HELP! ds age 6 obsessively asking me same questions over & over & not listening to answers

[LadySanders]

feel like am going insane. for the last 2/3 weeks ds age 6 EVERY MORNING on way to school has to ask me what dogs i like. every day i say i don't like any dogs, but somehow get drawn into conversation that yes ok small dogs preferable to large dogs, then every dog we see i have to say if its the right kind of dog or not. then same again next day and next day and next day.

in the evenings, its "can i call you moomin? can i call you buzzbuzz? can i call you poppy?" over and over again, and for weeks i have smiled sweetly and said "yes of course as long as they're nice names", but then last night couldn't stand it any longer and shouted at him "no call me mummy and nothing else"

every weekend i tell him what we're doing, but 5 mins later he says "what are we doing today?", and after i've told him 3 times i start to lose the plot.

i am ranting slightly and i know it might sound unreasonable, but i cannot stand it anymore.... is he just talking for the sake of it? is he not listening?

i should point out that he's an only child who gets a huge amount of attention and chat and always has done, so i don't think its attention seeking, iyswim.

[MaureenMLove]

Try answering the question with something really silly. What dog do you like mummy? I like green ones with purple spots! When he questions it, tell him you've had this conversation before and you've aleady told him. With the weekend thing, why don't you get him to take notes! Get him to draw pictures of what you're doing and then he can tick them off and if he asks you can tell him to look at his list.

Had you thought that maybe he's hankering after a dog? Maybe you ought to have a chat about why you can or cannot have one, it might stop it.

[LadySanders]

we have 2 cats, one of which he chose last year, and have spoken ENDLESSLY already about the fact that we therefore cannot have a dog as well. so yes he does want a dog, but he also knows why we're not getting one.

i like the drawing a pic idea re weekend... will try that, thanks!

[Baffy]

my ds does this (although he's only 2 so slightly different)
but what I now do, is ask him the question back... i.e

ds - where are we going mummy

me - grandma's

ds - where are we going mummy

me - where do you think we're going

ds - grandmas


once i've answered once, i won't repeat the answer, i just ask him the question back and he tells me. he soon gets fed up

[jellybelly25]

Yes dd did this. She very much likes to talk. A LOT. About whatever thing is currently her obsession. Shes nearly 8 now and is much better about not asking the same damn thing a billion times but I basically did the silly answers and what Baffy said!

Also I think there are certain conversations she just enjoys having, it's part of her routine.

It does sound like he wants a dog though and is trying to find an acceptable type of dog he could suggest to you at an opportune moment

[holeyguacamoley]

My DD does this, always has, now 10. Drives me crazy , more as she gets older. My neice did it too, she is now 19 and perfectly normal and lovely. I do think some children could neveer have enough attention and this is their way of getting it, trouble is, instead of improving their conversational skills it riles me so much I clamp up and am annpyed at myself for being so easily iritated, you would think I would get used to it! Just put it down to personality and deal with it whatever way you can but I don't think it will stop soon, sorry! And Stick to your guns on the dog!

[clutteredup]

Silly, as I know its hard but if you stop getting wound up he might stop. My DC do stuff just to wind me up and of course it works . Mind you with DS who's also 6 I now often say to him, you're doing this to wind me up aren't you, he grins and then moves on as he knows he's been 'found out'. Mind you he normally moves onto his sister, i think you'll find it's quite normal but my ds has 2 sisters to wind up so in our house its diluted!!!