A Moment of Silence-ish

I have a secret. . . kind of.

Sometimes when my children are . . . well let's just look to the classic 1995 version of Pride and Prejudice,

I have hardly had time to write. My [children] have taken almost every moment! But they are such dear children. [This] mother indeed finds their exuberance a little trying for her nerves.

In such times as these and my children seem to be hopping and hollering around me and every fiber of my being seems to be shouting out "BE STILL!"

I take a deep breath. Put on an excited smile and softly say, "What's that? I think I hear something. Listen."

They all stop hollering and hopping to hear.  If I just stand there then I can almost say five seconds will be quiet.  If I act like I'm following a sound and walk to another room, there may be a few more seconds of excited silence-ish.

Then if you I really hear anything and kind can't find anything that I can really hear (something mysterious like a dripping faucet or the heater/air conditioner, the neighbor's lawn mower, traffic, etc.) then I say, "Just kidding" and laugh. They'll think you're the funniest/most fun mother ever and they'll copy it, when the moment seems right to them.

*Just a note. This works best on children ages 3 and up.  Starting when they finally get the idea of whispering or telling secrets--another thing they love and quiets the mood.