Things That Annoy Me Thursday: Husband Asking Kid To Stop. Kid Now Bugging Me.

Natalie was off in the corner making weird noises with her Shopkins.

"BOING! BOING! BOING!"

I don't exactly know what she was doing. But she was entertaining herself. So I was reading.

"BOING! BOING! BOING!"

I've been a parent for thirteen years now so I've learned the art of tuning things out.

"BOING! BOING! BOING!"

"Natalie? Could you stop that?"

That was my husband Tom. Who was on a computer game. Despite being trained for war, I guess he missed the lesson on tuning things out. Didn't he go to a class where he learned to tune out angry camels when he's deployed? Hello?

"Okay Daddy," Natalie said sweetly, because she listens to him. If I request something I generally get the stink eye. Or I'm ignored until I raise my voice and then she's all, "You don't have to YELL at me!" while clamping her palms dramatically against her ears.

To my horror, Natalie came over to me and stared.

I glanced up from my book.

"Um. Yes?" I asked politely.

"I'm bored," she answered with a long sigh.

"Go play with your Shopkins thingies," I suggested. "Like you were doing."

"I'm done with that," Natalie said primly.

I glared at the back of Tom's head. He continued playing his game UNDISTURBED while I was being DISTURBED. Why was he able to bark out an order and continue doing what HE wanted and now I had a child staring at me?

"Let's go play Disney Infinity," Natalie suggested.

"You can play. Mommy wants to read." I lifted the book back up and began scanning the words.

"M-O-O-M." She stretched out the word in an irritating way that only kids can do.

It took all my strength not to toss my book at the back of Tom's head.

I did play Disney Infinity with Natalie because I kept hearing a voice in the back of my head go, "She won't be little forever. She won't like you in a few years. So play with her now," even though I told the voice that I JUST WANTED TO READ.

I also reminded Tom to let Natalie be with her noises. Unless she is shouting profanity, allow it.

For my sanity.

ALLOW IT.