Help...please...anybody

[Ladybug]

Lucy talked for 5 hours straight Friday. I watched the clock as she followed me from room to room talking, talking and talking. I'm not even sure she ever stopped to breath. I don't think I can survive her energy and need for constant verbal stimulation. I realize this will change dramatically someday. I might even miss it when she glares at me, slams her door and tells me to stop bothering her, but I think my ears might start bleeding. I've never seen anything like her. Does anyone else have another talkaholic child that they want to send over to entertain her?

[mommax3]

Re: Help...please...anybody

Remind me how old Lucy is. Luke was exactly that way when he was younger....one of the reasons he was in preschool as much as I could afford! When I could tell he was talking because he was bored, I would tell him my ears were tired and I needed to rest them and I would set the timer!

[Ladybug]

She's 6. I think I'll try your timer idea. It's tangible for her. She's on spring break for the next 2 weeks. I try gently telling her that my ears are tired and I need a break, but she can't seem to catch a clue. It finally ends with me snapping, her feelings getting hurt and her telling me that she's never going to talk to me again. Bad mommy, bad mommmy. My other DD is sooooo different in this resepct. She's self limiting.

[Sheherezade]

My 13 year old has started doing this. (Yes....he went from a quiet child to a talkative teen. Talk about strange!) I understand your frustrations completely. I haven't figured out the best way to handle it either -- except deep breathing exercises and trips to the bathroom *alone*. I hope you get some good advice. It is great to talk to them and you don't want to discourage them....but it's like having a stalker or a very ardent fan. I keep wondering "What do you want from me???"

Big hugs. Five hours is truly impressive.

[Vanquisher]

I have one!! Ooooh, me, me, me. Skype. Best invention ever. Right now, she has been talking with my in-laws for 2 hours. I pawn her cute mouth off on them lots.

[rainbabies]

I feel your pain. sometimes I just want to yell, shut up!!!! *blush* But, I don't. I take a deep breath and try to listen....
it's truly exhausting.
(((hugs)))

[Deebs]

My four year old is just like this! My family called me "Babbling Brook" growing up, and now I know why - she's pretty much just like me. I actually recently apologized to my mom. All of the listening is just exhausting. And, many of the things she says are so cute - but I miss some of it because it all kind of blurs together. I have actually put TV on for her to stop her from talking to me.

[Gwendolyn]

Re: Help...please...anybody

I use the tv and setting a timer, as well as lots of playdates. Also, art projects. Sometimes James will make up a full conversation with himself. Like he is both speakers...maybe give her puppets? heehee

It is exhausting to listen all the time, even when you are tuning it out after an hour that is tiring too! Not much help, sorry

[v-girl]

I have one!! Ooooh, me, me, me. Skype. Best invention ever. Right now, she has been talking with my in-laws for 2 hours. I pawn her cute mouth off on them lots.

I was going to recommend giving her the phone and letting her talk her grandparents' ears off. And any aunts, uncles, cousins, the lady who greets you at the grocery store, etc.

[Pollyanna]

I have no good advice. We have talkers here, even the baby talks all. day. long. (sure it is mostly a scream but that seems to be just frustration on her part because she can't talk yet). The boys don't talk as much as the girls which is funny because the other side of the coin is riding with one of the boys saying, "is everything okay, you seem so quiet?" LOL!

[GrayMatterWife]

Does anyone else have another talkaholic child that they want to send over to entertain her?

Let's get your daughter and my son together.

Once, he just TALKED AND TALKED AND TALKED. I finally sent him to his room, to give mommy "rest" time and told him not to come out. He literally sat there and talked to NO ONE. For an hour.

Another time, he couldn't stop talking to the point where he was just BABBLING. I asked him several times to stop, and told him that if he didn't, I would stop him. Apparently, he didn't believe me. I ended up taking an Ace bandage and wrapping in around his mouth (not blocking his nose, of course). He sat there, dejectedly, for about ten minutes. When I unwrapped him, he concluded, "That's why mummies don't talk, Mom."

[Ladybug122]

GrayMatterWife, that is hilarious!

DS is a chatty one- but at least he'll talk to himself a lot. He is a big fan of repeating what he hears (conversations, tv, his teacher at school). I have to be careful to monitor what he overhears because you never know what he will repeat in public.

[diggitydot]

Good gravy. All three of our kids do this. All. The. Time. Particularly the oldest who is 14 y/o. Grandmama ends up with LOTS of calls just to keep me partly sane. I guess I shouldn't bitch, though. The communicative teen is definitely an anomaly.

[Sheherezade]

I do think it has something to do with the talkative mother. Good point, Tara. My kids also ask me what's wrong when I'm quiet. Come to think of it, I ask my OWN other what's wrong when she's quiet. So, it's genetic.

Maybe you could set her up with a tape recorder/player and let her record some stories for you to listen to "later" when you can pay close attention. Then, she won't feel rejected and you won't have to listen all the time. Besides, she might like the buttons and listening to her own voice.

[DCJenn]

My nephew was pretty much talking from the moment he emerged. "hi I'm Jack.." Seriously, he has talked so much he's made himself hoarse. My brother does the "here, talk to your grandmother" thing. He also now has a new baby brother (who oddly enough isn't talking yet at 22 months but then again, I keep reminding my brother, with Jack around, who could get a word in anyway?) who he talks to/at/for all. the. time.

Jenn