When I walked into my six-week check-up after having my third child, I probably looked like a zombie. Immediately, my midwife said, “You’re deep in it now. It’s tough, I know. Sometimes I just want to tell my kids to shut up. Just stop talking already!”
In that moment, I felt like I was the one giving advice. With a tiny newborn and two rambunctious toddlers, I really couldn’t relate. Sure, things were chaotic, but I had never felt the urge to tell my kids to just be quiet. I thought, how could she even think that? But looking back, I realize it was probably because my oldest had just started talking.
Fast forward a few years, and suddenly my oldest thinks I’m a walking encyclopedia, my middle child has perfected her “no” responses, and my youngest is constantly tugging on my shirt, shouting, “Mommy, mommy, mommy!” It hit me—I finally understood what my midwife had meant. I caught myself thinking, “Just give me a moment of peace. Please, stop talking for a little while!”
This thought pops into my head almost daily—okay, maybe five times a day. And now I know my midwife wasn’t terrible; she was just being real, just like I am and just like you are.
I felt guilty for judging her earlier. The truth is, kids are loud and they love to chat. They don’t care if you’re in the middle of a conversation or trying to cook dinner. If they have something to say, they’re going to say it—like announcing the epic turd they just dropped in the toilet. So, sometimes we just need them to gift us a moment of silence.
They’re oblivious to the chaos around them. When I’m on a phone call, it’s like a signal for them to start a marching band and demand answers about dinosaurs. I could give them the stink eye, but they’re too busy chattering away. And if I hold my finger up to signal for quiet during an important call? They’ll wait exactly one second before resuming like nothing’s happened.
It doesn’t matter how many times we ask them to stop talking or remind them not to interrupt. Kids don’t have a grasp on what “a moment” means, nor do they understand how much we need just a second of silence. They’re just kids who want to be heard and are terrified their voices will get lost in the noise. We’re always teaching them to wait their turn, and we often play the game of “let’s see who can be quiet the longest.” Best. Game. Ever.
Honestly, sometimes we all just want our kids to be quiet—lots of times. And that’s completely okay.
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In summary, it’s perfectly normal to crave some peace amidst the delightful chaos of parenting. Just remember, it’s okay to want a little quiet sometimes!
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