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Original poster

Please tell me this is normal

29 replies

Pastbehindyouhmmmm30 · 21/12/2018 06:09

My very nearly 8 year old (January) takes absolutely forever to do anything - he doesn’t ignore the request, he’s not rude, he jus let procrastinates and dawdles and I wondered if it’s normal?

Example - this am get dressed please? Okay mum, 1 Minute later hes hovering in the kitchen telling me about ninjago, okay mate I say get dressed please, off he goes, 2 minutes later not finished and laying on the sofa - get dressed now please I say - off he trots and finishers getting dressed.

Example 2 - every morning - go in bathroom do what you need to do , teeth, hair, cream etc.... whilst doing his teeth he’s pramcing and dancing, talking and singing, does teeth comes out of bathroom, you ain’t done your hair mate I say oh no! Off he goes, comes back out chatty chatty mate you ain’t creamed I say - oh he says n off he goes

I’m aware this is not major issues, he’s a good boy, but my lord what should take about 20 minutes takes about 40 is this normal of an 8 year old?
It’s not making me angry I just put myself on repeat, but I’m curious to know if anyone else boys are like this.

OP posts:
ChessieFL · 21/12/2018 06:11

Completely normal! My DD (just turned 9) is the same.

knittedjest · 21/12/2018 06:12

Is he competitive? If so make it a game. Get a timer and time him, every morning he needs to try and beat his record.

BikeRunSki · 21/12/2018 06:14

Completely normal for 8. Also 9, also 10. I havn’t experienced 11 yet!!

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Original poster
Pastbehindyouhmmmm30 · 21/12/2018 06:14

Right, first comment yup it’s normal, lol perfect - it’s very frustrating lol
I love the idea of it being a contest, I’m going to get that sorted today! Thanx for that

OP posts:
KatoPotato · 21/12/2018 06:15

Not sure if normal but my days you've just described a morning with my 8yo DS!

Original poster
Pastbehindyouhmmmm30 · 21/12/2018 06:16

So not likely to grow out of it yet?!?! Great lol!!! It’s not even that major a problem but it’s highly frustrating at 7 am when tying to get ready lol one more day left and two week holiday anyway - yay!!! No more getting up n running around lol

OP posts:
Redcherries · 21/12/2018 06:16

My dd was exactly the same, she still has her moments now as an older teen.

Original poster
Pastbehindyouhmmmm30 · 21/12/2018 06:17

I’m not on my own - I feel some solidarity going on now I’m very happy haha 😂

OP posts:
Original poster
Pastbehindyouhmmmm30 · 21/12/2018 06:19

I wondered if he would grow out of it! Maybe not haha he’s a chatty one - I was a chatty one, he’s also not like this at school which is why it doesn’t bother me in general his concentration is absolulty fine it’s just at home with everyday tasks - maybe is to boring n mundane haha

OP posts:
CaptainBrickbeard · 21/12/2018 06:29

Everyone in my family - even the four year old - knows to give 8yo DS every instruction three times, minimum. I just automatically say it three times now: “brush your teeth, brush your teeth, brush your teeth - what do you need to do? Yes, brush your teeth.” He just lives in a daydream.

Also, I teach secondary and...yeah. Some kids (and it’s usually boys) don’t ever grow out of it. “Open your book. Open your book. Open your book. What did I just ask you to do? Yes, that’s right, open your book...”

FrostyMoanyWind · 21/12/2018 06:31

Sound normal here too!

ScarlettDarling · 21/12/2018 06:33

My 11 year old dd is exactly like this. No sense of urgency at all! Must be nice to be so laid back mustn't it?!

DomesticAnarchist · 21/12/2018 06:34

🤦‍♀️ so it's not just mine then.

I'm amazed at how long it can take a human to do stuff. It drives me insane.

LEMtheoriginal · 21/12/2018 06:34

Perfectly normal. It will get worse before it grts better Grin

Bamchicabaawaa · 21/12/2018 06:36

Yes! So normal!

BigFarmer · 21/12/2018 06:54

My teen does this. I tried giving 3 part instructions once. Ha.

PeterAndJayne · 21/12/2018 07:05

Get a white board and write down everything he needs to do in a checklist. My DS aged 10 is the same but in his case it's due to dyslexia and a terrible working memory.

SexNotJenga · 21/12/2018 07:09

Do you specify a time limit when you give the instruction?

Frouby · 21/12/2018 07:14

Dd is 14. It's no better. We've just come back from a week abroad. 4 of us to get showered and dressed every night. I made sure dd was in the shower first as I know how long it takes.

An hour longer than 3 of us apparently. Including just 5 year old ds who can have a nice long splashy bath, walk around 10 mins waving his willy, eat 2 biscuits and play minecraft for 15 mins and still be dressed and waiting for his sister to finish fannying around.

She doesn't even wear a lot of make up. Fuck knows what she does. But she's been like it since she was 6.

Raven88 · 21/12/2018 07:22

I remember my goddaughter doing this when she was getting ready for school. She was 7. She's 12 now, I don't have children yet but I used to wonder why not just get ready.

FourFuxxakes · 21/12/2018 07:36

My eldest is beginning the assessment process for possible add and we've been told to give the instructions as a written, bullet pointed list that they have to tick off as they go. So far, it's helping 🤞🤞🤞

Arcadia · 21/12/2018 07:45

Normal, my DD - Just turned 9 - is like this. She sings whilst cleaning her teeth. she lies on the floor whilst getting dressed for school. No sense of urgency!

minmooch · 21/12/2018 12:44

Try just giving him one thing to do st a time. Some children work better with singular instructions.

dolliebauble · 21/12/2018 14:04

I have the same child. This is very reassuring.

malteserhound · 21/12/2018 14:08

Yes, my 9 year old is exactly like this. Completely normal, and likely to go on for some years yet! I have on occasion threatened to take him to school in his PJs with his uniform in a bag if he doesn't get a shift on. Timing him also helps!