My DD (2.5) gets really whiney and *needs* a million things whenever my DH and I try to have a conversation. If we give her what she asks for but continue the conversation, she starts whining about something else. If we ignore her, she does things that she knows will get our attention, like trying to push the TV over or throwing her drink everywhere. Last night, she screamed "Stop it! Stop talking!". We do play with her and interact with her more than each other but sometimes you need to talk about something!!

She also does it when we go to my mums house - she misbehaves the entire time - because my mum isn't interested in interacting with her, only in adult conversation. I find it very stressful managing their competing needs - my mum is clearly irritated because she wants to tell me something about work or her health, but E needs constant attention. She's much better with my inlaws because she's the centre of their world and they tend to take turns, one plays with her while the other discusses whatever they need to with us.

I don't know how I should handle it. There's a part of me that's saying I should hear what she's trying to tell me, that she feels left out and ignored..... but she does it every time I try to speak to anyone who isn't her! Plus, surely, she needs to learn that its rude to interrupt!

I know this triggers something in me - I already feel so trapped in this life; I cant go where I want to go, I cant listen to music in the car (only Peppa Pig nursery rhymes), I cant look at things in shops and now I'm not allowed to speak in my own house. Even as I'm typing this, she is whining, grabbing my hand and has just said "stop typing". She's watching a TV show but isn't happy unless I watch it too.

Is this really common? Any tips?