Will She Ever Stop Talking?

Listening to kids

Photo by Caroline Daniel of Banksy-inspired street art in Chichester, England. The girl with the balloon is by an anonymous artist. Jamie Scanlon, known as JPS, created the one on the right.

We’re on a long drive. My daughter is strapped into a car seat. She’s maybe 18 months old and babbling nonstop. Jokingly, I say, “Sweetheart, will you ever stop talking?”

Her reply is crystal clear.

“No.”

Eleven years later and she’s still chattering away. On the way to school and back, through meals, in the…