Selective Listening

My son oldest son has selective listening. It started when he was a toddler, and got progessively worse as he aged.


With selective listening, some words can't be used together. The words "clean" and "room" can be heard, but when used together in a sentence coupled with the word "your," he suddenly has an attack of SLS.

It also gives the "sufferer" almost super human hearing. Seth can hear the soft pft of a soda open or the crinkle of a candy wrapper all the way across the house. The foam on a freshly poured glass of cola has not yet disappeared before Seth is at my elbow wanting to share the sweet velvety goodness of the coveted drink.

Several years ago, John, I, and then four, Seth, were on our way to St. Louis, Missouri, and had a layover in Houston. As we walked casually though the airport, enjoying the mall-like atmosphere, we passed a terminal where a smiling attendant annunced, "Boarding now for Mexico. . ."

The three of us had been to Cancun earlier that summer and loved it; appearantly Seth was ready to go back. Quicker than a bug being chased by a bird, Seth jerked away from me, raced pass the attendant, through the long hall, up the ramp, and into the plane, with me in hot pursuit. I dodged passengers weilding heavy bags over their heads as I cornered my runaway at the rear of the plane. He braced his legs like a stubborn mule mule and yelled, "No! I'm not going with you! I want my Daddy!" I felt a vise-like grip on my arm and turned to face a male flight attendant.

"Is there a problem madam?" he asked, his voice dipping venom.

"I have an explanation--"

"You'd better talk fast before I call security."

Near tears, I told my pathetic story; luckily my son looks like me, and my story was so ridiculous it was totally believable. The not very amused male attendant escorted me and a bawling Seth off the plane. I shudder as I think what would happen to me if that same incident happened now.

The selective listening is contagious; it's passing on to my toddler and driving me nuts. My mother swears it's genetic, I had it too.