Conversation

I’m a slow processor of dialogue with other people because my introverted head is always spinning. Often my kids will ask me a question and I will respond to that question after a significant time delay that I haven’t even realized has taken place, which particularly frustrates my extroverted progeny because they process conversation at incredibly rapid rates. When this happens I always remind them that I’m busy having conversations with the 47 friends in my head, and I’m not ignoring them on purpose. The 47 imaginary friends in my head have gotten to be quite a little family joke because I’m always so busy thinking things over with them while my family waits for my attention.

A few weeks ago we were headed to church in the evening and the mudroom was a hopping place as we all found our shoes and winter gear and I was bundling up the resident toddler. On top of all that, The Banana was playing loud German pop music on the speaker of her phone and telling us a story about the music.

We finally all got in the car and started driving down the street (just me and the kidlets because Dr. Peds was at work). I realized I was wearing my winter coat and really didn’t need to because it wasn’t that cold. The coat felt bulky and too warm.

“Man, I don’t know why I put this coat on! It’s not even that cold out tonight,” I stated. “I’m not sure what I was thinking.”

The Banana said, “Maybe you WEREN’T thinking because you were distracted by 47 friends in your head, two kids, one toddler and German music.”

Observant, that one.