Sometimes I concentrate on things. It’s not often, but it does happen on occasion.
It might be a phone call…perhaps an email…maybe it’s a puzzle on my iphone…whatever it is I find myself so deep in thought that my typical responses to my family might not be the same responses I would have given them had I been paying closer attention.
Here are a few things I find myself saying when I’m half listening:
“Pat, what time are we supposed to be there tomorrow??…..So what time are we supposed to be there tomorrow??………..Hey Pat, do you know what time we’re supposed to be there tomorrow?”
CAN WE HAVE CANDY? “Sure” CAN WE HAVE ICE CREAM? “Yeah whatever.” CAN WE SKIP NAPS AND GO TO DISNEYLAND? “You bet.”
“Kainoa if you want to play with my room then you need to take it to your phone.”
“That is really interesting…”
“Go ask your Dad.”
“Just a minute…..”
“Do you want some help with that?? (please say no please say no please say no) You sure??”
“It’s quiet reading time!!”
“I don’t know what you’re asking me right now, but if you’re insisting on an answer than it’s no.”
Someday my family will learn to remember that when they see my “concentrating face” it’s not the best time for a conversation because they’re actually talking to a robot.
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
Love it! I’m glad I’m not the only one who dishes out a random selection of words under the guise of a reply ha ha! you’d think they would learn… x
Robot Kat is funny. I know for sure I do this as well, the huh, what, what did you say, what, um, later, um, maybe, um not right now, um OMG WHERE IS YOUR FATHER. I did steal Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka’s line: you should really stop mumbling (used at its funnest when I’ve heard every word).
I’m stealing that last one.
“I don’t know what you’re asking me right now, but if you’re insisting on an answer than it’s no.”
I think I may have to get this tattooed somewhere conspicuous.
The last one is my favorite. My child is lucky, she’s too young for this to be an issue. However, I find myself tuning out friends/family/boyfriend sometimes and actually carrying on the conversation without actually paying any attention, until something grabs my attention and I have to admit I wasn’t listening in order to get the real story.
Haha I love it!
I do this too.
And unfortunately my kids know that and will ask for things they know they can’t have and because I am not paying attention, I say yes.
My concentrating face is my ‘let’s-have-a-free-for-all’ face for my kids.
My daughter rambles, and I have found myself half listening and saying things that could lead me to trouble quite often lately!
Heh heh heh you’d think after having been around us they’d know our concentration face, yet time and time again, they want to have conversations, ask questions and sneak “good ones” in on us. Kids are the same no matter the family! lol
Been there done that. Things I have said:
When asked while I was sleeping for something to eat “One of the drivers will bring you something soon” {Domino’s delivers breakfast?? Hmm?
When asked who knows what while I was sleeping “Put your seat belts on” {Uh… I have no clue}
My daughter was in & out to the pool in the development we lived in so many times one day. My Hubby got home from work and asked where she was, I was watching TV “She’s at the pool” He went upstairs to change, came down and said… “She is in her room” Oops. I missed her return I suppose.
All good moms do this. Right??
Oh yes, I’m a big fan of “go ask your father” as code for “I don’t really know what you’re saying because I’m not listening but maybe he’ll listen and be able to help you with whatever it is that you’re asking me”
I have been there all too often…in fact, everyday. My youngest, 5, has figured it out too. If she asks me something, and I am too distracted to answer right away, she looks at me and says “OK, Mom, I will take that as a yes!” It has taken me a while to catch it too!
Needless to say I am trying to not be as distracted so she doesn’t get her automatic yes;-)
Heather Maggio
ChicksWithChoices.com