The Art of the Strategic "Mmhmm"
Placement, pitch, and plausible deniability: the three mmhmm registers and exactly when to deploy each one.
Nod. Mmhmm. Repeat.
Your kid is running the same scene for the ninth time and you've run out of genuine reactions. This is the field manual for the exhausted parent: the mmhmm, the nod, the three questions that work on any monologue, and the art of recovering when you're caught. Funny, warm, and strictly tongue-in-cheek — because the joke here is on us, not them.
The guides
Nod Timing: The Advanced Course
How often, how vigorously, and the slow thoughtful nod — plus the classic nodding errors to avoid.
The 3 Questions That Work for Any Monologue
"And then what happened?", "How did that make your character feel?", "Show me the dramatic pause again." Rotate freely.
Recovering When Caught Not Listening
Emergency lines, graceful exits, and what never to do when you hear "You're not even listening."
When to Drop the Act and Really Listen
The one sincere article: why sometimes the drama practice matters more than you think, and how to tell.