I Just Wanna Know Why

My children were born nearly three years apart. My daughter is just older enough to mother (translation: boss) her little brother around. My son is just younger enough… Let’s face it, he’s a rascal!

Sometimes it’s difficult to remember the different stages of development with this age gap. You know, like the inquisitive stage, where youngsters constantly ask the question “why?” My nearly 6-year-old son currently fits comfortably in this category.

Each day we start off with a new slate and a new slew of questions, some hurled one after another at me like the constant fire of a machine gun. So fast, in fact, it’s nearly impossible to keep up and I simply stagger under the barrage.

Why is there frost on the grass? Why is sissy crying? Why do I have to wear a seat belt? As the day wears on, my patience tends to wear out. Why? Why? WHY?

“BECAUSE I SAID SO!” I say, grimacing under the weight of this oft-used, time-worn parental response to another of my son’s innocent inquiries.

I feel worse when my little cutie pie adds with widened eyes, “But, I just wanna know why, mommy.”

Ask me again tomorrow, son, ask me again tomorrow. 

written for http://blog.sacramentoparent.com