to expect people to talk to me and not break off in mid conversation to notice/talk to their children ?

[MargaretMountford]

...obviously if the child is about to do something dangerous then of course they must - but in the course of normal conversation it is very irritating to suddenly have someone completely turn their attention to their child for no important reason ...it is rude imo... there's a mum I know who will immediately switch off the moment she spies her child and our conversation ends abruptly. I will ask my ds to wait a second while I finish what I'm saying. It's just good manners really and children maybe should be learning that they aren't necessarily the most important person all the time.

YANBU - This is one of my pet hates too. Yes obviously if the kid's telling you "Mummy, that man just tried to snatch me" then you can break off and intervene. But otherwise they can blardy well learn to wait for me to finish my scintillating conversation about, er, Corrie or whatever.

Depends how old they are. Talking to my toddler mid conversation generally avoids minor attention seeking behaviour escalating into mini-terrorist activities. I know it's annoying, but it's prudent and pragmatic.

This pisses me off too. I SO want to tell their kid off about it, but haven't quite dared yet. One particular kid is nearly 8, FGS, and I KNOW he does it deliberately.... invites his mum to enter a conversation about what he might like for tea next Thursday, or does she remember that lego model he made last year......

Yes older children ought to recognise polite ways of interupting. Pre-schoolers and babies are a bit different. But even toddlers can be helped with good ways of getting attention, a hand on your arm is preferable to mummymummymummymummymummymummymummymummymummymummy

Still they are learning and so you do have to cut them some slack and notice them sometimes, even mid-flow, otherwise the world is incredibly frustrating for those yet to grasp patience.

Clam, I know a kid just like that too...

maybe you are boring? I always use my children as an excuse to escape from dull conversatoin

YANBU.... It's one of the things that really gets my goat.....

LOL at fyiad (oh bugger c'n I just call you enid please) .. I thinks it, she says it

YABU. I have a very active 3 yr old and I don't really like taking my eyes off him in public places, so am often distracted during conversations. Sorry, but my son comes first. I expect grown adults to understand my predicament.

thanks FYIAD

OHMYGOD FYIAD. Maybe you're right. Something new to obsess about....

I'm thinking more of older children who should learn their place ! fair enough if you have a rushing about little one

learn their place?

Yes, pisses me off too. Grooming spoilt brats, she is.
I make sure I tell my DD that I am talking, so please do not interrupt or wait till I'm done.

lol FYIAD.

agree with slur and neolara, and think it depends on age of child. but mostly, YABU, a little bit.

Wow. Your kids are all so polite.

oh you know what I mean..don't try to be snippy with me for expressing my views ! if grown ups are talking then children should be learning when it's appropriate to interrupt or join in and to not demand their parents attention whenever the want it - reasonable enough in a civilised world ?

"Still they are learning and so you do have to cut them some slack and notice them sometimes"

Can this be quote of the week?!

I was on a school journey earlier this year and had to explain in words of one syllable to an 11 yo (!) what constituted reasonable grounds to wake a teacher in the middle of the night. Bleeding from a main artery? OK. What are we having for breakfast tomorrow? I don't think so!
Mine wouldn't have got through toddlerhood asking questions like that in the middle of the night, but presumably his parents thought it acceptable.

My friend does this when we are on the phone, I do know myself that sometimes it is unavoidable but to have a whole conversation about something is rude.
My dd is 4 and talks constantly, there are times when I have had to break off a conversation and talk to her but I have been encouraging her to say excuse me so that I know she wants to talk to me and I can then be polite and either finish what I was saying or talk to her if it is appropriate.
Usually it is something obscure and it really is just for the sake of talking but she is getting the hang of intervening nicely rather than running up and just talking.

I will keep a child waiting for a reply while the adult I am talking to finishes what they were saying.
I will also make an adult wait while the child finishes telling me something and it's amazing how many adults get annoyed at that and just inturrupt anyway. I have to be firm and say "shhh I'm talking. I'll get to you in a minute"

I must admit to using my kids to avoid talking to people I dont want to or if a conversation is not going too well - usually reserved for DH and family members though - then I welcome an interruption and make the most of it.

Doesnt really bother me if others do it though.

Greyriverside... who do you say 'Shh' to, your child or the adult?

greyriverside talks sense - of course it works both ways !

What Greyriverside said

If I need to 'escape' I usually make my own excuses anyway like "Got to dash to ..."