On the phone

Do you remember the book about the pig and the pancake? I think I have a modern version.

If a parent is on a phone, then a child will want to talk to her.

We've all experienced it. You're sitting in your living room. Your child is playing quietly with some toys. You remember that there is a call you need to make. Maybe it is to a relative, or a doctor, or the President of the United States. It really doesn't matter. You will pick up the phone, and, it must be because of some type of electronic signal that is magically sent between the phone and a toddler's brain that lets a child know that someone is about to make an important, or non important call.

Suddenly, there is a need. Suddenly, there is yelling. Suddenly, not talking to Mommy is no longer a choice.

We have been working with Tahlia on not talking to Mommy when she is on the phone. One day, Tahlia even attempted to understand the need to be quiet by asking me to explain why Miriam was crying. This was one of those stories that we tell to Tahlia. The story that I made up was that Miriam's mommy was talking on the phone to her mother and needed to say something important and if Miriam was quiet, her mommy would be off the phone quickly and be able to play. We think this helped Tahlia for a little while.

But the story wasn't the only thing. We also tried to teach her phone manners. Sometimes, we'd play phone. One of us would pretend there was a call, and say something like, "Hold on Tahlia, I'm on the phone. Blah blah blah. Ok, bye. Ok Tahlia, what do you need?" She liked the game.

But still, when the phone rang, or a call was made, Mommy was needed.

Today, though, there was a breakthrough.

Mommy and Tahlia were having a conversation, when Tahlia suddenly picked up something and pretended it was a phone. Mommy looked at Tahlia and in a sing song voice said, "Oh Tahlia, who are you talking to?"

Tahlia put her little index finger up to her lips and whispered politely, "Shhhhhhh Mommy, I'm on the phone."

Mommy nodded her head and mouthed, "Oh, I see. Ok." And remained silent.

After a short conversation, Tahlia hung up the phone and looked at Mommy and said, "Ok Mommy, what do you need?"

She clearly knows the routine. Now, all we have to do, is have her act like Mommy when she was on the phone.