My freshman English class was reading an expository text on this subject with the intent of writing a summarization of the one-page article. (Personally, I think one page on the topic couldn't scratch the surface, but with such little attention span it's probably best.) It noted that some bad listening habits included 1) preparing your response as you are listening, 2) daydreaming, and 3) listening selectively.
If you read my last post, you'll note that this is a hot issue in my family. Being an inveterate problem-solver, I have set about to improve how we communicate. One solution I've suggested came as a bit of epiphany as I'm shouting a retort to my beloved that I ought to write every "beepin'" thing I say down on a piece of paper for him . . .
Yeah, I know you know what I'm saying.
My solution? I've taken a standard spiral bound notebook, labeled it The Family Log, and initiated its use yesterday. We will write down notes to each other such as incoming phone messages, whether or not the dog has been out for her morning constitutional and has been fed, comments about changes in daily schedules, requests such as those from our daughters for the usual - money, field trip requests, notes to attendance secretaries, etc. and other such mundane things.
Of course, this wonderful idea didn't help when I discovered that my daughters took the bus today inspite of the fact one of them has a doctor's appointment after school and now will be late if I don't drive 30 minutes north to pick her up thereby screwing up my afternoon to run errands. This would have been a good day for her to remember that I told her to drive and to take her little body to the office so that I can meet her there.
Welcome to my life.
Several thoughts have run through my mind...
1. Aren't ya glad you only have two kids and one husband?
2. I bet YOU are the only one writing in the book.
3. You'd think it would get easier the older the kids get, but that doesn't seem to be the case.
4. She rode the BUS to school when she could have DRIVEN???? What's with that??
5. Have you thought about taking vows and retiring to a religious life where they choose not to speak??? *G* Nah...too hard.
6. This, too, shall pass. Now would be good.
Love you, sis!
Okay.....where's the next post you were talking about????