Wise people tell me that my toddler can never ask enough questions and that it's good for their development. This peice of information doesn't stop me from rolling my eyes or wanting to slam my head in the door.
Olivia likes to ask me the sort of questions that literally hurt my brain.
One particular day, when I was feeling extra delicate after a night out, Olivia asks me "mum how do shadows move?". I thought I was going to throw up right there in the car.
I guess it's a good sign that they're so desperate for knowledge. Unfortunately, I must have been ill the day my teacher taught us how cows make milk or why we don't walk backwards. Olivia doesn't accept "I don't know" as an answer either. She will just repeat the question until she is satisfied with the answer. So I often find myself using the distraction method, where I quickly shout something like "oh my God, is that cinderella?!", then I run away and busy myself.
I have tried answering EVERY SINGLE QUESTION, but it just opens more questions. Every answer usually leads to "whyyyyyy?".
Motherhood should come with an encyclopedia, or access to a 24 hour phone line that's manned by geniuses. I might even write to my mp.
However, for now, our kids are just going to have to be satisfied with made up answers or don't knows!
Kelsey x
You could respond with "Why do you think...[they move]?" or whatever the questions is. Then you move ownership of the problem to her and she begins to create reasoning and solutions for herself. It might be frustrating for her at first so you'll need to "coach" her into working things out but it'll be worth it. As parents, we are often so wrapped up in trying to help, we give them the solutions before we allow them to explore options for themselves. Somebody once taught me that "practising the art of non-interference" is the best we can do for our kids so I stopped trying to solve everything for her, just because she asked, and encouraged her to work it out for herself (whilst always being willing to offer support or ask questions that encouraged her to think for herself. I reckon that worked and she found her independence and ability to "sort it out" without being reliant on others yet always knowing that we were there for her...
ReplyDeleteThanks! I'll give that a try! X
ReplyDeleteThanks! I'll give that a try! X
ReplyDeleteCouldn't stop giggling after I read this, my little girl is exactly the same, I have never tried the distraction technique, but I'm going to give it a try the next time she asks how volcanos happen �� your blog is amazingly funny, I bring up three five and unders all alone with no help and some days just reading that another mum half hovers her house or ignores the washing pile is enough to put the smile back on my face, and chase all those self doubting worries away! ☺️ a massive thank you to you, I honestly don't know how you manage to keep a blog up at the same time as being the wonderful mum you are! Well done xxxx
ReplyDeleteThe washing pile is regularly neglected! Thank you for reading, and taking the time to write this!
DeleteSometimes I find myself hiding in the bathroom to write a blog in a panic because I don't want to forget what I was going to write!
Three under fives! I take my bloody hat off to you! I'm sure you're doing amazingly! Xx
The washing pile is regularly neglected! Thank you for reading, and taking the time to write this!
DeleteSometimes I find myself hiding in the bathroom to write a blog in a panic because I don't want to forget what I was going to write!
Three under fives! I take my bloody hat off to you! I'm sure you're doing amazingly! Xx