If you have cared for children, chances are you had to swim through the “why” stage. Why are your eyes brown, why do cows eat grass, what’s heaven going to look like, why does that person do that in that way…? Endless. With every answer you give, you are rewarded with another “why.” Or “but why?” From trivial to deep, they put us to the test.
Not all children go through it with as much gusto as other children, but it can be rather frustrating because after you have answered the fourth “why” in a row, and another one is flung at you, you run out of ways to try and explain what you’ve just explained to a three to four-ish aged child in a way that they can understand. It helps to remind ourselves that we like answers to our questions, too, which helps us to be patient. Although, it is okay to say, “just because” or “I don’t know” or “that’s just the way it is” once in a while when you haven’t a clue how to answer or you feel your patience is running thin and you don’t want to yell at the poor kid’s next “why.”
One of our sons was a master “whys man.” Yes, a pun on "wiseman", as he is wise in many ways, too (he is also a "wise guy" at times) – and he is still looking for answers for whatever is in front of him or is going on in his life. I am not surprised as it was clearly in his nature to want answers at a young age. This sweet, little, best hugger, best whistler kid was the most prolific “why-er” we had. (Remember, we didn’t have Google in those days, so we had to know stuff.) He tested my knowledge, thinking, and troubleshooting skills, and stretched my cleverness (or "snowing") abilities, and occasionally tried my patience. Although, for the most part I loved his inquisitiveness. It was engaging.
Should we grow out of our need to know everything that crosses our path? Or should we continue to ask questions about anything and nothing? Sure, there are lots of things we can let go of that are unnecessary to know when considering the time – or lack of – that we have to delve into all our questions. There is no possible way any of us could ever know everything, but there are multitudes of questions sitting in our brains or hovering in the universe waiting to be answered. Let’s not squash too many of them. With google at our fingertips, we can find a whole lot of our answers. Some will put us at ease, some will bring on stress, but at least we will know. We will know and can respond accordingly. Or at least just be happy that we know something new and can be ready for the next question (or "why"). Yes, and let’s not squash the little ones’ questions. It’s good for them to ask and learn, and good for us to help teach them. Who knows, maybe those question-seekers will grow up to be Answer People for the rest of us. Maybe even another Einstein.
What a great picture.!