Children and their abilities to question are legendary. Coming from a clean slate, an inherent curiosity to know more and just be present in the moment.
Amongst the kids of friends and family, many questions abound. And some stay with me. More in that moment as their parents struggled for answers. Here are a few recollections.
- ‘Why do you have to stand straight ? Can you just crawl around ?’
- ‘Who invented walking ?’
- ‘Papa, why don’t you wear a blue cloth on your head like that man ? ( Pointing to Manmohan Singh)’
- Upon seeing a Korean Air plane, which is blue in colour : ” That is the only plane that flies in the sky”.
- Papa, do you really work when you go to office or sleep like you do on Sundays ?
- Mamma, ( looking at slum children ) can i play with them ? Why not ?
- Uncle, are you the one from office, that my dad complains to my mom about daily ?
- ( After watching Animal planet ) Animals are wonderful. So much better than my school teacher. Isnt it ma ?
- If the rose can be red in colour, and it so good, why cant everything be red in colour ?
- If i will be big one day, there will be somebody small also ? I need to teach somebody like you are teaching me.
- After watching Discovery Channel : “If all people are the same, why do we have to fight ?”
- Watching a news telecast : ‘These people have no other work’
- Upon being asked what his name was : ‘You are the 10th person asking my name today. Please ask that uncle in that green T-shirt’.
- Mamma, if God invented the world, he invented ice-cream also ? Are you sure, God invented vegetables also ?
Children and their questions / statements have always promised a hope for the future. That things indeed will be different. And to date, that’s a promise that never fades. At least as long as us adults don’t interfere ! That is !
Here’s to a great year of education ! And the next time he or she, comes up with a question, no matter how silly, no matter how odd. Perhaps its important to note that many answers to his or her future stays pregnant in the questions themselves !
And of course, one last question asked by a certain R. The mother had no answer. Can somebody help her.
“Why do girls sit and do ‘su-su’ and boys have to stand and do ‘su-su’ ?” [ ‘Su-su’, is accepted child / adult speak for pee ]
This post concludes the three post series on the kids world of today
it is always amazing when kids ask you questions that are so simple and elegant and you go “why didn’t I think of that?”
🙂
Oh the last one is simple: you tell them, “Because you ALWAYS give a lady a seat….”
:))
Wonderful to remember these things and sometimes ask them to ourselves again. I loved the ones about the news reporter and the instructions to ask the uncle. Too funny.
These questions are silly, but made us thought today. People should encourage children’s good thoughts and belief, even some adults disagree.
Kavi, I have always followed ur blog and enjoyed reading it….but too lazy to post a comment. But today I am compelled to answer the last query for sake of the mum who was clueless. Mom can actually let the little girl stand and pee the next time and she will have her answer.Not very convenient for girls. This is only one of the many such queries that kids ask about body parts,sex and sexuality.Parenting involves answering their questions skilfully and briefly.
Such queries make them to learn better;))
I love the innocent, curious nature of children. We should all be able to look through the eyes of youth and see the world in it’s brillant colors and sweetness.
I especially liked this:
“If i will be big one day, there will be somebody small also ? I need to teach somebody like you are teaching me.”
And laughed when I read about the ice cream and veggies quote.
Child like curiosity – lose it and there cannot be any more joy.
lol..some questions in this list here made my day…the sweet little curious creatures, that they are !
Ha! I’m living with these questions and the question-maker for the past 2 years!! And beyond!
I just never ever brush him off and try to answer all his questions, however insane, as truthfully as possible!
My son wanted to know why we can’t have cereal every night for dinner.
When I think of it..why not??
These innocent questions kindle your mind and really does ask you a straight to the face question that is not answerable in any straight way possible! Kids!
Oh… I deal with it every moment of my life…
Most of the time to answers Siddharth’s question i need to look for help either in encyclopedia or a dictionary now a days he looks at my face and says mama dictionary layoon…
Thanks for the great post!! I got inspiration to write about Siddharth’s question…
Excellent post, specially for parents who are dealing with these questions everyday.My best one, daddy goes to office and talks on the phone and sits in front of the computer the whole day, you call it work. Then why do you say i am wasting my time when i do the same?
Sundar : Perhaps thats why the little one has punched you a little bit more. Are you sure you answered her questions well !?!
Braja : ah ! Thats one lesson too many i thought ! 🙂 But plausible. Why not !
Christine : I am sure you have yours too. With the punks !
Jeevan : while they might seem silly, they hold a lot of meaning. Especially so for children !! 🙂
Shobha : Your passion for CSA has been meticulous and very visible. I am sure Rs mom will benefit from your reply ! Will keep you posted !
Priya : ofcourse !they learn. Better. So much better !!!
Aleta : Glad that you liked it ! 🙂
NS Iyer : Yes sir. And there are very few adults who still are ‘child like’ ! Somewhere we miss it all i guess !
Ersa : All these questions stay vivid in my memory. And the look on the parents face when these questions reached them…stay vivider !!
🙂
Roshini : Ofcourse, you live with them ! Ofcourse. I am sure you are enjoying these. While trying to answer these as well !!
Lou : Your son…seems to be an intelligent young man ! and yes. Why not ! 🙂
Maduraiveeran : Ah yes. Straight questions they are. But not many straight answers there !
It requires some gift ! 🙂
Swatantra : Ha ha !! Siddharth is indeed some character ! He is certainly the joy of your life. If he is going to carry the dictionary around, he sure will be a strong man !!
Aparna : LOL ! That was a cute one. Daddy does the same thing and calls it work !! Ha ha ha !!
Kid’s perspectives are endlessly fascinating! This post was a delight to read!
lol..i especially like the su-su bit..hahaha
When I was very young and my mother was preparing my bath, she would tell me the water was lukewarm. I would say (A headstrong child, I made demands instead of asking questions), “I want it lukecold!”
==============
Detectives Beyond Borders
“Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home”
http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
Haha! Had a lot of fun with this!:-)
LOL. First time here. loooved your post.