Huh? What-cha say?!?!?

Men have selective hearing.  We all know that.  But did you know that it actually starts when they're at the tender age of four.  Case in point, Lil T.

Lil T has remarkable hearing.  He can hear the faintest of whispers.  Conversations that Papa in Suburbia and I don't want him to hear, he hears.  We could be whispering in the next room and he'll hear every word of the conversation.  We could speak in cryptic and he'll understand what we're talking about.  He can make out the lyrics of a song that's playing on the radio, which he'll sing along to each time it.  Even I have a hard time hearing what these singers are singing sometimes.  Yes, he'll croon "Rollling in the Deep" right along with Adele.  But when it comes to me giving him a simple directive like, "Okay time to wash up for dinner" or "Clean up, it's time for bed", he'll totally "not hear" me.  I have to repeat it about 3 times, each time a little louder and with more annoyance in my voice. 

Scenario - It's time for dinner and Lil T is playing in the living room and I'm in the kitchen.  Mind you, there are no doors or walls blocking the travel of sound.

Me - "It's time for dinner.  Go wash up please."   Silence.

Me - "T, did you hear me?  It's time to wash up for dinner."  I wait another second.  Total silence.

Me - "I'M NOT GOING TO SAY IT AGAIN.  GO WASH UP NOW OR YOU'RE GOING TO TIME- OU...!"  Before I even have time to finish the sentence....

Lil T - "Mommie,  what-cha say????"

ARGH!!!  It drives me nuts!