why

I remember hearing parents talk about how frustrated they were when their children would continue to ask them why all of the time. And I also remember not really understanding what the issue was. Even when Jem was first starting to ask why, I didn't see the big fuss. He would ask why birds had nests or why grass was green and I would do my best to answer him. Besides, at that point he was still okay when I would just tell him that I didn't really know or because God made it that way.
But now it's different. Now I understand what those parents were talking about. I still don't mind the whys that come along with learning about something or encountering something new. But it's those other whys. The ones that make no sense.
Jem: Can we go to the park?
Me: Sure buddy.
Jem: Why?
Me: What do you mean why? Do you want to go to the park or not?
These are the whys that I don't understand and that tend to frustrate me. They ask me if we can do something and when I say yes they ask me why. What is that about? Or the whys that come along with being asked to do something, like come to the table or put on their shoes.
And why is it that one small, three-letter word can make me lose my cool? I don't really know. Maybe it shows me how little control I have over things. Maybe it makes me feel disrespected. Maybe I'm just tired. Whatever it is, it's just one more thing to work on.



photo by tlchua99  http://www.flickr.com/photos/tlchua99/4193348013/