Not long ago, I read somewhere how to teach your child to interrupt. We've tried lots of things.
"Don't interrupt, honey."
Then, it was, "Say excuse me, Mommy."
"EXCUSE ME, MOMMY.
Excuse me, MOMMY.
EXCUSE me, MOMMY.
When is snack time?"
Are you kidding me???????? I'm on the phone in an important conversation and you pested me like that to know when snack time is!???? That got old fast. Even Daddy said we needed a new system. The Blossoms just weren't grasping the whole wait-for-a-lull-in-the-conversation thing.
Now, they walk up to me and put their hand on my arm or shoulder. They don't say anything. They just wait. When I see an appropriate time in the conversation, I stop and ask, "May I help you, Honey?"
It's a beautiful thing. The first time Skeeter came up to me and it led to a respectful interruption, I wanted to jump up and down. I might have done that. Maybe not, but I'm pretty sure I praised her. Out loud. To Daddy. Right then. Maybe it's patience in the works. Maybe it's respect in the works. I'm just glad.
