Where's the Off Switch?

My Oldest Diva who turns 5 in three weeks (gasp!) is an incessant talker. From the minute she wakes up to the moment she falls asleep - she is either talking or singing. There never seems to be a quiet moment in my house these days.

She talks through every meal, she follows me around the house with her non-stop dialogue (yes, even to the bathroom - all you parents know there is no privacy - even in there!).  She talks through entire car rides and one of her favorite and most used phrases is "Mommy, I have to tell you something." She also loves to ask the same questions over and over (even when she knows the answers) just to have something to say and keep the conversation going.

Here's a great example of our typical first thing in the morning conversation:

Me: Good morning, time to wake up - you have school today!

Lil Diva - Where are we going today?

Me - School

Lil Diva - So today is a school day?

Me - Yes, today is a school day

Lil Diva - Why do we have school today?

Me:  It's (insert day of the week) so it's a school day today.

Lil Diva - So I'm going to school today?

Me: YES!

Other Lil Diva (who has been listening all along): So where are we going today?

AAARGH!!!!

Now, this is a girl that I was worried about at age 2 because she babbled and loved baby talk and resisted using actual words! Now I find myself wishing she had an off switch! Don't get me wrong, I love the fact that she freely expresses herself to me, is curious and wants to know about everything - but it gets EXHAUSTING!

When she finds something funny or gets a good reaction out of me - she immediately wants to repeat it. That means I must tell the same story over and over in exactly the same manner or listen to her retell it over and over and show her that same level of enthusiasm I did the first time. See what I mean - EXHAUSTING! Honestly, how do actors do it take after take? I have trouble mustering up the same laugh after the 3rd, 4th or 5th time.

Another thing she enjoys is asking me questions she knows the answers to but which I would have no way of knowing. Like a random question from a minor part of a tv show she saw days ago (which I have already forgotten about) or something that happened while I wasn't even around. It seems she gets a thrill out of knowing something I don't and is quick to let me know! Is this a sign of the teenage years to come? If so, OH BOY!

To top it off - she not only incessantly talks but she also loves to sing VERY LOUDLY! Of course this is usually when I am on the phone or otherwise engaged in something(by that I mean anything that does not concern her)! This is especially true in the car. Both girls love to sing in the car and I find it cute - but they tend to get LOUD! I think they mistakingly equate singing well with volume. It's something we need to work on, lol! I do love her creativity and she can make up some really good songs but it's hard to be the perfect audience all day, everyday!

I wonder if this is a phase? Will her ability to filter her thoughts lead to more of an internal dialogue versus this constant need for conversation? I know one day when she has become a teenager and no longer wants to tell me everything - I will miss these days. I keep reminding myself of that as I pop asprin for the headache caused by the constant noise around me.  Unfortunately, this realization still doesn't change the fact that keeping up with her constant dialogue is simply EXHAUSTING!

Do you have any incessant talkers? If so, how do you deal with it?

Bern