Saturday, August 16, 2008

why?

Why?
It's a simple question.  People have been asking it forever.  Scientists like asking it.  It's led to all sorts of discoveries.  "Why is the sky blue?"  "Why did the apple fall from the tree?"
 
Theologists like it.  "Why am I here?" is a good lead-in for many faith-based discussions.  "Why did that (insert sad event here) have to happen?" is another.
 
Archeologists like to ask it when they find odd tools or symbols.  "Why did they use flint instead of bone?" 
  
Animal behaviorists like to answer "why is my cat not using the litter box?"
 
"Why" is in good company.  It is friends with "Who," "What," "Where," and "How."  One can learn a lot asking "why?"  Sometimes the answer leads to other questions - another "why" perhaps, or maybe a "how?"
 
I never really thought about "why" that much.  I used to laugh when I would hear about children asking hard to answer "why" questions.  I thought - "Ha, I'll know exactly what to say.  I'm smart."  Heh-heh.  Yeah.
 
Little Man hasn't asked those hard "why" questions, like "why is the sky blue" or "why does the sun move across the sky?"  No.  He just asks "why?"
 
Don't hit your sister.
  
why?
  
Because it hurts.
 
why?
 
Because you're hitting her.
  
why?
 
I dunno, why are you hitting your sister?
  
or
It's time for bed.
 
why?
 
Because it's night time.
 
why?
 
Because it's dark outside.
 
why?
 
Because it's night time.
 
why?
 
Because the day is done.
 
why?
 
because it's time to go to sleep.
 
why?
 
because you're tired and had a busy day.
 
why?
 
because your mommy is trying to get you exhausted by the end of the day so you'll go straight to sleep without getting out of your bed over and over so mommy can have some quiet time before she goes to sleep because she's tired from chasing you all day.
 
why?
 
because you need to go to sleep.
 
why?
 
because... because... because I said so.
 
why? 
 
Mommy's leaving the room now.
 
why?
 
because mommy can't take it any more.
 
why?
 
because you keep asking "why?"
 
why?
 
I don't know why you keep asking "why"
 
  
  
I think Little Man is going to be a very curious learner.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Im 16 now, and I havent heard I love you for years. My father told me a story once that when he was a little boy, his dad dropped him off at kindergarden 1 time, and never did it again. Do you think because he had such a loveless passed, he has decided not to say those words to me? The school counselor said that to me last time I got suspended haha. Good post, peace

Kool Aid said...

Andy, I'm so sorry. I can't imagine not saying "I love you" to my kids, so I don't even know what to say to that. I think the counselor might be right, though. Thanks for visiting and I hope you'll come back.

Rosie : ) said...

the question "Why?" is predominant in all our kids too {only it's in French ~ "Pouquoi?"} and I always try to answer as best as I can. Sometimes though, the "Because Mom said so." seems to stop their questions... or does it? {lol}

Rosie : ) said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Kool Aid said...

Hi Rosie! Thanks for visiting. I accidently posted your duplicate comment (haven't had my full coffee yet) so I removed it after. Hope you don't mind.

Normally, I do try to answer the "why"s with good answers that they both will understand, but by the end of the day, I'm all answered out.