The Holy Grail of parent (and kid) communication
"How do you do it?" That's what my wife said to me a few months ago while we were driving in the minivan.
"Do what?" I said back.
"Tune them out."
In the back of the van, our 3 kids were causing their usual ruckus:
"How much longer?"
"Quit touching me!"
"Can we get a slushy?"
"It's a gift," I tell her like a zen master, unaware of the chaos behind me.
In actuality, though, it's not just a gift. It's a skill that I've been honing with many years of practice.