How do you handle an incessant talker?

collage1
Sun, 17 Nov 2013 22:43:33 +0000

This is such a tough one. morrismm, good for you for trying to be aware and listen well.

MIL is not necessarily an incessant talker but she interrupts anyone and any type of conversation. D can be fully engaged in a conversation with her grandfather and MIL interrupts with an unrelated, unimportant question (like, “how do you like your meal”)–poor kid can’t figure out how to respond as she looks away from grandfather, back to grandfather–feels so awkward. It took me 20+ years but, on occasion, I will now say, ‘sorry X, I’m just hearing about y’ I’ll check back with you in a few minutes’.

I asked dh years ago if he would consider having a conversation with her about it but he was adamant that it would not result in a positive outcome. Unfortunately, neither of us goes out of our way to spend much time with dh’s parents as a result.

There’s another woman I know (late 40s) who talks incessantly…she’s one of a group of 5 of us that goes to lunch a few times a year. She talks 80%-90% of the time. I feel like, ever so gently, suggesting to her that, with 5 of us at the table, it would be logical if each of us talk about 20% of the time…accounting for some being more shy, perhaps 25 or even 30% of the time but 80%+?? NOOOOOO!