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Rating: 4 votes, 4.50 average.

Close Encounters with the Questioning Mind!

Posted 14th February 2008 at 01:37 PM by Vandhana
Updated 14th February 2008 at 01:57 PM by Vandhana
My little one has just discovered the 4 Ws in life! Why?, Who?, What?, When? So there starts my second round with the close encounters of the questioning kind. My older one is a questioner too, and it started when he was three, he is 11 now and the questions have not stopped.
Now I know why God made Moms, guess he would not be able to handle the gamut of questions that kids ask.

What starts of as seemingly innocent questions, often lands us in trouble, embarassment, and what not. Often the same question wil be asked a 1001 times,( when the child is 4) and they expect the same answer. If once we answer differently, then oh no, we are in big trouble till we give them the answer they are looking for. Like for instance, my little fellow has asked me " Amma , what do the astronauts do in space? " a little over thousand times i think. I have to say they are doing science experiments without fail. If i say oh they are taking a walk or having fun, I am out of the game.
Its fun to see how our answers change as the kids grow too. A simple Amma , where does the sun go at night? Is answered differently for each age from 3 to 6 ( by now i think they know how the process works!)
The other day, the weather being nice, we had gone for a walk in the trail near our house . There were a few men jogging, bare chested. And my little one has to ask in the loudest voice possible " Amma , why is he running with his shirt off? " My hubby was looking for a place to :hide, and i was susshing him, and he was pretty insistent on knowing right then and there Why the man is running with his shirt off!!
A couple of years back, my older one then 9 , came home from school one day asked me . Mom what do they mean when some one is gay?" I got the shock of my life. I mean , there are two meanings right for the word Gay, and he is too young to know the "other " meaning. So i just told him , of course don't be silly, 9 years old and you don't know the meaning of Gay? it means to be verry merry and happy .. Ok he was happy with that answer, but then a few months later, he comes back with the same question worded a little differently. Amma , why do they call some men Gay!!. Gosh what do I tell a 9+ yr old boy about sexual orientation? So my most ingenious best, i told him that they were a group of men belonging to a special club that does not like to get married , and so they sarcastically call themselves Gay!!! Ha Howzzat??
Yes i got the usual question from the older one about babies too and how they come out and was satisfied with the usual " doc cutting tummy open" story , till his karate teacher took it upon herself to explain the process of normal delivery. His first question to me after the class, How come you did not tell me the correct way how the baby comes out? Hey there is such thing as C section , I am not wrong.
The day is not far when I will be confronted with the birds and bees question and i should be prepare for it. Hey these Qs are tougher than the boards!!
But in the meanwhile if any of you happen to see some " parundu poindurukkum maanam" ( means our honor taking a hike!!) , look closely and you will find my name written on it....
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Total Comments 27

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Old
madhu11's Avatar
hi Vandana,

Ur kids Q 's are so cute and sweet. I love ur answers to the Q's they are asking u. I had fun reading ur blog. It was so Chweet.
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Posted 14th February 2008 at 03:01 PM by madhu11 madhu11 is offline
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Anandchitra's Avatar
Hello Vandhana
I think your children are genius.. so many Q's.. since i dont have to answer here i am enjoying yur answers.. good one..
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Posted 14th February 2008 at 04:23 PM by Anandchitra Anandchitra is offline
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Ria2006's Avatar
I loved reading your honest post.
All I remember in this context is, my own questions to my mom. I was the most curious kid out of three, My mom played a simple trick. She would say, since i am so sharp I should find answer to my question and tell her too.. Now that was equal to putting the ball back in my court.. once I asked her what is 'carefree' ad about? I was just in 5-6th standard. She told so naively, she also doesnot know. If I find out, I should tell her too...
Very Smart mommy..
Ria
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Posted 14th February 2008 at 06:22 PM by Ria2006 Ria2006 is offline
Old
Thanks for stepping in madhu. Sure this is a little training for you for the future.
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Posted 14th February 2008 at 07:29 PM by Vandhana Vandhana is offline
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AC,
Cannot let you go that easily. So what Q of DS stumped you the most? Come on out with it!! For me i think it has to be the one about Gay.... Lets see what J comes up with.
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Posted 14th February 2008 at 07:31 PM by Vandhana Vandhana is offline
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Ria,
Had a good laugh. One smart mom you have. Yes these days for a few of the questions, I ask my older one to find out himself, but the dicey ones, i still handle... My older son has wondered about the ad you mentioned too. Now don't ask me for the answer to that one!!
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Posted 14th February 2008 at 07:33 PM by Vandhana Vandhana is offline
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Shanvy's Avatar
hey vandhana,
I know how it feels. I always wonder why do mom's get all those ....questions to answer...
I have a extra curious DS always shooting questions..it is like he lives on questions and answers...and for his sake,I am learning,afterall if I say you go and find the answer, he will find the answer, but in turn will come back and tell me "mom, I thought you are a genius, and now see you don't know the answer for the same..":hide

The most embarassing question he could ask was when he was 71/2. now he is 9+. The question went, mom, I know, the egg gets split in the mom's tummy into two, and that how twin's are born. but how come a mom's tummy can hold two babies in one time...and could you explain me in detail everything..

The questions on cricket, universe,keep me looking dumb sometimes...

Latest being do you know why dad has mush and you don't have one...I said i don't know... by night, I had a class on estrogen, progesterone,.....and also what hormones cause pregnancy....

Thanks to the children's encyclopedia..(When I brought the books I never thought it will be so detailed.)

I am scared some day he is going to give me a lecture on bees and bird than the other way round...

May be I need a class to learn to tackle the questions..
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Posted 14th February 2008 at 09:50 PM by Shanvy Shanvy is offline
Old
Thanks for the lessons i will be facing them soon in another year, my kid will be three.

Regards
Sri
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Posted 14th February 2008 at 11:10 PM by srivatsa srivatsa is offline
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Shanti,
That was too good. Especially the Mush one..... Lets see. the older ones is doing all about mitosis and meosis and the Mendels theory in science. am sure pretty soon he will tell me about the B and Bs too!! Its amazing how much these kids know with the availability of the encyclopedia and the internet. Don't think we asked our moms this many questions, or such questions??
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Posted 15th February 2008 at 08:16 AM by Vandhana Vandhana is offline
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Hi Sri,
Thanks for steppin gin. Yes do get ready for the onslaught of Qs. Although at three the questions they ask are so cute.....
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Posted 15th February 2008 at 08:17 AM by Vandhana Vandhana is offline
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Sriniketan's Avatar
Hi Vandhana,
It is like---in Thiruvilaiyaadal--Nagesh used to say---I know to ask questions only ...
even I also face the same problem, my son being a car, plane,train, name any automobile, has lot of questions relating to that and I would answer to him that as you know that let me know that too.
Sometimes my DDs are so frustrated by his questions will answer him back that 'when you know that answer why ask questions'.

sriniketan
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Posted 15th February 2008 at 12:22 PM by Sriniketan Sriniketan is offline
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Great one, V! I wonder why you dont blog more often? Who would combine parenting, humour, fearful anticipation- all in one?

V- hey, I may not be as adorable as your boys, but I can ask questions too.

Really nice one, V! Yes, it is embarassing when kids ask questions. But yours seem to be the thinker types. And isn't it amazing, how some questions never change, the answers never change, but we never get the hang of it?
affly
V24
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Posted 15th February 2008 at 12:56 PM by Vidya24 Vidya24 is offline
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Dear Bhargavi,

You put it so nicely. I loved Nagesh in Thiruvilayadal.. Yes kids are like that. I can totally vibe with you. My little one is an " anything on wheels" freak. And he comes and asks me things i have no answer for. Then he tells me the answer and will test me to see if i remember and answer him back correctly....
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Posted 15th February 2008 at 01:17 PM by Vandhana Vandhana is offline
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Dearest V,
Who said you are not adorable. Only kids allowed to ask Qs V, so I will direct all the questions to you if you are willing. So i can take a.....
Well Jay is in constant competition with me for the computer. The minute i come to sit and do something, he wants to go the NASA website and see the latest hapennings in space. So there goes all the time... I would love to blog more often, but time is the constraint, and well i have been writing this one for the past two weeks now!!.
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Posted 15th February 2008 at 01:21 PM by Vandhana Vandhana is offline
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sunkan's Avatar
dear vandana,
wonderful write up of a very very witty mom, yes i also had all these and one more to add when a lady who used to come for some sugar often and priya just one day dropped the bomb right in front of her, ohhhh that aunt who wants sugar all the time has come...my i did not know where to turn, and she embarrassed to no end but ultimately showed the katori that she wanted some sugar...the rest of the questions were common and have u noticed one more tantrum children asking why i am not there in your wedding snaps....hahahahah
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Posted 15th February 2008 at 07:25 PM by sunkan sunkan is offline
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Dear Sundari,
Thank you for the nice words... Yes dont we all have our share of " red faced with embarassments"? I think the kids these days are too smart to ask the " why am i not there in your wedding pics" question. I know i did ( asked my mom), and as revenge , tore up the whole wedding album ( of course mom was busy then). Who knew about the B and Bs then!!
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Posted 16th February 2008 at 08:46 AM by Vandhana Vandhana is offline
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Very well written and enjoyable blog Vandhana. This blog prompted me to visit your older blogs too. You really should blog more often.You have a great humorous way of writing simple things!
Yeah, those questions. I get lots too. Not as many as some of you folks get. 'Cos my older one is still only 5.5 yrs and the younger one has just started to talk The one Q that I remember instantly is my son asking about 2 yrs ago why his sister does not have a tail in the front like him?
I was stumped! I just mumbled something as an answer.
SS
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Posted 18th February 2008 at 02:27 PM by SoaringSpirit SoaringSpirit is offline
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puni88's Avatar
Hi Vandana,
I enjoyed reading your kids questions and comments from other IL'ites.
I remember that my son asked me the same question about sanitary napkin's ad. I ended up saying it is 'mommy's diaper'.
Going out with my younger one always ends up with embarrassing situation for me. Whenever he sees some fat ladies, he will start saying that "Mommy Look, her is having big fat buttt".

Regards.
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Posted 20th February 2008 at 02:59 PM by puni88 puni88 is offline
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Dear Vandhana,

Such a fun blog and the mom's take on her little ones questioning can easily be understood by every mom :) Almost every single parent must have gone thro' one or the other embarrassing situation due to the tiny one's curiosity to know.
If not for Jey's nomination in FP, I would never have read this as you know I hardly frequent our blog section....I know, the loss is totally mine:(
I am already addicted to IL, if I spend more time here, my hubby's questioning may not put me in so humorous a situation!!
Well, I need to be a speed reader, one day, I 'll get there!

L, Kamla

PS: I love the way you answer your little boys, if not the truth, very close to the truth. I appreciate that and however embarrassing, we should give them the nearest and true answers to them...instead of saying the stork brought the baby!...Kids today are too intelligent and wont excuse you for misleading them...ha ha ha..
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Posted 20th February 2008 at 05:18 PM by Kamla Kamla is offline
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Hi SS,
Thanks for stepping in. Your little one's Q was too good. So what was your answer to that? It good to learn all this you know!!Never know when we will be confronted with a similar one.
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Posted 20th February 2008 at 07:38 PM by Vandhana Vandhana is offline
 
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