has been a little slow and it has always had me worried. But people keep telling me that I will soon realise that I will miss those days of silence ! The past 2 weeks, the boys have been ramping up the chit-chat and it looks like I will soon have nothing to worry about…and will indeed wonder when I will ever have peace and quiet again…:)

Reply
1. October 31, 2011
  
  Kel
  
  Funny how we worry about these things, Grace. I’ve always worried about the girls being a tad slower when it comes to physical things. But they always get there in the end.
  Love that the boys are starting the chit-chat now! Look out! 🙂
  
  Reply
October 28, 2011

Tat

My niece is like that. I sat next to her in the car once, and the girl didn’t stop talking for one second! And when I was drifting off, she’d say ‘Tat, you are not listening!!!’

Reply
1. October 31, 2011
  
  Kel
  
  LOL!! Oh, I can so relate to that. Lucky she’s just your niece!! 😉
  
  Reply
October 28, 2011

Kirsty

Ooh I feel your pain! I have 5 of them, yep even the youngest Harry is nonstop yabbering away now!! God help me when they all become teenagers!!

Reply
1. October 31, 2011
  
  Kel
  
  Maybe they’ll all go quiet, Kirsty and you’ll finally get a bit of peace.
  Gee, I thought two was tough. Cannot imagine five!!!! 🙂
  
  Reply
October 29, 2011

Kirsty

I get the non-stop chatter and questions, mainly about things I don’t know based on my older kids special interests. The things I know now about obscure musical instruments and the solar system…!

But, as much as there are times I crave peace and quiet, when I get it I seem to immediately miss the chatter! I’m just grateful that they are verbal and want to share their interests with me at all – well I try and remind myself of that when I’m exhausted from their endless chatter and questions!

Reply
1. October 31, 2011
  
  Kel
  
  Oh my goodness, Kirsty. That’s full on! What clever kids you have!
  Totally get missing the noise. Every Tuesday, when the girls are in childcare, it just feels too quiet around here sometimes! 🙂
  
  Reply
October 29, 2011

Shae

OMFG Tannah never stops talking. I have to ask her for “5 minutes with no words” when we are in the car for fear I’ll drive us into a tree lol

Reply
1. October 31, 2011
  
  Kel
  
  ROFL!!! Love how matter of fact you are, Shae. Totally hearing you though!!! 🙂
  
  Reply
October 31, 2011

the parenting files

chatter box for sure… i have to say though…. i don’t yet fully understand all the words…but there is a lot of chatter… can’t help but smile when she chats to all her toy friends as well 🙂 xx

Reply
1. November 1, 2011
  
  Kel
  
  Oh, chatting the toy friends is the best. Ella still does it at age four and I love listening to the dialogue. Totally hilarious! 🙂
  
  Reply