The WHY phase!!!

[Beees]

Arrrgggggg surely it's got to win the award for the most tedious and frustrating phase of parenthood ever!

Why, why, why, why, why.... I feel like I'm about to implode with the relentless questioning of every single thing I do or say.

Anyone else right in the peak of this delightful parenting phase and also resisting the urge to throw their delightfully inquisitive child into the bin, for now I shall try to ivoke the age old strategy of screaming into a pillow but I'm not sure how many more questions I can take. Send wine please.

My 14 year old is at it again, but this time I can't answer the questions!

No I won’t send “wine” (always wine.. sigh) but I can send something even more helpful, @Beees !

www.mumsnet.com/talk/parenting

lots of people talking about the “why” phase here!

At least at 14 you could use it as research opportunity. Send him off to the library for the afternoon to find out the answers.

Get them to frame it as a whole sentence. I'll answer any question at all as long as they care enough about the answer to do that. Ask them "why" questions too - listening will make a change.

Everything is a phase. This is one I miss, but maybe that's just the joys of hindsight and teens

You might like to try challenging your little one to vary the way they ask their questions and give them a choice between
what
when
where
how

Someone told me once that when my DD gets to that phase you give them 3 answers to their why and then you ask them why they think x,y,z etc.
Apparently it works although my DD is 13 months so not quite there yet

Everything is a phase. This is one I miss, but maybe that's just the joys of hindsight and teens

I'm sure in time I too will miss it but its just so blooming relentless.

I'll try getting him to do the whole question but but he's not even 3 yet so it's hit and miss as to whether he will construct full sentences.

I do love that he's so inquisitive and it's nice to see him eager to learn but I'm beyond past it in explaining every single time why I need to do a, b and c or how x, y or z works.

The three answers thing might help, thanks.

I've tried the why do you think on him a few times and he just replies I don't know and looks at me like I have 3 heads presumably thinking that's why I asked you.

Yes . . . We've had nearly a whole year of it. He gets 3ish answers and then "why do you think". If he asks "why is the sky" or other lazy things he is told to ask a better question.

It is nice but also maddening. My child is "the Why boy" at nursery.

Yes . . . We've had nearly a whole year of it.

Wow, nearly a whole year is impressive. You must have the patience of a Saint. I'm about 4 weeks in and today I think every sentence out of his mouth has started with either "why" or just to mix it up "mummy why".

My 10 yr old is going through "why" again - frankly it is bloody annoying!

"Why are you putting the dishes away?"
"Can you move those towels to the bathroom please DD...." ......"why?"
"Can you put any clothes you want for holiday in the laundry basket please, this is the last wash i'll be doing before we pack tomorrow." ....."why?"

Repeat ad infinitum. You get the idea.

My mum used to joke that I came out of the womb wailing “whhyyy?!” 🤭 It came as no surprise to her when I went to study philosophy at uni 😂

When they ask why tell them because Y has a long tail.

I feel your pain. It's the relentlessness of the situation that almost everytime he speaks it's soley to ask me why. I'm sitting here thinking how about every once in a while you ask me something else kiddo. Even if it's can I have a biscuit.

It came as no surprise to her when I went to study philosophy at uni 😂

This made me laugh. At least you put your why habit to good use.