The eternal question
Why?
The answer 42 does not carry any meaning with an almost-3-year-old. Neither does the eternal answer "because". Sometimes creative answers that involve magic, fairy dust and wish flowers hold water and satisfy temporarily, but usually it just leads into even more fantastical lines of questioning that become ever more challenging to answer with the same amount of gusto and creativity.
On the ride home from B, D, and Z's tonight, the line of questioning went something like this. And it's worth noting, that this was about 9:45pm - an hour and 45 minutes past her bedtime, and she had no nap today at school.
we went from tunnels to the rotation of the earth on its axis in 20 minutes, after passing through a seemingly endless set of other topics - one question after the other. Always "how" or "why".
Are we going through 2 tunnels to get home?
Yes, that's right.
why are we going through 2 tunnels?
Because that's how many tunnels there on the way home?
Why are there no brushes in the tunnels?
Because the tunnels are not carwashes; they are tunnels.
Why they are not carwashes?
Well, because, that would slow traffic down considerably and some people may not want to wash their car on the way home.
Why you would need to go slow if there are brushes?
Because I wouldn't want to damage the car or the brushes.
Why you would hurt the car?
Because if I went too fast it might scratch the car. Or I might hit the brushes and break them.
Mommy, is that the space needle?
Yup, that's the space needle.
How you go up the space needle?
Do you remember how we went up the space needle last time?
You know?
Yes I know. Do you know?
How, Mommy?
Did we jump to the top of the space needle?
Noooooo.
Did we fly to the top of the space needle?
Noooooo!
Did we ride our bicycles to the top of the space needle?
NOOOO!
Well then, how did we get up there?
You know, Mommy? how?
We rode the elevator.
Why we rode the elevator?
Because it would have been a very long walk?
And we would get tired?
Yup.
Why I didn't like the elevator?
I don't know; why didn't you like the elevator?
You know?
I actually don't. Can you tell me?
I don't know. Why?
Was it too fast?
Yeah.
Was it too high?
Yeah.
Did you think it was a little bit scarey?
Yeah.
Then that's why you didn't like the elevator.
Why?
Because you thought it was too fast, and high and a little bit scary.
Why I didn't wait at the bottom?
Because you're not old enough to wait by yourself.
Mommy, is that a tower on the bridge?
Yes.
Why that tower is there?
The tower does two things; first if it sees a car in an accident or in trouble on the bridge it can call the police to help. Second, if it sees a boat in the water that is waiting to get to the other side of the bridge, it can stop traffic and lift the bridge so the boat can pass through.
How it lifts the bridge?
Well, I think there are a lot of ropes and pulleys.
It ties a rope to the bridge?
I think the pullies and ropes are underneath and machines lift it up.
Why it lifts the bridge?
So tall boats can pass through.
Why tall boats want to pass through?
So they can get to the other side.
Why they want to get to the other side?
I dunno... why do you think they want to get to the other side?
You know?
Well, any number of reasons. Maybe they want to get to the other side because that's where the rainbow ends and they think they'll find a pot of gold.
Mommy, there's no rainbow. I don't see a rainbow.
That's because it's dark right now.
Why it's dark?
Why do you think it's dark?
Because the sun has gone to bed.
GREAT ANSWER! The sun has gone to bed.
Why the sun has gone to bed so it can shine on another part of the world?
Because everyone in the world has to share the sun, and it can only shine on one side at a time. Now it's Australia and China's turn to have the sun so they can have daytime.
How the sun shines on the other part of the world? How?
Well, the world is like a big ball and it turns around and around, and we live on one side, and other people live on the other side. And when our side faces the sun we get daytime. And as the world turns the sun sets and we get nighttime and other people get daytime.
How the world turns, Mommy?
Hey - look Bobbin, there are the circus tents!
Why those soccer field lights are on? Why I can't see people playing soccer?
I guess the ended the soccer game and someone forgot to turn off the lights.
why they forgot to turn off the lights?
Well, did you call and remind them?
No
Then that's why they forgot.
Mommy, why I'm tired?
Maybe because you've been asking so many questions?
Why I'm asking so many questions?
Because you're a bright and curious little girl.
Mommy, you tired too?
Yes, sweetheart. I'm very tired. But we're almost home.
We were literally less then a quarter mile from home when she finally dropped off to sleep. Didn't even wake when I picked her up, brought her in the house, laid her down on her bed, removed her coat and socks, and tucked her in. Still soundly sleeping. Dreaming of tall ships and drawbridges, tunnels, elevators, and a big blue ball in a sea of black spinning around a yellow sun, or something.
Comments