[CelticJourney]

Originally Posted by MrsHutch

....Rather than merely forcing myself to endure their presence (and then inevitably getting tired of the questions and telling them to go away), I'd like to teach them to be better conversationalists so that they are actually enjoyable people to be around. I expect that will be easier with my oldest since she actually wants to make conversation. I don't know what to do with the younger one.

Does anybody have any tips, ideas, etc?

I think you got some good ideas in the pp - ask their opinion, what they think, look things up together, etc.

I don't even know what the goal of being 'a better convesatoinalist so they are actually enjoyable people to be around' looks like in little kids.

I also think that the constant NEED to connect with you circles back to you 'merely forcing myself to endure their presence'....ouch. Kids pick up on these things and it scares them. I imagine it might scare your girls more than most. They want to know you and they want to know 'stuff' so they feel more able and secure. When mine were obviously NEEDY, usually there was a reason they couldn't articulate. You have a lot going on in your world right now....I imagine it might be unsettling for them.