Listening & Communicating Vignette Final Dialogue

(Mom is in the living room folding laundry and watching TV. We hear the front door open and rushed footsteps enter the room; it's the daughter, arriving home from school, tossing off her book bag, and launching into a story without so much as a "Hello.")

Daughter (stating very quickly, all in a rush, and almost in one breath):

Mom, Mom I really have to tell you something. So like, Justin is gonna break up with Kelly so he can go out with Jenny. The problem is I'm friends with both of them-well actually more so Jenny than Kelly, but whatever-that's not the point. Jenny doesn't know that Justin is gonna break up with Kelly, but the rest of us do. We really wanna tell Jenny, but we don't want Kelly to think that she's not our friend anymore. Now I'm gonna be stuck in the middle between my two friends, and it's all over some stupid boy. What do I do?

(Mom keeps folding laundry and never looks in daughter's direction, but she uh-huhs a few times.)

Daughter:

Hello!?!? Mom.were you even listening to a word I was just saying?

Mom (distracted, still folding laundry):

What? I'm sorry honey What did you say?

Daughter (Hands on her hips, totally exasperated):

I can't believe I just told you, like, the most important story and you weren't even listening.

(Mom realizes that the daughter needs her attention.)

Mom:

You're right, honey. Hold on a second.

(Mom turns off the TV, sets the laundry basket aside, and sits down on the couch.)

Do you mind starting over again?

(Mom looks directly at daughter, motions for her to sit down with her.)

Daughter (rolling her eyes a bit and plopping onto the couch):

Fine. Justin is breaking up with Kelly so he can go out with Jenny. Jenny doesn't know it yet but the rest of us do..

Mom:

Uh oh.

Daughter:

Right, 'cause I'm friends with both of them! We really want to tell Jenny, but we don't want Kelly to stop being our friend.

Mom (nodding):

That's hard.

Daughter:

Now I'm gonna be stuck in the middle between my two friends, and it's all over some dumb guy. What am I gonna do?

Mom:

Wow. This is sort of like the plot in that TV show you were telling me about yesterday.

Daughter:

Yeah, just like that! Only it's worse, 'cuz they're my friends.

Mom:

Are you feeling a little mad that Justin wants to break up with Kelly, or maybe alittle mad that Jenny wants to go out with him?

Daughter:

Oh, I don't know. I suppose that he can break up with her, but then that puts me in the middle.

Mom (putting her arm around her):

What do you think you can do to help Kelly feel included?

(The two keep on talking.)

# # #

Ineffective Response Video Dial-up Modem DSL, Cable Modem, or T1

Back to the article: Be a Better Listener