Moms of 3ish year olds: does your DC do this?

CubbyMama

Living with DD1 is like having Dory from Finding Nemo around all the time lately!  It's kind of funny, but sometimes it's really frustrating.  She asks me to repeat almost everything I say (I think it's just out of habit or because it's a game to her--I don't think she actually has a hearing problem) and will ask the same question over and over again, even though I keep answering her clearly.

For example, the other day I was out in the garage cleaning out our cars, while she was inside with DH.  She'd open the door and say, "Hey, Mommy, what're you doing out here?" and I'd say, "I'm cleaning out the cars."  Then she'd close the door, be gone for about 10 seconds, and then come back out: "Hey, Mommy, what're you doing out here?"  I swear, this exchange took place literally about 20 times!  She wasn't giggling like she was playing a game or deliberately being silly, but she must be doing it on purpose, I guess?

She does it in the car all the time, too:  "Where are we going, Daddy?"  "To Target to buy some diapers."  <1 minute later>  "Daddy, where are we going?"....repeat 20 times.

DH and I keep joking that we're going to get her tattoos and Polaroids like the guy in Memento, to help her cope with her short-term memory loss.

Does your toddler do this, or is mine a freakazoid?

KrisBriMcBunny

Michelle does this all the time and has been ever since she started talking.  Also if she ask me a question that I dont know the answer to  and say "I dont know" she will keep asking the same question over and over and get pissed off if she doesnt get an answer thats acceptable to her.  Drives me bonkers

neesernicole

I would make her answer the question with a question:  "Well, hon, what does it look like I'm doing?"  Nothing rude, just make her think.  Like on Knocked Up when the little girl asks where babies come from and the mom says, "where do you think they come from?"

I think this is another version of the dreaded"Why?"

KrisBriMcBunny

ditto neeser...shoot the question back at her.  It works most of the time.

akgram

My DD Cate is the exact.same.way!  It must be the age?

KelMel

Yes, my DS does this all.the.time....drives me crazy---Or I tell him something and he says "huh"....like 50 times...

CubbyMama

Yup, neeser, that's exactly what I've started doing.  Sometimes it helps and she answers her own question, and other times she says, "I don't know!"  Silly girl.

ashleyvc1

Kalli does this. 

 

 

tmp-726880625006534

I think it is totally normal.  My DD does this all the time.  I have doen the repharsing it back as a question to her and it works sometimes and sometimes it doesn't. 

I lov eyour analogy - I am going to start calling our DD Dory! LOL Knwoing her she would probably like that.

hikerbeth

Yes.  And I end up saying, "Remember when I just told you what I was doing?  Think REALLY hard.  Do you remember?"  Even if she doesn't "remember" I'll tell her again and that longer questioning/explanation usually breaks the cycle of asking.

debs1018

My son doesn't repeat the question. I will tell him something and he will repeat it 50 times! "Mommy take a shower" over and over again! LOL the joys of a 3 year old.

VivaAmore

We have a Dory here too! In your situation after about the third time I'd say "I don't know, why is mommy out here?" and she'll answer me with "cleaning out the car" sothey are listening, just being annoying.

winery

Yes.

And the first time I answer "We're going to Target".  The second time, I pause and I say "Where ARE we going?" and he says "To TARGET!" and laughs.

Try that.

omurray

YES!!  Mine does it and it drives me nuts!  I posted this same thing a couple weeks ago and got lots of yes answers too.  It helps me to know that others do it too, so it must be a phase of some sort.  I often have a hard time not getting frustrated by it.  One person answered my post saying they sometimes call their daughter Rain Man!!  That had me LOL!

MomToTGH

All. The. Time.  He will ask me something about 500 times, even after saying to him, "Now what did mommy just say she was doing?" 

Twink13

yes, my son does this sometimes too. i just read something about this also. it said that they do this b/c the answer is predictable and they are establishing stability. so yeh, if it bothers you, you can start to have her answer her own questions, make a game of it.

gl!!