One of my boys asks a lot of questions. A LOT of questions. Often he spread them out and asks them of other people - his siblings, his dad, his friends and teachers. I don't mind answering questions - truly, I don't, for how else will he learn? But, sometimes, my patience is shattered. Let's take a typical afternoon exchange, as I drive him to his Muay Thai class.
We were passed by a fire truck, lights on and sirens wailing.
"Mom? Do you always have to get over if there is a fire truck behind you?"
I explain the rules of the road, only pull over if the truck needs to get around, if it's safe, and you won't cause an accident.
"But what if it's a two lane road and there is traffic on the other side?"
I go over that as well.
"But what if it's a one lane road and there's a car coming towards you?"
Again with the explanations.
"But what if there is a lake on the side and you are driving right next to it and you might fall into the lake?"
Ok. I talk again about not putting yourself in danger, but pulling over as soon as you possibly can.
"But what if you can't? What if you speed up and then there is a cop ahead and he gives you a ticket for speeding? What if you try to pull over and fall into the lake and drown?"
At this point I'm working on not screaming. I pull some patience from down deep and explain again. I know I'm explaining it correctly. It's not THAT hard of a concept.
"But what if the lake is long and it goes on for miles and you have no room to get over? What then?"
Then you begin to drink.
Tell me, please, that you go through the same stuff every.single.day.
Yes, yes I do. Except my son prefaces each and EVERY question by saying " Can I ask u a question?" .
Posted by: amie | December 19, 2009 at 09:32 AM
Yes, I live in that space. Also always prefaced with "Mommy, I have a question for you."
Posted by: wookie | December 19, 2009 at 09:43 AM
I am a bad mom. At the lake question I give the steely mom stare. I'm awful.
It's a little different here too because my 8 year old daughter is a "know it all" and likes to answer in place of me. Ahem. So it's a tightrope when both of them are together and he gets going with the questions.
Posted by: Michele | December 19, 2009 at 10:22 AM
LOL this is so funny! You are probably far more patient than I.
My 9 year old sometimes will do this. He also will say MOM and if I do not answer in .05 of a second he wil say MOM MOM MOM MOM MOM. Makes me crazy but we gotta love em!
Posted by: Shannon Fab Fattie | December 19, 2009 at 10:25 AM
i used to get; is sh*t a bad word? hmmm what about bit*h? Sure? mmmm what about? Totally an excuse to swear in front of your mom!
I am mean, I say i dont know a lot. When I do know. I just dont want to argue about it/discuss it. my 17 yo LIVES to argue.
Posted by: mary | December 19, 2009 at 11:34 AM
Must be the same age as Sean, who is 10. Sean can do the same thing!
Posted by: Shelly | December 19, 2009 at 01:58 PM
Ha. My son who is almost 15 is now currently stalling for time. He should be doing the dishes but continues to come out and ask questions instead. I have finally learned to say "I will answer that when the dishes are done." If you are quick, you will realize this is my stalling tactic, and I hope alot of times that he will forget the question. Another phrase I have learned is "Good question, why don't you google that?"
Posted by: mm | December 19, 2009 at 02:28 PM
Yes. I do. Every.single.effing.day. It's why I buy wine by the box. Wish I was kidding...
Posted by: Jen | December 19, 2009 at 07:23 PM
This is where the phrase, "HEY LOOK!!! a chicken!" comes in handy.
Save the, "Oh my gosh, I could only WISH for a lake to drive into right now!" for the inside voice!
I usually say, "Hmmmm, what do YOU think?" Then there is more talking but less questioning.
Posted by: Kerry | December 19, 2009 at 09:32 PM
Yep. Happens all the time. Except that I don't have ANY patience. At some point, when I realize the questions are taking a slightly ridiculous turn, I say, "Okay. Knock it off." Mother of the year, I am not.
Posted by: Mama Cas | December 19, 2009 at 09:46 PM
I have a 5 year old son who is a walking question. Seriously, the boy could ask a question with every breath he takes!! And he doesn't just ask easy questions either and he definitely does the same sort of thing you described in this post!
Posted by: Laura V. | December 20, 2009 at 12:50 AM
My questioner is only 3, but my typical response after 3 or 4 leading questions is to try to get at the root of the question. I'd switch to 'So it sounds like you want to learn more about firetrucks or the rules of the road, yes?' And if so, I ramble on & on. Provides the same learning experience while keeping me sane.
I'd much rather be talking a lot in response to one request than having to process endless questions...especially while driving.
Posted by: Lindsey | December 20, 2009 at 09:44 AM
yessssssssssss every single day buttttt the 3 of them do it!
Posted by: kyooty | December 20, 2009 at 10:25 PM
My daughter will ask a question, then when I give a response she asks WHY? 50,000 times to every response I have. I usually just get frustrated and say, "Just because."
Posted by: Janelle | December 20, 2009 at 11:56 PM
Not sure how old your son is, my questioner is 13 and after I answer he then proceeds to tell me how wrong I am! If you knew the answer why did you ask me? I am making him camp out on the debate team coordinator's front porch next year until he gets a spot on the high school's team so he can argue with someone other than me!
Posted by: Terri | December 21, 2009 at 11:27 AM
I actually told my 7 year old son to just be quiet and when he said "But mom what is the problem?" I said, "Your mouth is open and there is sound coming out of it". I didn't even realize I said it till I read it on my 15 year old's facebook... with the text: "Christmas.... brings alot of stress." Um, yeah, Christmas shopping at the 3rd store listening to the two argue with each other will do that to ya!
Posted by: MSB | December 21, 2009 at 01:36 PM