Why the Why's Have to be answered and nurtured

As a mum to an over zealous toddler who has grown up into a curious , inquisitive  pre schooler ; i have heard the word "why" at least 60 times on a good day(when i counted!). These why's range from  "oh, so cute", to "oh, that's embarrassing", to "oh my god, not now" to "oh no, not here" to "oh , why indeed". Most of the why's pop around the same time your little one starts to put words together to form sentences( remember how much you fretted over the fact that the little one hasn't started speaking yet!). My Little One loves "why" over the "hows","wheres", and "whens". As much as it tends to annoy me at times she is completely justified in using as many "whys".

Imagine grown ups being transported to a new planet with no reference point and asked to go about their daily life. Wont we, as adults have questions while grappling with things in a new surrounding? I have realised that is pretty much what my little A is going through , and not answering her why's can either turn her into a rebel or shut her down into an introvert, either of which i do not wish to inculcate. 

Yes, you need truckloads of patience to answer every "why" and let me tell you, patience doesn't come easily to me. But what helps is empathy and thats something i got(at least as far as lil A is concerned!). When i used to empathise with my 2 year old, it was easier to explain and answer to her many many questions about things around her, things i tell her to do, things others do, life in general. Now that my little A is 4 she also asks her "why's" and processes the answer in her mind to make sense of it and register for future reference. Isn't that a form of learning and nurturing the child?   Now isn't having a reference for things and situations better than a blank empty "don't know what happens" spot when the child grows up? 

The Irish quote "Questioning is the door of knowledge" puts question and knowledge in one sentence    which according to me makes it a necessary trait to be nurtured and responded to. I remember not having my questions answered as a child, that used to really put me off and wonder why is it that i should not know about something. One must also realise that as a parent if you refuse to answer the "why's" as the child grows he/she could end up going to someone else who answers their questions. I would rather answer my child's questions myself(however uncomfortable or uneasy that is) that have them answered by someone else (to their advantage perhaps?). 

You as a parent are not doing any favour to your child by answering their questions or explaining things to them. Don't make it sound like it too!Answering to "whys" without a condescending tone aids in building their self worth and helps in establishing mutual respect. While answering the umpteen why's of the day , switch to a neutral tone(if you must) when you are too exhuasted to answer in a friendly nice tone. Anything is better than answering "why" in a patronising manner or by replying to it with a "because i said so!"  

Questions also lead to conversations between me and my little A which gives me a glimpse of whats happening in her tiny little head. And conversations in turn result in bonding that lasts a lifetime. So i'am ok with the cute and innocent "why's" to the annoying and repeated "why's" to the difficult and uncomfortable "why's". Why not?! Some "why's" even teach me a thing or two and i'am a believer of never too old to learn! So ask away!