It's inevitable.
They're sitting 2 feet from you, playing toys, and you could scream their name at the top of your lungs and they wouldn't give you so much as a glance.
Toddler's develop a keen sense of selective hearing pretty early on.
Don't let them fool you though, their ears are working perfectly...especially when you consider all of the things they DO hear:
They're sitting 2 feet from you, playing toys, and you could scream their name at the top of your lungs and they wouldn't give you so much as a glance.
Toddler's develop a keen sense of selective hearing pretty early on.
Don't let them fool you though, their ears are working perfectly...especially when you consider all of the things they DO hear:
The Refridgerator Opening
Every. Time.
I open the fridge to grab a snack, drink, ingredients for dinner...it doesn't really matter. As soon as the sound of the door cracking open hits the soundwaves I hear the sound of feet rumbling across our wood floors. They probably aren't even hungry, or thirsty, but that magic box that lights up when you open its' doors holds a variety of different colors, scents and flavors that makes them just want to be a part of that moment. Good luck trying to shut the door.
I open the fridge to grab a snack, drink, ingredients for dinner...it doesn't really matter. As soon as the sound of the door cracking open hits the soundwaves I hear the sound of feet rumbling across our wood floors. They probably aren't even hungry, or thirsty, but that magic box that lights up when you open its' doors holds a variety of different colors, scents and flavors that makes them just want to be a part of that moment. Good luck trying to shut the door.
The TV Turning On
Around 5:30pm I settle Mason down with some kind of activity and start the process of making dinner.
This also coincides with when the news comes on, so I'll sometimes try to sneakily turn it on so that I can catch up on some current events (besides the fact that Bert finally learned how to ride his bike without training wheels on Sesame Street) while making dinner. Then I hear it. The audible, overly dramatic toddler gasp followed by a strain of TV shows shouted almost at the same time. Cailou! Choo-Choos! Elmo! Doc! It's as if he knows the answer is going to be "no" so he needs to throw out all of the options before I have a chance to decide. You know, cuz obviously if he gives Cailou as an answer I might give in and say yes this time. Not.
This also coincides with when the news comes on, so I'll sometimes try to sneakily turn it on so that I can catch up on some current events (besides the fact that Bert finally learned how to ride his bike without training wheels on Sesame Street) while making dinner. Then I hear it. The audible, overly dramatic toddler gasp followed by a strain of TV shows shouted almost at the same time. Cailou! Choo-Choos! Elmo! Doc! It's as if he knows the answer is going to be "no" so he needs to throw out all of the options before I have a chance to decide. You know, cuz obviously if he gives Cailou as an answer I might give in and say yes this time. Not.
The Toilet Seat Lid Lifting
Nevermind the fact that he has no interest in using the potty himself, he certainly is never going to miss an opportunity to watch one of his parents use the facilities. It usually turns into a game of shouting "don't touch that" while he scurries around the bathroom opening drawers and grabbing things off of the counter because he knows that whoever is doing their business has no ability to stand up and stop him. Kids are so smart, it's terrifying.
Your Phone Ringing
We've set some fairly strict phone rules for Mason which means that a lot of our time is spent helping him forget that phones exist. We hide them, silence them, and ignore them as much as we can. That is, until, someone forgets to silence their phone and suddenly it starts ringing/beeping/etc. Mason can honestly hear that sound from across the house. There have been times when he's yelled out, "Daddy's Phone!," and Steven and Ihaven't heard a thing. Then we have to play the tug-of-war game of "let's forget the phone exists again" for the next half hour.
The Shower/Bathwater Turn On
This is on-par with the toilet seat storyline except toddlers can also differentiate between a shower (Mommy or Daddy will be occupied so I get into things in the bathroom) or bathwater (TUBBY TIME!!! Let me strip naked before the bath is even ready and probably pee on some stuff around the house). Also, if you're in the shower, prepare to be interrupted the entire time. Toddlers like to open and shut doors, curtains, toilet seats (just to scare you into thinking they dropped something in there). They also enjoy turning on and off lights which is really fun.
Your Backside Landing on the Couch
This is the big one.
Toddlers can always ALWAYS hear when you're finally sitting down after a long day of work/parenting/etc and have taken your first deep breath of attempted relaxation. That is when they will come to you with some sort of issue they need help with, start crying in another room so you think they've broken their arm/leg/head, or just crawl all over you until sitting down is the least relaxing activity you could do.
To be safe, just wait until they are fast asleep to even attempted to sit down. That way you won't resent them for interrupting your relaxation time. Relaxing time is like riding the school bus, it's a privilege not a right. And in the same way that adults can take away the privilege of riding a school bus from small children, small children always can take away the privilege of relaxation from adults. I guess it's the balance of the universe. Or something.
What sounds does your toddler always hear?
XOXO
Laurel
Toddlers can always ALWAYS hear when you're finally sitting down after a long day of work/parenting/etc and have taken your first deep breath of attempted relaxation. That is when they will come to you with some sort of issue they need help with, start crying in another room so you think they've broken their arm/leg/head, or just crawl all over you until sitting down is the least relaxing activity you could do.
To be safe, just wait until they are fast asleep to even attempted to sit down. That way you won't resent them for interrupting your relaxation time. Relaxing time is like riding the school bus, it's a privilege not a right. And in the same way that adults can take away the privilege of riding a school bus from small children, small children always can take away the privilege of relaxation from adults. I guess it's the balance of the universe. Or something.
What sounds does your toddler always hear?
XOXO
Laurel