Can you tell your child you’re tired of hearing about their trip abroad?

[Anonymous]

Maybe think about why it’s annoying you. Are you feeling envy? Does it remind you something of you didn’t get as a kid? Or would you be too scared to go yourself? Are you worried about her becoming independent of you?

[Anonymous]

No, I would love it, OP. It's great that your child is so enthusiastic about her trip and that it went so well!

I would ask if she can upload her photos on my screen saver.

[Anonymous]

Wow - so self-centered that you can't give your own kid the spotlight? Ugghhh.

[Anonymous]

OP, be patient.
Also, you should be asking her more questions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sure you can, if you want to be a jerk.

+1

[Anonymous]

WTH OP???

[Anonymous]

Encourage her to write it all down - bother the factual stuff and her thoughts and feelings about it. She can add photos and make a book. That may preoccupy her for a while.

[Anonymous]

I came home from a trip to Europe in high school and all my mom wanted to know was how soon I could be in my room to stop making noise. She never even asked about how it went.

By no means is it the biggest deal in the world, but I still remember how crappy that felt.

[Anonymous]

I used to be a big talker as a kid and teenager. I can tell you every time I got an explicit or implicit message from my mom or another adult that I was talking too much. Every single message has stuck with me.** I’m a lot less talkative now and have a lot less self confidence. I’m totally aware of what has happened, and yet I can’t get over it. And I don’t by any means think I’m alone. This is what the world does to girls.

**when my mom bought me a T-shirt that said “I’m talking and I can’t shut up.”
When I sat in the backseat of the car and counted as I asked her the same thing 10 times and she didn’t respond. When I finally started crying and got through to her, she told me that I talked too much.
When the professor leading my college orientation class posed a question and said, “anyone but Susie [me] please?”
And on and on.

Now that I have kids, I can recognize that I was totally normal. My oldest kid talks a ton. He’s just a happy little soul, and I think I was too. I wish someone could have helped me figure out how to channel it then. Now I just write long posts on DCUM.

[Anonymous]

I don’t get the impression OP doesn’t want to hear her trip. I get the impression that DD is repeating the same things over and over or maybe making everything into a “but Australian things are so much cooler than the things I have here” which would be annoying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get the impression OP doesn’t want to hear her trip. I get the impression that DD is repeating the same things over and over or maybe making everything into a “but Australian things are so much cooler than the things I have here” which would be annoying.

That's what I thought too. Vent here safely, and grin and bear it at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD 16 just got back from a 3 week trip to Australia. The trip was through her school and I was proud when she was selected to go. She’s been back a week now and it’s all she talks about. I think I’ve heard every story twice. I get it was a significant time, but I’m tired of hearing every sentence start with “ in Australia ‘

OP, you need to relax--she's only be back a week and still exited about the experience. You should probably reflect on why it bothers you so much. Perhaps you are jealous that you didn't get to go too? Whatever it is, you can't tell her to quit talking about it. She'll eventually ease up on it. For now, just be thankful she is sharing with you.

[Anonymous]

OP, if I had just come back from Australia it's all I would talk about too. As a PP noted, international travel can be a life altering experience. Our DD came back from two weeks in China and talked about it constantly, but it was really fascinating. Be happy she is talking to you and not locked in her room, pretty soon she'll be gone for good and you'll regret shutting her down like this.

You sound really petty by even asking this question, so get over it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your daughter's been telling you about Australia, FFS, for a week, and you are complaining??
My mother-in-law has been telling me the same friggin' story about being pregnant with my husband for 11 years.
Count your blessings.

Hahahahahahaha

Seriously, I get how hearing every sentence start "In Australia...." gets wearing, but try to see the bigger picture on what it means to your daughter. Hang in there!

[Anonymous]

Seriously OP?

Sometimes these topics are really just humble brags, disguised as issues.