In an effort to finish a sentence, I decided to teach my three year old the polite way to interrupt a conversation.
Me: "If there is something you need and mommy is talking, please say "excuse me" and wait for me to acknowledge you."
Child: "Okay, mommy."
Me: "So, where was I? Oh yes, and ..."
Child: "Excuse me mommy!"
Me: "Yes, dear."
Child: "Was that better? I waited for you."
Me: "Yes, thank you. Now what did you need?"
Child: "Nothing, bye mommy!"
At this point, I'm laughing within the conversation and have no idea what I was talking about. She has been very polite and interrupting with multiple "excuse me" phrases at varying volume levels until my attention is solely hers. I suppose that ultimately the goal was accomplished and the phrase is forever etched in her vocabulary library. At least others may recognize my feeble attempt to teach manners. On the other hand, the fact that my child is forcing her way into a conversation is obtrusive but expected at the ripe old age of three.
Still, what were we talking about?
