Friday, October 15, 2010

Inquiring Minds Want to Know...

Well people, it has happened. We've transcended the "why?" phase. Just when I thought one more "why" question would set me over the edge and drive me to a life of shuffling down the street in my jammies, pushing a shopping cart, Ethan seems to have stopped, or at least tapered off, with the "why." This should be where I say something about the heavens opening up and rosy-cheeked cherubs with harps descending to serenade me as I bask in the peaceful glory of those five "why"-less minutes.

But.

"Why" has been replaced by "HOW." Now, I don't have to know why everything happens/ed. I need to know how it happens/ed.

On our less than 10 minute drive home from a play date on Wednesday, Ethan asked me how the Earth got here. And how the dinosaurs went extinct. And how cars got here. Because really to my 4 year old, those are the three biggest concerns in his life right now. Earth, dinosaurs and cars. I explained how the Earth got here and his reply was, "Mom, you just blew my mind!" No, really, that's what he said. I almost drove off the road, laughing. But instead, I just said, "I know!!! It's so cool, huh?!" We just got him an atlas of the universe and the idea that the universe is still expanding out there somewhere just completely silences Ethan with the awe. After I explained the advent of the automotive industry, he was keen to know if Henry Ford himself built our car. "That would be pretty tricky for him, honey," was my response and thankfully that seemed good enough for him.

I know a lot of people think that being a stay-at-home-mom saps one's brain function, and while I won't compare it to running a Fortune 500 company or curing cancer, I will say that the vast store of both basic and esoteric knowledge you have to have tucked away to answer the quick fire questions that come from the minds and mouths of little ones certainly requires a good amount of mental and intellectual agility and content. It's not a job for dummies.

5 comments:

Becca said...

There's ANOTHER question phase? Dios mio!

I usually answer four or five in a row then invoke Quiet Time.

Eat naturally said...

Man, he is so smart. And another reason I couldn't have kids. I have no idea how the earth go here!!

Jen said...

You know what makes me feel really dumb? When I can't answer a lot of my daughter's questions on the spot. It's like the teacher calling on you in class - "um, um, um" even though you have the information somewhere. Last night after observing that it was dark out my daughter wanted to know WHY it was dark. I know it has something to do with the earth revolving around the sun but on the spot, I kind of panicked.

You obviously gave Ethan quite the impressive answer to blow his mind. LOL.

You sure you don't want to reconsider homeschooling? ;-)

lonek8 said...

the fact that the universe is still expanding out there silences ME in awe. You are a good mom. I just say "I don't know" and change the subject (unless I do know, which is rarely), although, I don't get asked very many questions. We may have a just figured out why.

Hyacynth said...

Oh, NO! Another question phase?! Gah. We just got over why for the most part.
I love that these little men still think we're wealths of knowledge and information.
People underestimate being a SAHM. Those people have NO idea what we do every day.