to expect mothers not to break off an adult conversation mid sentence because their dc has just toddled up...

[Fairynufff]

It usually happens in the middle of some really deep life crisis/personal revelation and then a child will toddle up (not an emergency) and the mother will just start cooing at the child about the toy/biscuit/whatever the child is waving around! Hello? We were in a conversation here...

I quite agree. It's possible to deal with the problem without breaking off the conversation. I just avoid spending time with people like that now.

depends on the age of the child. Right now DS 2, so he takes priority, but by the time DS is four, I would expet him to wait for a bit sometimes out of politeness. Otherwise he''l be interrupting at preschool and school, when there are lots of children and they all need to take turns. If I didn't start to train him, others may think of him as rude. It;s my job as his parent to guide him into what is acceptable.

I have realised that I do this all the time and am obviously one of those really annoying people.

DS is 2.9 and I am trying to get him to wait but I think he's too young. I want him to know that he is not ignored and that I am interested in what he has to say.

Especially at meal times. I want him to encourage him to join in adult conversations and see interacting with people as important. In fact, he is usually far more interested in telling my friends about his achievements than me.

I have recently become conscious that I am one of those mothers who think about their children first and realise that it must really irritate my friends (well the ones without children anyway).

Maybe I'll grow out of it

Toddlers fine, still babies really. But my friend does this with her DC who is 8 and it so pisses me off. We have to hault the conversation whenever he opens his mouth. It's a shame because it's a headache for me whenever we meet up and I'm getting to the point where I can't be bothered.

I am so conscious of this now after this thread! I've found myself doing it - just breaking off to say wait a minute to my toddler, mind. Oh, and I did stop mid flow with my mum on the phone to tell him to stop throwing toys across the room. I'm thinking I should say "excuse me a minute" every time, but I just can't be arsed tbh. It's obvious I'm not giving preference to my toddler - just telling him to wait until I've finished. I hope no one finds that rude.

I actually find it annoying if I am talking to an adult and my dd comes up to me with the usual 'mumumumumum routine' and the other adult doesn't give her a moment but carries on and expects me to ignore my dd.

I would stop for their child - I know children cannot wait.