Are They Ignoring Me… or Processing?

Caregiver…

You said:

“Go get your shoes.”

Nothing.

You say it again.

Nothing.

Now your voice changes:

“I KNOW YOU HEARD ME!”

But what if they did hear you…

and their brain is still working out what to do next?

James 1:19 KJV says:

“Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”

That “slow to speak” part can help us here.

Sometimes we need to stop adding more words.

1. SAY ONE THING

“Get your shoes.”

1. WAIT

Give them extra processing time.

Don’t fill every second with another command.

1. CHECK UNDERSTANDING

Try:

“Tell me what you’re doing first.”

STOP — Pause before you react.

BREATHE — One slow breath. Count to five.

SAY — “I’m going to take a minute, then try again.”

1. I Do — Show it first: model “Say One Thing” out loud so your family can see it.

1. We Do — Practice “Wait” together in a calm moment.

1. You Do — Try “Check Understanding” on your own today. Notice what changes.

1. Today, practice: Say One Thing.

1. Today, practice: Wait.

1. Today, practice: Check Understanding.

Caregiver…

Hearing isn’t always processing.

Processing isn’t always immediate action.

And slow doesn’t always mean disrespect.

Before you call it ignoring—

give the brain a little room to answer.

💜 Before we stress, let’s assess.

Spot the clue. Know what to do.