Conversations with a 3 ½ year old can
get pretty interesting, especially when everything I say is followed
by a “why” from her. I see many people post conversions with
their kids on Facebook, but we are very likely to forget about it
later and the kids won't get to look back at the early exchanges with
their parents.
Many people video record conversations,
and parents would have had no recollection of the event were it not
captured on video. But these are usually an interview-style format,
where the parent asks a set of questions or tells the kids to perform
some trick. But writing conversations down in the scrapbook is
another option, especially if it is an impromptu exchange that didn't
get recorded. After all, you can't predict when memorable moments
are going to happen.
You should write it down within a few
hours when all the details are still fresh. If you don't have the
time right away, just type it into a word processor and make the page
later (that's what I did). Then you can add pictures and your own
comments later when you have the time. Here's how mine went:
Mommy, why are you rubbing your eyes?
Me: Because I'm tired.
Sophia: Why?
Me: Because it's night time.
Sophia: Why?
Me: Because the sun went down.
Sophia: Why?
Me: Well... it just looks like the sun
went down... Actually (grabbing two balls), the earth is spinning in
relation to the sun, like this. When we are facing the sun, it's
daytime. Then, the earth spins around and it looks like the sun is
going down from our perspective, then it disappears and it's night
time. The earth is also going around the sun. When it's over there,
it's winter time and its cold. When it come back over this way, it's
summer and it's warm out. That's when we can go outside and have
fun.
Sophia: Can we go to the zoo tomorrow?
Me: (Breathing a sigh of relief) Yes!
Let's see the animals tomorrow.
It's amazing how a simple string of
“WHY's” can lead into deep conversation, challenging my own
intellect and understanding of the world around me. All kids go
through this stage. And WHY do they go through the “WHY” stage?
I suppose it's curiosity. Perhaps the more important question is WHY
do they stop saying “WHY.” Some kids never stop asking WHY, and
they go on to get their Ph.D.'s and talk about things that very few
people understand. I certainly wouldn't want to inhibit my
childrens' innate curiosity, so I try to avoid empty responses such
as “just because.” I prefer to give the humbling but honest
answer of “I don't know.” Though it may shatter their image of
me as the all-knowing authoritative figure in their life, that's ok.
They're not my creation and I have no right to hold them back. As
for now, I answer to the best of my ability until I lose my little
Socrates and she changes the subject.
