The boy is sick today so he stayed home while the lass and I went to her dance lesson. She was in a snit by the time we left- even complaining that she didn’t want to dance because she didn’t like it. This was news to me and the answer to the riddle became obvious as I finished my cup-o-jo while observing them watching “Special Agent Ozo.” She was jealous that her brother was going to stay home and get to watch cartoons. So on the way up, I discussed the situation with her, being sure to emphasize that her brother was, in fact, sick; that he had barely slept the night before because of his being sick and he were he not sick, he would be in the car on the way to the Y. She seemed to understand that and well before we arrived at the Y, she was looking forward to her class.
When she was finished, we went to the car. As we climbed into the car that she had known all her life; the car that has taken here to the ocean and to her grandparents; the car that she prefers to the point of ridiculous screaming fits if I dare take the other car, she asked me:
Dad, is this our car?
Which, finally, brings me to my question. Do all kids ask questions that they HAVE to know the answer to? Both of mine do this and it drives me crazy= though I don’t let them know that.
If we’re on the way to Memere’s house, guaranteed one will ask:
Are we going to Memere’s house?
If it’s a bright sunny day, we’ll get the question:
Is it going to rain?
They’ve even asked if our dogs are our dogs.
If I’ve just explained something to them in words so simple, a 2 year old could understand it, they’ll repeat my answer in the form of a question.
It’s like a twisted form of Jeopardy or something.
There is almost no limit to what they will attempt to “verify” despite knowing what the answer is. Initially, I just assumed it was a phase or something. But they’ve been doing it for long enough now that I wonder if they have some kind of insecurity issue or something. The only other explanation I’ve thought is it just became a habit from when they were younger and the behavior was, I assume, natural. Like picking your nose.
We’ve tried a number of responses, including telling them we’re not going to answer the question because they know the answer. I’ve even resorted to sarcasm. This morning, I told the lass it was someone else’s car that my key just happened to work in. By the time we got out of the parking lot, she was pretty sure it was our car. But I never verified the fact for her.
I’m still fairly sure it’s a phase that they just haven’t come out of yet. Which makes me wonder, when will it be over?
One reply on “Asking Questions”
I believe the answer to some questions is a question. In this case, the answering question is “Hmmm… What do you think?” (Best without sarcasm, as though the question is totally legitimate.) You’ll find that this not only trains them not to ask, but also it builds in them the skill of drawing conclusions and helps them develop confidence in their observations. And sometimes it will start a totally unexpected and lovely conversation.
(You’re gonna get in trouble if you keep driving that guy’s car around.)