One day my mom was visiting, and she got tired of the chaos and decided to turn off her hearing aids. She commented to me, after I had shouted her name 3 times in close range, that she felt like she could have used the same easy access to silence when she was a young mom. Just like that it hit me! I wasn’t deaf but I could turn down the sound. I ran into our bedroom and pulled out a set of earplugs from a stash my husband uses on business trips. I put them in and walked around the house. It was a miracle! I could see everything and know everyone was safe, but the annoying whining/petty arguments/Barney songs/whatever...it just disappeared.
I warn the kids when I have them in so if something serious happens they can come tap me. I even carry a pair in my purse. It’s great if you want to read while at a child’s after school activity, or need to wait in the car and the kids are happily/noisily playing in the back. We all know there are “times in the month” when we are short on patience…yet another opportunity to tune out what might be driving you crazy. It is so easy to do, inexpensive to buy, and could save you from having your own childish outburst. You don't have to be 70 to enjoy some well deserved silence. Give it a try!
35 comments:
Well that's a good idea. I've only got a 12 yr old, but sometimes she talks non stop. I could put them in and continue to nod as I do when she goes on her random story telling.... she needs to learn how to get to the point.... she loses her audience!
I use my earphones and my ipod all the time to drown out the noise. The earplugs are a great idea!
You tell the kids to tap you in case of an emergency? Can we skip that part if I use them??
Brilliant idea!
Such a great idea! I'm going to try this! :)
I love this idea, but I know it wouldn't work at my house....
I haven't tired these, but I have put my iPod on and listened to calming music while the chaos ensues around me. I was in heaven but my husband doesn't care for it too much. Then the kids turn to him with their requests because I can't hear them.
I'm older than you and the 1st sense that is going is my hearing. It's a mixed bag...both a blessing and a curse.
amazing. And I thought these were just for hubsands snoring their asses off.
you have found the holy grail of motherhood - i found them useful years and years ago after being married to a snorer/moaner/shouter
Genius! And so simple...that cracked me up that your mom turned off her hearing aids. Hilarious.
My boys are at the age where if there's big noise it's because they're fighting, so I do need to check to make sure there's no one getting seriously hurt. I have been known to turn up the music to block out their noise, and when I'm very lucky they'll come in to see why the heck mom has the music blaring. Sometimes they'll even forget why they were fighting, which I guess shows that sometimes music does calm "savage beasts."
I have developed the skill of turning it all off very well! I can still sit here and not hear a thing that they say!
I'm guessing that works better than sticking your fingers in your ears and yelling "I can't hear you!". Once the babe isn't a danger to himself I could give this a try...
How about that! I've been doing this all along, and here you are writing about it. I never thought of actually admitting it, much less writing about it. But hey, it's a good idea.
I have to admit that I sleep with ear plugs but I have never tried wearing them during the day..Hmmmmmm...great thought.
GENIUS!!! Pure genius!
Altho I may have to skip the tapping idea because every 2 seconds there would be an emergency!
But hmmm this would def work in the husband area.
Can I say it again - GENIUS
MJ
Dirty Little Confessions
beyondhilarious. beyond. I have those ear plugs for when the Hubby snores :) but your idea is even more useful!
Cheers!
Cameron
www.conquerthemonkey.com
My problem is that I NEED to hear my boys or they will inevitably sneak past me into trouble ;-) *sigh* silence in my house is after 10:00 p.m. with percussion snoring. That's as good as gets! LOL!
I tell you thank goodness for ear plugs and Ipods. My 12 year old loves to hear himself talk and is full of useless information with the need to share non-stop. I love the kid, but sometimes my Ipod is not even on and I'm pretending I can't hear him just to get some quiet time.
Yeah, I ruled out the tapping...tap me when the phone is for me
Good idea! My hearing isn't great, so I've become really good at tuning out what I don't want to hear.
I always get a bag of those when I go to Wal-Mart. My neighbors are stoner college kids, and party till 2 all the time, my husband snores, and I live right next to the freeway, so...yeah, I have those!
I don't think this is exclusive to mums. I think it applies to anyone who come into contact with kids. And I've found the iPod does the same trick.
I wonder what my principal would say if I wore them at school...hmmm...sounds a whole lot easier than the "classroom management plan to reduce the 'voices' in the art room" that was suggested...
I have a friend who when he's had enough of his wife announces that his 'ears' (hearing aides) are going out does she have anything else to say before then??
My mom never wears hers -- I can call and tell her I've just been stabbed and robbed: "That's nice, dear.." "MOM, put your ears in!" Then she gets all defensive that we talk too low --and if we ramp the volume we are 'screaming' geez.......
I heart earplugs SOOOO much. Sleep with them too. Hi Bliss!
I have no kids but I can just imagine!
:)- u have a new friend. Enjoy the blog.
You have just made my day! That is a brilliant suggestion that warrants a trial the minute those kids get home. The constant bickering does my head in. Any suggestion that will help me to avoid a few childish outbursts of my own is more than welcome.
Brilliant...where were you when I needed you?
Sue
I do this all the time, not because of young kids (mine are grown), but because my elderly father-in-law is hard of hearing and listens to the the television turned all the way up.
Hilarious! And ingenious! You should get a Nobel.
That is LITERALLY the best advice I have gotten this week.
Thanks for the idea and the laughs.
I'm a new follower.
:-)
What a fabulous idea! If you put those ear plugs in cute packaging and called them something like "Mom's Little Sanity Savers", you'd probably make a fortune!!
Jenn @ rookno17.blogspot.com
My dad (grandpa) has hearing aids and he never wears them when we are visiting or he is visiting us...good plan.
Holly @ 504 Main
Oh that's awesome!
***Ally
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