Saturday, October 27, 2007

Why the Whys?

Dear Internet,

This is an earnest plea for help. My sanity, and possibly my daughter's safety, (well, not really) depend on it!

Why the whys? Why when a child hits three does this magically increase the frequency of the question 'why?', and how does this explosion of curiosity on topics to which the whys refer, occur?

These, surely, are not difficult questions? No more difficult than say,

'Mommy, why is there fire?',

'but why does it burn?',

'why did the fire light?',

'Mommy why did you stop?',

'but why is the light red?'

'but why can you not go when the light is red?'

'but why do the other cars come the other way?'

'Mommy, why are we going to the Mall?' (can you believe I have a daughter who asks this?)

'Why do we need to go shopping?'

'Why are the clouds in the sky?'

'Why are the clouds that shape?'

'Why can't I walk and not go in the stroller?'

'But why?' 'Why? 'WHY?'

WHY WHY WHY ad infinitum!

It's driving me NUTSO! So, dear internet, if you have any good solid answer that would head the incessant interrogation off at the pass I would appreciate it if you would kindly share.

Yours, holding my breath in anticipation,

Annie, on the bring of stark raving madness.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yup.
I get the "whys" too...

they kill me.

Iota said...

It's Mother Nature's way of fending off early Alzheimer's in us all. Isn't it meant to be good for your brain to exercise it? Instead of doing crosswords in all that uninterrupted spare time you have, here is a daily opportunity for you to exercise your logical thinking and lateral thinking skills. (And your patience.) The brain cells that went mushy during pregnancy and early babydom can now work out and get fit again, in time for helping with homework in the years to come.

A friend of mine told me his mum used to reply "because Y has a long tail". Hm.

Christine said...

My poor girl...she sometimes gives up when I am tired because in those moments I answer, "I don't know."

How's that for horrible parenting???

Jessica @ Little Nesting Doll said...

Just know you will not be alone in your insanity.

Kellan said...

I know, I know, I know, I know, I know! It goes on forever too. Good luck coming up with all those answers! See ya.

Julie Pippert said...

You want the freeing answer?

Here you go: you don't have to answer them all and know everything. :)

"I don't know" and "We'll have to look that up later," eventually end the interrogation err I meant questioning from my crazy kids LOL.

Hang in there and subscribe to the Discovery Channel. :) Or buy all of the National geographic videos.

:)

Julie
Using My Words

Anonymous said...

But why, Annie?

Seriously, if you figure out how to stop them, let me know. I have started ignoring them after they reach about 10 in sequence. Or just shout "just because!" That's all I've got - sorry!

wakeupandsmellthecoffee said...

I know it's driving you crazy, but cherish this time when they regard you as the font of all knowledge. Too soon they grow up and begin to regard you as an idiot who knows nothing. I told my daughter that my IQ seemed to drop 100 points when she entered secondary school. She agreed!

MamaGeek @ Works For Us said...

why? i don't know why. oh sigh.

Anonymous said...

Why not?

That kills 'em every time.

Anonymous said...

Sometimes, you just have to use the "that's just the way it is, Honey" and then change the subject. You may not get a Mother of the Year award for it, but you may save a little sanity!

Jen said...

Just make stuff up. It's a lot easier that way.

Mitch McDad said...

Annie,
Why did you chose to write about this?
Why couldn't you have written about something else?
Why are my pants so tight?
Why is my hard drive corrupted?

Why do you find Why so annoying when No is so much worse?

I trade your Whys for my Nos any day.

Deep breath...they'll be changing our diapers before we know it. :)

Mitch

Mommin' It Up! said...

Drives me nuts too! Almost as much as "Mama watch this!" which I hear 400 times a day. I have had days when "why" and "watch this" nealy caused me to lay down in the middle of a busy road and let nature take its course! I have no advice except maybe turn up your ipod and plug in the earphones?

Anonymous said...

I believe that the 'why's' are often a ploy to prolong the conversation. BC is being strongly urged :-) to say, "Oh, ok..." after the first or second why. We just. can't. stand. the. whys. any. more.

AliBlahBlah said...

I can't tell you how many times this week I've had to explain to my 2 year old daughter 'why poop is stinky'. This post made me laugh - I'm not alone!!