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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

People finishing your sentences off...

30 replies

Quiltcover · 04/08/2013 07:58

How do you stop people finishing your sentences off when you're speaking. My mil drives me mad with this. She'll ask a question, or I'll say something and before I've got to the end of my sentence she has attempted (usually incorrectly) to finish my sentence.
I think she does it to show she understands what I am saying, but it drives me bonkers, particularly when she says something I wasn't going to say. This happens with the most mundane stuff up to important stuff.
E.g
Me: I enjoyed shopping today because (mil interrupts)
Mil: the sales are on
Me: no because it was nice to have a few hours break from the chimdren.

Me: I don't think I'll take ds to the park yet because
Mil: it might rain soon
Me: no because he will benefit from a nap first

Trivial. But AIBU? It is every conversation and now I just don't speak because it's exhausting!

OP posts:
aGnotherGnu · 04/08/2013 08:00

Do it back to her, but substitute with the most ridiculous endings you can think of

FrancesDeLaTourCoughngIntoABin · 04/08/2013 08:03

...when you're still trying to speak

Yes I know :o Irritating isn't it

HooverFairy · 04/08/2013 08:06

Very irritating! I think I'm probably guilty of it though. I think most people do I without realising, so she's probably not aware of it.

HooverFairy · 04/08/2013 08:06

it ^^

urbanturban · 04/08/2013 08:07

quiltcover

Oh my, I could have written this exact post as its my MIL that does it too! Shock

It's SO infuriating isn't it?!! I actually stop talking very abruptly when she starts to talk over me, as this normally makes her realise she's done it.......but I can't always be bothered! Grin

CailinDana · 04/08/2013 08:10

I actually looked at your username twice in case I'd written this in my sleep or something. My MIL does this all the time and it drives me up the wall. It's a pity because it stops me talking to her.

CailinDana · 04/08/2013 08:11

I've contemplated telling her to stop doing it but she's really sensitive and I think it would upset her too much.

thebody · 04/08/2013 08:12

it is but we can all be irritating can't we??

if she's generally nice then so what really, its just her and if you pointed it out you would probably hurt her feelings a lot.

my lovely mil used to do this a bit too but it was because she was interested and involved in us all.

aGnotherGnu · 04/08/2013 08:17

Isn't there a 2 Ronnies sketch about this?

FruOla · 04/08/2013 08:17

I've got one friend who, when you're telling her something, you can see her mouth trying to form the words she thinks you're going to say next Confused. It drives me potty!

And, yes, another friend who does try to finish my sentences off - just like your MIL, Quilt.

YANBU

FruOla · 04/08/2013 08:20

aGnotherGnu, yes Grin

ThreeBeeOneGee · 04/08/2013 08:21

I know a couple of people who do this. It gives me the urge to complete my sentence with something outlandish, since they clearly stopped listening half way through what I was saying.

Original poster
Quiltcover · 04/08/2013 08:24

It is every sentence. I have enough on with 4dc and so I am prob less accommodating. But it just puts me off speaking to her. She is definitely a talker rather than a listener, I just find conversations with her a chore rather than a pleasure.
I just wish she would listen and show interest in what I say rather then jump in and take over.

OP posts:
thebody · 04/08/2013 08:24

no if they weren't listening they wouldn't bother.

I really think its an over empathising thing.

of course it IS irritating though.

CailinDana · 04/08/2013 08:32

I totally sympathise Quilt. My MIL is lovely but I have no patience for this - as you say conversations are a chore because you're just saying "No," and filling in the correct ending every two seconds. With my MIL I definitely think she's trying to show she understands what I'm talking about but she never ever gets it right! The really annoying thing is that she often remembers what she said and then thinks that's what I said. So for example when I said a few months ago "I think DS had chicken pox..." and she filled in "last week" Hmm, I then corrected her and said "No, when he was about 7 months old." She clearly didn't listen because the next time we saw her she went on and on about DS having chicken pox and said I'd told her he had it etc etc. In that instance it looked like I'd been lying to her, which clearly I hadn't. Sooooo annoying!!

aGnotherGnu · 04/08/2013 08:36

That's the one FruOla

Put that on next time she's round OP. And laugh like a drain.

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 04/08/2013 08:43

I hate this! For some reason I seem to get this from a lot of people to varying degrees, maybe because I'm not a great talker. One woman at work I swear has never let me get a sentence out - she'll even finish my sentences (incorrectly) when SHE'S asked ME for advice.

streakybacon · 04/08/2013 08:56

I was watching the Two Ronnies sketch when ds came downstairs just now and turned it off to make breakfast.

Ds: "Can I watch that Two Ronnies sketch after breakfast?"
Me: "Yes, it's the one about ..."
Ds: "... finishing people's sentences for them?"

Oh how we laughed Grin.

Butterkistbutterkistrarara · 04/08/2013 08:56

I confess that I do this, I am aware of it and try not to. I do apologise when it happens though.

Hissy · 04/08/2013 09:08

I know several people that repeat back to me the last few words.

I like to try to slip in an unexpected word now and again, to see if it throws them!

It's actually really blooming annoying.

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 04/08/2013 09:23

Butters So can you offer us an insight into the mind of the compulsive sentence-finisher? Grin What makes you folks tick?

MoreThanWords · 04/08/2013 09:39

Streaky brilliant!

On a similar vein, I recently had to phone a friend for four candles (for a birthday cake) Grin

FairyPenguin · 04/08/2013 09:45

I know I do this, and I have to try very hard not to. I am very self-conscious, and I think I am trying to overcompensate. I grew up being the quiet child in the class and am still terrible in social situations when in a large group, but am now ok in groups of 2 or 3 people. When I am talking to someone, I think I finish sentences off because I am trying so hard to be more confident that I overdo it a bit. Sorry!

maddening · 04/08/2013 09:47

Isn't there a name for this - and people who repeat what you say - I don't think they realise they are doing it - but it is annoying. I reckon have some fun with it and maybe she'll catch on.

streakybacon · 04/08/2013 09:51

On a similar vein, I recently had to phone a friend for four candles (for a birthday cake)
Grin

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