It seems children are born curious and inquisitive. We think it is delightful when they are infants and babies, everything is new and interesting–every day a chance to make nonstop discoveries. Then, when they start talking and gather enough language to ask questions, the “Whys” start to grate on our nerves just a bit. Then, as they reach school-age and (gasp, groan) adolescence–we wonder why they can’t ever do what they are told and stop questioning and arguing about everything. We forget how delightful and brilliant we thought they were when they were curious babes.
We know in our brains that curious, questioning kids are smart and engaged with the world–but that doesn’t necessarily make it more fun as a parent. Sometimes it can be downright uncomfortable when we realize that somewhere along the path of life, we may have stopped questioning and puzzling over the whys of life ourselves. Whatever happened to make us give up and go along without wondering, testing, and asking the tough questions?
It may not seem so when you‘ve been asked “why“ for the umpteenth time or had a teenager tell you yet again what is wrong with the “older generation“, but curiosity and questioning everything are still good and necessary even though they have ceased to be cute. Those rebellious, pushing, and questioning older kids are gearing up to take on a very complicated and challenging world of adulthood. They have a right to ask us why and when and what, just as we have an obligation to try to teach and share and explain. Even though it might make our lives temporarily easier if they would just go along and take things on face value, do we really want them to be that way as adults? Or would we rather they retain their sense of curiosity and continue asking some of those tough and life-changing questions?
See Also: Are You Crushing or Boosting Your Child’s Self-Esteem–Take the Quiz and Ways to Empower Your Special Needs Child