Does anyone else's kids acutally listen to them?

[johnnycashlover]

I am really beginning to question whether its the tone of my voice, the content of what I say, or just that my kids can't be bothered with me. Really, truly, they just do not listen to me. They are 5, 7 and 9, and I have just spent the afternoon baking flippin Nigella Lawson cakes with the blighters, and I felt like I needed an interpreter or someone to actually comunicate in whatever way they will respond to. I am now covered in a thin film of sweat and wondering if its gin o' clock yet. And its only week 1 of the summer holidays.

[RGPargy]

Nope, they never listen to you and never will. My DS is 17 and still doesn't take a blind bit of notice to what i say!!

[Tommy]

you may as well just stand there and say "blah blah blah blah blah"....

I do this sometimes and it's surprisingly therapeutic..

[OrmIrian]

Selectively.

Not when I ask them to do something, or warn them not to do something.

But they always appear to have listened when I mentioned that we might go camping or we might go to the cinema....as I discover when we decide not to do those things.

[Cappuccino]

oh yes

Sunday

dh: be careful that puddle looks very deep you might fall
dd1: SPLOSH. SCREAM. SCREAM. SCREAM

Saturday

me: don't put your hand in there
me: don't put your hand in there
me: don't put your hand in there
me: FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE WILL YOU LISTEN DON'T PUT YOUR HAND IN THERE

[johnnycashlover]

You know what, the whole blah blah blah thing is really true. I stood in the kitchen the other day and explained to my husband that I was having an affair with someone I met in Argentina (where I have never been) and I was leaving him to bake pies for the rest of my life and he actually just nodded over his paper. Clearly the children have inherited his gift for listening.

[Oblomov]

LOL at Johnnycash's dh.

[johnnycashlover]

Oh actually I take all of it back. They can hear me typing on the flamin keyboard and have all started fighting. I literally cannot do a thing!!!!!

[carocaro]

I only have the one and the not listening is driving me mad, a friend said to only talk to them when you are a few inches from their face and then the listen, sort of works but wholly not pratical

[grouchyoscar]

My DS hardly ever listens to me

So I get hacked off
Raise my voice
Feel bad
Stoke my 'You're a bad mum you are' negativeness about myself

Tried positive discipline, tried planned ignoring, had his lugs checked, on a waiting list for Ed psyche...can't win as a mum really

[grouchyoscar]

But he can hear 'Ice cream' 'park' 'biscuit' 'banana' and 'lego star wars' at 100 paces tho

[Idreamofdaleks]

my dd listens - she is 7
I have always tried to say positive things to her and not to raise my voice (can't claim 100% success obviously) - and most of the time she does listen

I have no idea if this would work with 3 kids at once, I imagine just the 1 is a whole lot easier!