Why, oh why?
2 years, 6 months and 3 days = the grace period I got before the “But whyyyyyy?” stage began. Aaah, March 3rd. The day that will go down in infamy as the day Mommy started loosing her marbles. We went on for days and days of repeated “Why?” questions. I thought we had gotten a bit of break there, but alas, S confirmed that he’s just transitioned his questions to him.
Before I was a parent (ah, those idealistic days!) I had thought “No, I really WILL tell them why the sky is blue!” Now that I’m here, and the Why’s have began, it’s not as romantic as I had envisioned. Oh sure, the Why conversation begins innocently enough:
G: Momma, what they doin’?
Me: They’re pulling the wooden planks off the truck?
G: Why?
Me: So that they get on the driveway.
G: Why?
Me: So that those guys can build the deck?
G: But why?
Me: So you can play in the back yard.
The thing is, you don’t realize you’re in a why-loop until about the 3rd (or so) question in. I’ve tried the “Well, what did I say last time you asked why?” and “What do you think?”, but he’s 2, so really I only immediately get asked “Why?” again with no pause for him to answer himself.
My friend R reminded me that it only gets worse over time, and that she asked a lot of “Why?” when she was a teen. Come to think of it, as did I… so I guess I’m in this for the long haul. I better start rehearsing that ever-favorite parent response “Because I said so!”
Oh, but do enjoy the why’s while they’re still “why is the world the way it is?” instead of “why can’t I have/do/eat what I want?”
Maybe once you realize you’re in a why loop say “okay 3 more questions” then answer 3 more and say “okay I’m all done” maybe that would keep it from getting so exasperating… I hate it when they’re already starting to say why again when you’re still answering the last one… And it’s funny that they expect you to know why everyone else is doing whatever they’re doing..
This is when you remember you once said, “I will never say because I said so”
Best trick ever…….as soon as you find yourself going in a circle you say “G, why do you think?”. I’m telling you it’s golden! I have never once not had that stop the why’s. It’s like as soon as he gets to share what he thinks is going on that stops the curiosity, like they already know what they think is going on so if you don’t confirm it exactly as it’s in their heads than they keep pressing to get that reassurance.
Ah, sadly, this one doesn’t work on him. I’ve asked him “Well, what do YOU think?” and he just repeats “Why?” However, one thing that IS working like magic is to say “It’s a mystery. Dum da dum!” (straight out of Dinosaur Train). That seems to stop the vicious cycle.