As a young adult, I once heard someone say that “there’s no such thing as a stupid question.” This came as a great surprise to me, because not so many years earlier, stupid questions had been quite common. In fact, my parents had pretty much convinced me that I was a natural spring of inane and idiotic inquiries, a bubbling fountain of foolishness. If there had been no such thing as a stupid question, I could have surely been granted a patent for one.
According to my hazy and frequently inaccurate memory, my parents didn’t handle this particular character trait with a great deal of patience. They may have tried. I like to think they did, at least at first. But I eventually wore them down to throbbing nerve endings, then pushed them close to the edge of their sanity. As they often reminded me, I drove them crazy.
But I didn’t understand that at the time. A young boy tends to be focused on himself, and so I bounced between just wanting to ask my questions and wondering why my parents were so mad at me. Taking those feelings into adulthood, I promised myself and any future children I might be fortunate to have that I would always listen and respond with thoughtfulness and care.
This, of course, is where the faulty memory kicks in and causes trouble. One day, I found myself driving, with my daughter in her car seat in the back. She’d been chattering away, nonstop, for a good twenty minutes and I realized I hadn’t heard a word she’d said. My mind had drifted off to some quiet place with butterflies and puffy clouds. (I may be inventing the butterfly and puffy cloud image. It’s more likely that I was fantasizing about those glass barriers that they have in expensive limousines, the ones that go up and down between the driver and the back seat. They were soundproof, I was pretty sure.)
I felt guilty about those occasions when I just couldn’t listen anymore. Both my daughter and my son had inherited my incessant curiosity, a fact that I had wished for and thought I would treasure. But I was unprepared for the steady stream, the relentless, brutalizing, impossible-to-answer questions.
“Where is Christmas?”
“Why can’t I see my eyes?”
“What is one million trillion million five hundred and six thousand and three times four trillion trillion and nine hundred and seventy-five?
“Who was the first person to see dirt?”
“Daddy, why are you biting your hand?”
Once in a while, though, they would ask something that made my heart soar with hope.
“Where does the sun go at night?”
“The sun?” I’d say. “That’s a good question. Here, let me show you.” And I’d begin to assemble a sophisticated model of the solar system, using a lamp, a baseball, a can of root beer, an apple, and anything else within reach. But by the time I’d gotten the salt shaker Moon into position, the kids were long gone. I eventually figured out that they weren’t really looking for answers. They just wanted to know that it was safe to ask questions.
And it was. No matter how close to bursting the arteries in my brain were, I held my tongue and remained tolerant, even for their most repetitive wonderings. I had made a promise, after all. And I had determined to be interested and involved in their lives. So it was with a great sense of shock that I discovered how irritating my own innocent questions were when directed at my teenage children, especially my son. My gentle probing was met with a cold silence, a sarcastic word, or a storm of fury. I learned, gradually, to phrase my questions in certain ways, trying to anticipate four or five moves ahead how the conversation might go. Where were the traps, the land mines, the potential explosions of anger?
They were, it turns out, just about everywhere. If I include in my question the slightest inaccuracy, that becomes the focal point, with the larger, more significant issues buried in a lot of loud yelling.
“So,” I say, “when you told me that chapter fourteen definitely wouldn’t be on the test and that you didn’t need to study it, I guess you misunderstood your teacher.”
“What does that have to do with anything?” he demands. “Why are you even saying this?”
“Because you ended up with a thirty-seven.”
“Thirty-nine, Dad! I got a thirty-nine! Where did you hear that it was a thirty-seven? This is what I hate about people. When they say things and they don’t know what they’re talking about!”
And so another war begins. As it escalates, he storms off to his room and slams the door. I go downstairs and wait, for the next forty-five minutes, for my heart to stop pounding. And then I hear it. My son is upstairs, listening to music. And he’s whistling. Whistling! Was it all just a set-up? His way of avoiding my disappointment? Or is he simply handing the rage off to me?
Whatever the explanation, I remain puzzled to this day by the question that continues to echo inside my skull. How is it that I was on the receiving end of all that yelling as a child, and now find myself in the same position as an adult? How did I miss my turn at bat? Or is it too late to be asking? Has this become my ultimate stupid question?
slavesincorporated
September 30, 2011
had me laughing out loud into the first two lines
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bronxboy55
October 1, 2011
Thanks, Slaves. I’ve been enjoying your blog:
http://slavesincstrip.wordpress.com/
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You As A Machine
October 14, 2011
Ditto. Eyes watering and laughing out loud while my son called over from playing his DS, what’s making you laugh?
Thanks for this. Reminds me of parenting author Anthony Wolf (which I should have spent more time reading than the stacks of books I memorized for birthing my children…note to expecting parents, as hard and painful as the birth can be, it pales in comparison…read the parenting books! The title to one of his many books: “Get out of my life, but first can you drive me a Cheryl to the mall?”
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bronxboy55
October 15, 2011
At the risk of sounding like her agent, get a copy of Betty Londergan’s book, The Agony and the Agony. I’m guessing your son’s teenage years are still ahead of you.
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charleemarie
October 16, 2011
Ha ha ha! That is just as hilarious as this post. I’m beginning to shudder with trepidation over parenthood.
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Tiểu Thất
October 21, 2011
This. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do if my kids rebel…
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Layla Stein
October 17, 2011
Agreed. Love his book. Personally, I think the time I spent in the hospital having my children as a vacation compared to some of the trials and tribulations I’ve gone through as a parent. I’m thinking of having another just to get a break…
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Health News
October 17, 2011
same with me
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solomonsworld
October 21, 2011
i agree i loved this !!! 🙂
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Emily Clark
October 23, 2011
I love this post! I don’t have kids of my own, but I was enraptured all the same by your dilemma and the way you presented it. It reminds me of the cartoon about teaching: 1960 vs 2010 or similar dates. In the 1960s box the parents are yelling at the child about a bad grade, and in the 2010 box the parents are yelling at the teacher about the bad grade. Children definitely have a lot of power these days. Not sure why. It’s a bit easier dealing with children where I currently live, Taiwan, because the students, my class of three year olds anyway, listen intently to the answers I give to their questions. It’s amazing, and this alone makes me want to stay here forever, nevermind the budget cuts, droughts, whon whon. I’ll come back though because the ice cream here is not cutting it.
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willacepn
October 23, 2011
Made me think of the answer to why man (with such limited capabalities in comparison was united with a universe so complex and diverse) in order to survive, has to understand the obstacles confronting us with as many answers as their is stars, then adapt for surivial. It’ Mother Natures idea of a sick joke.
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Angelo DeCesare
September 30, 2011
I often find myself having to explain anything I say to my daughter, who seems to be waiting to pounce on the slightest inaccuracy or mistake. It doesn’t help that my comments and questions are usually filled with inaccuracies and mistakes. I suppose this is the result of growing up among people who weren’t deep thinkers (I’m being diplomatic here). Our brains became lazy. We rarely had to articulate our thoughts because the adults around us weren’t interested or didn’t have the patience to listen. So when I talk to my daughter, I find myself trying to select just the right words, so that my sentences come out in spurts. Like William Shatner wit..I mean WITH a Bronx accent. I never thought I’d say this, but it was actually a lot easier talking to my mother!
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bronxboy55
October 1, 2011
Exactly, Ang. Conversation then becomes a chess match, with the inevitable checkmate.
Thank you for explaining my lazy brain. I’ve been wondering about that for years, but couldn’t bother to even try figuring it out.
http://www.flipandmuzz.com/
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shamasheikh
September 30, 2011
Just stumbled upon your blog and love it! Look forward to reading it regularly.
I started mine a while back…after resisting the idea…Have been an inveterate letter writer but that is not ‘de rigueur’ any more…hence the blog!
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bronxboy55
October 1, 2011
Letter-writing may be making a comeback — I exchange handwritten letters with two people. I’m sure you’d have a lot to say, given your varied travels. Your blog is wonderful, too.
http://shamasheikh.wordpress.com/
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Melinda
September 30, 2011
Ha ha “Who was the first person to see dirt?” I think this is how Philosophy began. Receiving countless questions from a small child, someone was so good at answering them they made a career out of it. My lack of talent in Philosophy class in college foreshadowed my inability to answer these crazy questions as a parent. My parents always answered a question with a question or had me go look up the answer in the encyclopedia. I thought this was to teach me something but now I know that it was a genius plan to end the questioning.
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bronxboy55
October 1, 2011
The encyclopedia tactic worked, but only if the questions made any sense. As you know as well as I do, they often don’t.
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Matt G
October 25, 2011
Ha, true story
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ghassanaltaji
October 21, 2011
nice one
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Allan Douglas
September 30, 2011
Ahh… the inquisitiveness of youth. I was much like you; always curious about things, wanting to know more. My parent’s normal reply was, “Why don’t you look it up?” We did have a set of encyclopedias that took up one whole shelf in the book case, but they were about 5 or 6 years old at the time, so any new knowledge to enter the universe was not included. At least not indexed for easy retrieval. My parents did buy the annual yearbook to keep the set updated, but other than leafing through occasionally they were pretty useless. So unless I asked about Louis the 14th’s favorite vegetable that statement really was telling me, “Why don’t you walk 35 miles to the nearest library and use their reference section to see what you can find on that?” I’d say they REALLY wanted me to leave them alone.
Today, however, we can just tell the younglings, “Why don’t you Google that?”. Much simpler, less life threatening than a 35 mile cross-country hike, and it still keeps them busy for a few minutes. And if that doesn’t work, let’s keep in mind the ultimate answer to all questions, the answer to life, the universe and everything… 42.
“Dad, what color is the third moon of Neptune?”
“42”
“What?”
“42”
“Umm… never mind, dad, I can see you’re having some sort of infarction or something…”
Sorry, no ideas on the teenage thing other than chaining them to their beds until they’re 25 and have learned to act like decent people again. And I kinda doubt that would have the desired effect anyway.
Thanks for another very entertaining read, Charles!
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bronxboy55
October 1, 2011
Allan, when I was in school, we had a set of encyclopedias at home that was published in the 1930s. One of the items in the index was “The World War.” So all in all, I’d say you and I both did a pretty good job of catching up. Hey, did you hear that President Nixon might resign?
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Allan Douglas
October 1, 2011
No! Really? Why? I though everyone loved ol Dickie.
I remember the night the Colliers Encyclopedia salesman came to our house and spent the evening trying to talk my parents into buying this invaluable resource of knowledge. I was maybe 7 or 8 at the time. I sat quietly and listened, so he let me leaf through one of the sample volumes – there was SO much wonderful stuff in there, and this was just ONE of the 24 volumes in the set. I really, REALLY wanted Dad to buy those books.
Dad would not be pressured into an on the spot decision. After the salesman left I promised dad that if he bought the encyclopedias I would read every one of them, cover to cover. He decided to buy them, and I got started on keeping my promise, but I don’t think I ever accomplished it. I did a lot of reading in them, but didn’t get them all read cover to cover. But for a time I felt like the bookcase that these books came in was a shrine or alter for knowledge.
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Ganesh Dhamodkar
October 15, 2011
Yeah, better to tell them “Why don’t you just google it?”
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Jac
September 30, 2011
As you know, I am on teenager # 6, and this is what I’ve learned. If you ask questions, they get defensive and angry. If you don’t ask questions, they think you don’t care. You really CANNOT win.
And that’s all I have to say about that.
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bronxboy55
October 1, 2011
You’re my expert, Jac. I was going to say “my role model,” but that would suggest that I wish to be on teenager #6, which I do not.
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Anonymous
October 16, 2011
Take this from a teenager: If you want to know how our day was in school, don’t pry. It never fails to make me think, I’m in trouble. Teens aren’t hard to talk to, you just have to know how to. Another thing is, when you don’t ask, of course teenagers are hurt it seems as though you aren’t trying to be in our life.If you have a question, ask casually, don’t ask all the questions at one time either, it would overwhelm you, as it would a teenager.
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Jessica Sieghart
September 30, 2011
Oh, Charles. I feel your frustration. I’m thrilled when I can actually answer one of my teenager’s questions, but then realize about three sentences in that their eyes are glazing over and they don’t care. What does crack me up is that if I make one little mistake, though, in my explanation, I get called on it. The point is usually irrelevant, as in the 39 vs. 37, too. Kids! Your story reminds me of a question Samantha used to ask me all the time when she was little. She described a situation where she would pick a booger out of her nose and stick it in my nose (as if that would happen, but I hypothetically played along). After her booger story, she wanted to know whose booger it now was. Hers or mine? I would always tell her it was mine because possession is 9/10 of the law. 🙂 Hang in there, Charles. I hear when they turn 25, it gets better.
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bronxboy55
October 1, 2011
It does get better when they turn 25, partly because they’ve moved out by then. (Uh oh. I just remembered that one of my daughters actually reads this blog. Well, let’s see what happens.)
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Sebastien
October 20, 2011
Hahaha, except that current cultural trends have more and more children staying with their parents for longer!
…oh dear, this does not seem promising for when I have children…
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Joseph Gilmore
September 30, 2011
My problem is that because my kids are soooo much smarter than I am, I’m still asking all the questions.
Nicely done.
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bronxboy55
October 2, 2011
I think you’ve hit on something there, Joseph. Or at least gave it a glancing blow. I find that the older I get, the less I seem to know. Meanwhile, teenagers know everything. It’s an unsettling combination.
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Lenore Diane
September 30, 2011
First, I had to laugh with the 37 vs. 39 score. Those two points matter! (I was not the best of students, which is why that made me chuckle.)
Second, I don’t recall my parents ever discouraging me from asking questions, and I certainly don’t discourage my boys; that said, there are some days I am amazed I still have a lip, having bitten it so many times.
Hang in there, Charles. Your son is blessed to have a Dad ‘see’ him and interact with him. He’ll get it – he’ll understand … in about 5yrs. (smile)
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bronxboy55
October 2, 2011
Thanks for the advice, Lenore. Could I ask just one more small favor? Would it be all right if I came and stayed with you for the next five years? I wouldn’t be much trouble. I could live in a closet, or in the garage. Anyplace quiet and dark.
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Lenore Diane
October 5, 2011
I’m afraid we are short on quiet and dark. For quiet and dark, I typically drive myself to the grocery store – at night. But you’re welcome to come visit off and on for the next five years. We’ll leave the light on for you.
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souldipper
September 30, 2011
Oh Charles, thank goodness you posted this subject. Both of my parents are dead, I have no sets of encyclopedia, and the Internet has let me down.
I have been enjoying corn on the cob. I began wondering about corn silk. What purpose does it server? I had to get on the internet. I found out it has a very sexy purpose. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20060730063836AA2rcaQ
After learning what was really going on in those corn fields, I cannot believe that the kernels are yellow. They ought to be pink with embarrassment!
I will not husk another cob of corn without blushing!
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bronxboy55
October 2, 2011
I’ll never husk another cob of corn, period. Who knows what I might be interrupting? I’ve always wondered about those stringy things between the banana and the peel. But now I’m afraid to find out.
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mamanne
October 13, 2011
Omygosh! That is hilarious, and I never even thought about it! I’m gonna be really weirded out the next time I eat corn on the cob! Thanks(?) for sharing!
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magsx2
October 1, 2011
Hi,
Loved the post, one of my endless questions when I was a kid was “how much farther”, yes it is true, I was one of those “are we there yet” whenever my poor parents decided to go just about anywhere, there I was in the back seat, acting like a parrot. 😀
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bronxboy55
October 2, 2011
Have you been on a large jet lately, Mags? Some of them are equipped with monitors built right into the headrest of the seat in front of you, and show a map with the airplane as it progresses along its route. Wouldn’t that be great for long car trips?
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Allan Douglas
October 2, 2011
REALLY? I picked someone up at the airport a few weeks ago – haven’t been in one for ages – and was surprised to see monitors that not only told me her flight was on schedule but gave that display of exactly where each inbound flight was. I had no idea they were on the planes too. That alone would keep me entertained during a flight. 🙂 Thanks for pointing that out!
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bronxboy55
October 2, 2011
The problem with the monitors, at least the ones onboard, is that the map is pretty small and the picture of the plane is too big. So it looks as though if you’re sitting in business class you’re already in Honolulu, while if you’re at the back of the plane, you’re still in Seattle.
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magsx2
October 5, 2011
You may be on to something there, I can see something like that really taking off.
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magsx2
October 15, 2011
I think it’s great the way you can watch were you are going in the plane, it is a pity they don’t have them for cars as well. 🙂
Just noticed this post was Freshly Pressed Congrats. 🙂
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abc
October 25, 2011
gfhgfhdghgjghjfgh
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She's a Maineiac
October 1, 2011
“Daddy, why are you biting your hand?”
Oh, this had me howling!
My husband and I always joke about how obsessed we were to get both our kids to say their first words. People with older kids tried to warn me that that’s a floodgate you don’t want to open too wide, too soon.
My son was full of questions, “Who made wood?” “Why did God make bugs?” “If I die, then go to heaven, then fall through the clouds, will I die again?” But now, he’s changing into this strange sulking “leave me alone” person. I try to come up with new ways to ask him how his day at school went, but I am usually met with aggravated silence and eye-rolling. My daughter’s ability to talk nonstop could be used as a technique to break hardened criminals. I also try to answer her with careful thought and consideration. It is exhausting. I’m sure your kids will know one day, the amazing dad you were and are to them, Charles!
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bronxboy55
October 2, 2011
Darla, this may be premature, but Betty Londergan wrote an incredible book called “The Agony and The Agony: Raising Your Teenager Without Losing Your Mind.” It’s selling on Amazon for $5.98, and if that isn’t the bargain of the century, I don’t know what could be. Her book saved my son’s life (I was going to kill him).
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mamanne
October 13, 2011
Lol… when my daughter was about a year old I started notating all the words she said, to make sure she was “in line” with how much she should be talking… I was soooo proud that she was well ahead of the game. Now that she’s 14 I find I am regularly slapping myself upside the head for the stupidity of that!
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Priya
October 1, 2011
I am still in that fluff and butterflies world where the questions like “Where is Christmas?”, “Who was the first person to see dirt?”, “Why can’t I see my eyes?” make me smile with the thought of the cuteness of the people asking them.
If I ever have children, I am going to remember this post, and you. It takes a lot to be a patient parent, especially after having been a patient child. And you’re doing a great job.
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bronxboy55
October 2, 2011
I look forward to the time when you have children, because I want to hear all about the cute and maddening things they say and do. Especially the maddening things.
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winsomebella
October 1, 2011
What fun. Especially liked the vision of the model solar system…..sounds eerily familiar from years back in my life. Truth be told, it’s still nice to know that it’s safe to ask questions.
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bronxboy55
October 2, 2011
Thank you, Bella. Yes, it’s safe to ask questions, and a good idea to remember that most people are looking for short answers.
I like your blog a lot — both your writing and these amazing photographs:
http://winsomebella.wordpress.com/oh-the-beauty-ive-seen/
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Carl D'Agostino
October 1, 2011
If papa is Sicilian and biting his hand you’re in trouble BIG TIME
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bronxboy55
October 2, 2011
I had a feeling you’d zero in on that, Carl.
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slightlyignorant
October 1, 2011
I’m grinning from ear to ear. Oh, Charles. I think someone’s already made the reference to Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – so I won’t repeat it, although I do feel that that’s the ultimate stupid-question.
Anyway, questions lead to stories, don’t they? Questions mean we’re thinking, they mean we’re pondering, they mean we care about things. Even if they’re absolutely pointless, they lead us to new lines of thought. Just think about living in a world where there were NO questions. How boring would THAT be?
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bronxboy55
October 3, 2011
It would be unbearably dull, SI. I’ve always found questions to be far more interesting than answers, anyway. For me, there’s nothing more boring than sitting around listening to people talk about what they know — and nothing more interesting than wondering about the things we don’t know.
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shoreacres
October 1, 2011
Oh, but at the other end of life’s spectrum, there is a whole other experience waiting for you…
“Honey, how do you make this thing turn on the tv?”
“Where did I put my wallet?”
“Is today the day we go to the doctor?”
“Where did you put my wallet?”
“Did you break the tv? I can’t get it on….”
“Did you put my purse somewhere? I think my wallet might be in it.”
(You produce the wallet)
“Why did you take my wallet?”
In the end, maybe all those kids’ questions are just like the questions the elderly ask. They’re just a way to keep the communication flowing. 😉
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bronxboy55
October 3, 2011
When you put it that way, Linda, I think I prefer the kids’ questions.
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Linda Paul
October 2, 2011
The answer undoubtedly is that you are on the receiving end because you are kind, patient, and a good listener.
I think you’ve just articulated why I never wanted children! Yikes…all those questions! First it was all those accoutrements you had to manage each time you left the house with your beloved infant in tow, then it graduated to endless questions which I was quite sure I’d never have answers for! Of course, as you point out, they don’t give a rat’s…. about the answers, do they?
Hilarious post.
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bronxboy55
October 3, 2011
Linda, I don’t think the answers matter most of the time. That’s why kids keep asking the same questions over and over — they’re not listening to the responses. Maybe they’re just practicing for the time when they run into somebody who might actually know something.
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Anonymous
October 20, 2011
Ha! The thing is the ARE listening… to everything!!! They are just waiting for the right moment to use your answers for their own good! 😀
BTW: Loved the post, and love the comments.
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vaidegi j
October 2, 2011
loved the post! could so relate to it! 🙂 have my hands full with two teenage boys. As you say its a perennial tug of war or an endless chess game. But then at some stage we would so dearly miss those questions I guess!
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bronxboy55
October 3, 2011
Have you thought about starting a blog? Commiseration is a worthwhile goal in itself. I always thought my kids were weird, until I started talking with other parents. Now I realize that everyone’s kids are weird. And that’s comforting, in a sad way.
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dearrosie
October 3, 2011
Charles I know I’ve said this before, but this really is your best post. The way you segued from your childhood questions, to your kid’s beautiful questions, back to you missing your turn at bat, is brilliant! Brilliant!
I’m glad you mentioned Betty Londergan’s book. I also loved it, and enjoyed the conversation on encyclopedias. When I couldn’t answer my 3-year-old son’s questions, and kept hearing myself say “Ask your Dad”, the feminist in me stood and said “time for a set of encyclopedias”. In my childhood home we had a dreadful 1930’s set that was worse than useless, so it was important for me to get something decent and we ended up with “World Book”. Hey, I really should write about that…
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bronxboy55
October 4, 2011
You’re right, Rosie — you should write about it. Those old encyclopedias seem to represent a common theme here. Was it that the world didn’t change as quickly back then, so knowledge was considered more static? Or did the books just get too expensive?
I’m glad you agree about Betty’s book. I need to read it again.
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notesfromrumbleycottage
October 3, 2011
Wait, have you been at my house during the years of my oldest teenage son? Some of those comments are oddly familiar.
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bronxboy55
October 4, 2011
That’s what I find reassuring, Rumbly. Maybe it really is normal teenage stuff.
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notesfromrumbleycottage
October 13, 2011
I used to receive a lot of anger, especially about why there was never enough money after I was fired from my job. Good times!
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Leanna
October 3, 2011
This was too funny! It reminds me of myself and my three year old niece!
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bronxboy55
October 4, 2011
Thanks for the comment, Leanna. I’m glad you could relate.
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Allison
October 3, 2011
You’re right, it gets better at 25 because I don’t live at home anymore. It’s easier for you to tolerate me for a few hours at a time. I’m sure if I still lived at home, you would find me just as intolerable as Shaun. Okay, no, I know that’s not true, I’m trying to be nice…but after teaching kindergarten last year, I can begin to see how you feel. While I wanted to encourage the inquisitiveness, there were times I also wanted to change my name. “Teacher, teacher, teacher…Ms. Allison, Ms. Allison, Ms. Allison…” I can only begin to imagine what it’s like as a parent. But I will say this – I only ever asked (and still ask) you so many questions because I believed you could answer them. I thought (and still do) that you knew everything!
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bronxboy55
October 4, 2011
I really believe it’s far more interesting to ask questions that lead to thinking about things we don’t understand. We need facts, and learning them is important, too. But they tend not to result in the great conversations we often find ourselves having. And the mysteries — the questions that are bigger than any of us — are always there waiting the next time we go looking for them. As long as we have things to wonder about, there will always be something to talk about. I’m happy that you appreciate that, most of all.
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happykidshappymom
October 4, 2011
Allison — this reply is one of the sweetest family interactions I’ve seen on a blog. I hope someday, when I have teenagers (and twenty-somethings), they’ll feel about me as you do about your father.
I think the key here is that it didn’t matter what you said, but just that you said it. The lines of communication were open.
I also grew up thinking my father knew everything. But then one day he decided to switch things up and quiz my sister and me, to see how much we knew. He’d ask us things like, “what’s the longest word in the English language?” He’s the guy who can do the Sunday crossword with a pen.
It was great to hear your kind words toward your father. They say more than any “answer” ever could.
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happykidshappymom
October 4, 2011
Charles — great post. I see now why you commented about the preciousness of my own kids’ questions (in regard to “where does paper come from?”). The wide saucer eyes are indeed a blessing.
I don’t think you missed your turn at bat at all. I think, for your whole life, you’ve played the role of pitcher. Tossing out questions and seeing what comes of them.
It’s great that you’re one of the few people who actually pays attention to the answers.
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bronxboy55
October 5, 2011
Thank you, again, Melissa. Your feedback is always both incisive and heartening. I’m still trying to understand why young children have this incredible gift of endless curiosity about the world, and then, just as they’re really starting to develop those abstract thinking skills (around age twelve), they seem to become afflicted with an unshakable boredom. There must be a biological connection, and the sudden loss of interest in learning probably serves some purpose; I just can’t figure out what it could be. (These are all generalizations, I know, but they seem to be true more often than not. Do you have any theories?)
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Laurel Sayler
October 13, 2011
At 12 too many other things are going on in a kid’s life. They really start noticing boys or girls, puberty, stress of Jr. High/Middle School and five or six teachers instead of one, etc. Things stall out for a few years, but thinking picks up again by the time they get into college.
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bronxboy55
October 14, 2011
Exactly why it’s also tough on parents. They know their kid is traveling a bumpy road and want to help. That may not be what Nature wants, but parents have been taking care of the child for all these years, and it’s a hard habit to break.
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Val
October 4, 2011
A great post, as ever, that enables me to picture the scenarios unfolding! 🙂
Much as I love kids, I’m glad I never had any. Small children have the attention span of a flea high on speed, teenagers have the angst of that same flea that’s now got withdrawal symptoms. I remember my own teens only too well… I was a total and utter pain to my parents and if I’d ever had any like me I think I’d have jumped off a tall building!
Questions… yep, asked loads of them. But my parents – particularly my dad – would turn the tables and ask me as many as I asked him, and in that way (along with a lot of discussion) he taught me to think.
Are any of your kids still teenagers, Charles, or is this a look-back?
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bronxboy55
October 5, 2011
My daughters are in their mid-twenties, Val, and my son is seventeen. So it’s part look-back and part cry for help.
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Barbara Rodgers
October 4, 2011
My husband and I had a good chuckle over the “Where is Christmas?” and “Why can’t I see my eyes?” questions. He has a quick wit and a way with children so fortunately, when the kids were growing up, he had loads of fun engaging them in all sorts of fanciful conversations – would have gone nuts without him. I love the way you write and your cartoons are priceless!
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bronxboy55
October 5, 2011
I guess the trick with kids is to show no fear, something like what they recommend you do if you meet up with a grizzly bear. (Or are you supposed to curl up into a ball and whimper? I can’t remember now.) Anyway, thank you for the kind words, Barbara. I just visited your blog, and liked it a lot.
http://www.ingebrita.net/
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Stephen Page (eudaimonia)
October 7, 2011
Yes, but parents are supposed to love to answer kid’s questions. That’s part of the love, part of the teaching, part of the selfless ego–parents get tired of answering questions because they are so wrapped up in their own petty problems, house payment, electric bill, car payment, meeting a deadline to kiss the boss’s a… Get with it parents!
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bronxboy55
October 7, 2011
Stephen, one of the lessons I’ve had to learn over and over again is that I don’t really know what’s going on in the lives of most people. It’s easy for me to jump to conclusions and criticize from a distance, but life is complicated. That is, our own lives are complicated. When it comes to understanding someone else’s life, the complications become impossible to sort out. Many parents are a little short on energy or patience at the end of the day. That doesn’t mean they’re short on love. The fact is, there are other demands that have to be addressed. Paying the mortgage, the electric bill, and the car loan — and meeting deadlines — are all part of the love, too. Parents are human, and sometimes they feel overwhelmed. I think they deserve more credit for all they do right, and less blame for their mistakes. If an occasional expression of exasperation is the worst that ever happens, I’d call that parent a success, and that child extremely fortunate.
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ichnobabe1991
October 13, 2011
I think — I hope! — that Stephen Page was writing tongue-in-cheek. He just has a dry wit.
Love this post, and your cartoons are excellent!
What color is the inside of a donkey? (No answer expected, please!)
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icedteawithlemon
October 7, 2011
Thank you, thank you … so incredibly funny and true, especially the part about never knowing where the traps and landmines are! I have raised three sons (translation: I have annoyed the heck out of three sons), and I had given up on trying to figure out why my questions incite so much angry eye-rolling and exasperated sighing. Now I realize there is no explanation. It is what is is … as it has been and always will be. Great post!
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bronxboy55
October 13, 2011
You are a great source of wisdom, Iced Tea. Your students surely know it, and your sons will figure it out eventually, if they haven’t already.
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The Simple Life of a Country Man's Wife
October 13, 2011
Was it a gradual shift from your son asking the questions to getting mad at being asked them? That sounds tough to experience for a parent. Sounds like you’re doing a great job, though.
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bronxboy55
October 13, 2011
I’m pretty sure it was gradual shift, although I think every parent swears the kid went to bed normal one night and turned into a teenaged monster while sleeping. Thanks for the nice words.
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abichica
October 13, 2011
looooll!!!! i was laughing through out the whole post.. It’s hilariously true.. 😀
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bronxboy55
October 13, 2011
I’m glad you liked it abichica. Thank you for the comment.
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PCC Advantage
October 13, 2011
LOL!!! This post is hilarious! I especially loved the questions, “Do I have bangs?” and “Where is Christmas”…how do you even begin to answer THAT one?!
Fantastic post and congrats on being Freshly Pressed! 🙂
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bronxboy55
October 13, 2011
I don’t think I did begin to answer that question. I remember repeating it several times, though, because I couldn’t figure out why my brain wouldn’t work.
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natasiarose
October 13, 2011
My parents were pretty patient with my question asking. And in return I only gave them one year of acting like the worlds most horrible, awful bratty teenager. Family is about compromise. Great post!
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bronxboy55
October 13, 2011
Seriously? One year? Did they kick you out of the house when you were fourteen? How did this happen?
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cuttingedgecreativity
October 13, 2011
This is hilarious. Did you create the images yourself?
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bronxboy55
October 13, 2011
Most of the cartoons I use are drawn by a man named Ron Leishman, whose website and clip-art service I subscribe to. Then I add captions and dialogue. Here’s a link to his stuff:
http://www.toonclipart.com
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cuttingedgecreativity
October 22, 2011
Thanks! I appreciate that. 🙂 Your captions & dialogue are hilarious.
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ladyindulgence
October 13, 2011
Hilarious! I’m a nanny to 5 year old and 2 year old boys and a mom to a 4 year old…
Typical day: 5 year old boy and 4 year old daughter asking constant questions while the 2 year old parrots his new word in the background, “Why?”
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bronxboy55
October 13, 2011
At some point, they’re firing the questions faster than they could possibly listen to the answers. Good luck.
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She's a Maineiac
October 13, 2011
Congrats again on being Freshly Pressed, Charles!
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bronxboy55
October 13, 2011
Thank you, Darla. Congratulations to you, too:
http://miraclemama.wordpress.com/2011/10/12/the-spooky-tales-of-my-youth/
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sportsjim81
October 13, 2011
Wow, that was great! I have a daughter who is 2 1/2 and a son who is 14 months old. My daughter is starting to ask alot of questions. they are cute right now because most of the time she includes a word I hadn’t heard from her before and I think, “aww, she’s learning new words!” I have a feeling that warm and fuzziness will go away soon.
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bronxboy55
October 13, 2011
You still have quite a few more years of cuteness. And you never know — by the time your kids are teenagers, there may be a cure. (Oh, I’ll probably wish I didn’t say that.)
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Candace Keyser Riley
October 13, 2011
Loved it … as a mother of four from ages 8 to 20 I totally get it all!
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bronxboy55
October 13, 2011
So just as the oldest is becoming reasonable, the youngest will be entering that other phase. (It starts way before thirteen, but you already know that.)
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jleecute
October 13, 2011
Yes, how was I born? Parents usually lie when they are asked about this.
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bronxboy55
October 13, 2011
I don’t think kids would believe the real answer, anyway.
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Jamie Helton
October 13, 2011
Very funny article. Children go from being quizzical to being secretive in a blink of an eye.
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aunaqui
October 13, 2011
Very true. Good observation.
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bronxboy55
October 13, 2011
There must be some biological necessity for it, but it seems like such a waste. Just when they’re starting to really get good at abstract thinking, they lose interest in so many things. That’s a generalization, I know, but largely true.
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predatoryblonde
October 13, 2011
Hahahha this is GREAT!
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bronxboy55
October 13, 2011
Thanks for taking the time to read it.
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superheroprincess
October 13, 2011
Loved, loved, loved this!!! Congrats on being Freshly Press!
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bronxboy55
October 13, 2011
Thank you. I liked your post, too:
http://superheroprincess.com/2011/10/12/keeping-my-crazy-to-myself/#more-656
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Elizabeth
October 13, 2011
I have 3 kids so I know exactly what you’re talking about. It’s funny how quick things change.
My 6 year old can’t wait to tell me everything about her day at school, my 10 year old responds to my question “What did you do today?” with “nothing”. So then of course I have to ask her again, “oh, you didn’t learn one thing today at school?” to which I get an eye-roll as a response!
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bronxboy55
October 14, 2011
Ten-year-old rolling her eyes? Yes, that sounds about right. We’re thinking it doesn’t happen until twelve or thirteen, so we’re caught by surprise when it arrives two or three years earlier. I think the secret to survival is to keep talking with other parents. That’s the only way to reassure yourself that you’re not alone, and that your kids aren’t as strange as you thought they were.
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fireandair
October 13, 2011
I’d love to send this page to my mom, but I’m afraid she will laugh and take it as an opportunity to tell me about all those times I was a right royal pain in the ass as a kid, thus bursting my bubble of illusion that I was a perfect child and a dream to raise. Best play it safe.
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bronxboy55
October 14, 2011
Then again, it might be fun to hear her side of it.
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The Mommy Lane
October 13, 2011
Love the post. I have a tween and am starting to get the attitude. Wish me luck. Looks like I’m gonna need it!
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bronxboy55
October 13, 2011
Get a copy of Betty Londergan’s book. It’s well-written and funny, and filled with real wisdom. It might even help you to not go insane, which is an added bonus.
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Debbie Keating de Juan
October 13, 2011
Great post. Any parent (or grandparent) can identify with it. When my kids were little I used to think I would go out of my mind if I heard the query, “Mama?” one more time. Today that query is “Noni?” from my grandson, and, like you with your children, I am trying to do it all over again…the right way this time! Later in time my children raged at me too (sometimes they still do), and only time will tell how my grandson will react to what might be the irritating questions of his grandmother.
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bronxboy55
October 14, 2011
I think even teenagers tend to go easier on their grandparents. Or am I setting myself up for another shock?
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Rassamy
October 13, 2011
They eventually talk? Crap.
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bronxboy55
October 14, 2011
We can’t wait for them to talk. And then it seems as though they’ll never stop. And then, when they’re teenagers, they stop when we want them to talk. It’s a strange system.
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visualq
October 13, 2011
Why is it ok for the kids to ask a barrage of questions, but as soon as the parent does the same thing, they are answered by the rolling of eyes and a ‘duh’ look on the face?
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bronxboy55
October 14, 2011
I think it’s because our questions make sense, and that scares them.
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Sex Kitten (with claws)
October 13, 2011
“They just wanted to know that it was safe to ask questions.”
So wise of you to recognize, and well and simply stated. Thank you! I really enjoyed reading this post. Wonderful wit, wonderful wisdom… who could ask for anything more?
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bronxboy55
October 14, 2011
I appreciate that you took the time to read it, and leave a nice comment.
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DoF@theinfill
October 13, 2011
The first parent that can work out how to balance the involved with the not too involved, or tell ‘the whole end of lines of communication’ verbal exchange from the ‘hell, I’m tired and you’re a fair target of my frustrations as I pass by to do my own thing’ will be the person with the best digestive system, the most adaptable ego and the greatest sense of humour in the world – no such body. Anywhere. It passes: keep breathing. (But you don’t get your digestion back.)
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bronxboy55
October 14, 2011
So mastery is out of the question, and survival is the best we can hope for. I think you’re right. I’ll settle for survival.
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Diane Ludeking
October 13, 2011
Hehehe! What a hoot. I too was an uber curious child. I gave up with all the questions at some point, but am happy to announce that my inner child is back and I love her. “Why can’t I see my eye?” Totally!
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bronxboy55
October 14, 2011
Congratulations, Diane. A life without curiosity would be unbearably dull.
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Tori Nelson
October 13, 2011
Another awesome post! Congrats on FP!
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bronxboy55
October 14, 2011
Thanks, Tori. I was just reading about your adventures with the mailman, and STDs:
http://torinelson.wordpress.com/2011/10/14/stamps-stds-the-postman-stops-waving/
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zenlifefrugal
October 13, 2011
This is hilarious! I can see the looks on a lot of faces of the parents reading this right now!
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bronxboy55
October 14, 2011
As a parent, I’ve always found it helpful to learn that others are having similar experiences — or have survived them.
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Personal Concerns
October 13, 2011
Honestly, I haven’t read anything funnier! Almost died laughing!
Congrats on being FP!
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bronxboy55
October 14, 2011
Thanks, PC. I appreciate your kind words.
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goingroundandround
October 13, 2011
The picture of you and your teenage son is exactly what things look like at my house, I laughed myself silly when I saw it. The teenage facial expression and body language is right on! I’m going to show it to my son 😀
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bronxboy55
October 14, 2011
I wish I could take credit for the drawings, but they were done by Ron Leishman. He has a great website for his cartoon clip-art: http://www.toonclipart.com.
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momsomniac
October 13, 2011
Wonderful!
My 7 year old asks pretty intriguing questions, like, “What were the first dalmations for, Mommy?” I can rarely answer anything he asks. So I looked that one up today. Turns out, no one knows. What? Didn’t they have 7 year olds in the past?
My 3 year old asks questions like “Is it Tuesday, Mommy?” “No honey, it’s Friday.” “Okay, is it Tuesday?” (ad nauseum, for about 30 minutes). Sadly, what I used on his older brother at age 3 (“Well, what do YOU think?”) does not work here. I may have to try that hand-biting technique.
Son 3 is still largely incomprehensible. Ah, youth!
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bronxboy55
October 14, 2011
That incomprehensible thing comes and goes several times. I guess the best we can hope for is that it eventually comes and stays.
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goingroundandround
October 13, 2011
Oh, and my son also does the whistling. Him: “RAWRAWRAWRAWR!!!” 10 minutes later: “Whistle, whistle, whistle…”
Me: “Sigh.”
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bronxboy55
October 14, 2011
I’m glad to hear that. I was worried about the whistling — it seemed to indicate a level of detachment that seemed a little frightening. It bothers me, also, because I can’t whistle.
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Mr. Huaso
October 13, 2011
Excelent post, I really enjoyed it.
Perhaps the ‘ask freely’ made you lost a bit of authority, because you were there to be ‘bother’ or to be ‘asked’, and now is the same but no longer applying to the questions, but to other things.
I find what you have done to be very good… sometimes when people doesn’t answer children’s questions, they don’t make the children more curious, it just makes them more indifferent (and if you yell at them for asking so much, that happens even more).
Teenagers are difficult to handle, but you’ll see that after this stage, you’ll be more of a friend to your son that many other parents are.
Regards from Chile 🙂
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bronxboy55
October 14, 2011
Thank you, Mr. Huaso. Every child is unique, so being a parent is a constant process of trial-and-error. And some teenagers can seem to become a different person from one minute to the next. It sounds as though you already know this.
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Nonstepmom
October 13, 2011
Thanks for the giggle. I’d laugh harder, but it’s just too accurate!
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bronxboy55
October 14, 2011
I just visited your blog and thought it was great:
http://nonstepmom.wordpress.com/
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aunaqui
October 13, 2011
“But I eventually wore them down to throbbing nerve endings, then pushed them close to the edge of their sanity. ”
I think I accomplished the same.
This was brilliant. I really, really appreciated this post. It was very relatable, and funny, and HONEST.
Aun Aqui
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bronxboy55
October 14, 2011
I’m glad you liked it, and appreciate your saying so.
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dct8
October 13, 2011
Very cool! Aren’t cats great for listening?
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bronxboy55
October 14, 2011
They’re great for pretending they’re listening. I think they’re just blocking out their schedules in their heads: nap time, mealtime, nap time, mealtime.
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Luna Kadampa
October 13, 2011
exceedingly well observed and very funny! Thanks.
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bronxboy55
October 14, 2011
Thanks for your nice feedback.
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Déjà Vu - The Blog
October 13, 2011
Haha! This is lovely!
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bronxboy55
October 14, 2011
Do you always do this?
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Déjà Vu - The Blog
October 13, 2011
Haha! This is lovely 🙂
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bronxboy55
October 14, 2011
No, really. Do you always do this?
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carolyntrafford
October 13, 2011
Fab blog – good read and great cartoons
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bronxboy55
October 14, 2011
Thanks, Carolyn. I appreciate it.
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Auntie Jen
October 13, 2011
No kids myself, but if my nephew asked “how come” one more time I was going to have to make the difficult choice about who to shoot–him or myself. Which begs the question, why (or how come) do why and how come mean the same thing?
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bronxboy55
October 14, 2011
I never thought about that. “How come?” sounds like baby talk.
My only advice is to hold your fire. That’s all I’ve got.
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mamanne
October 13, 2011
I loved every sentence of this!! So right-on! I thought I was a fantastic mom until my daughter turned 12… now I am pretty sure I am totally mucking up the whole thing. She still asks lots and lots of questions, and answers most of mine, but now that she’s 14 and a full-blown teenager, the two questions I dread the most are 1) What should I wear today? and 2) How should I fix my hair today? Good Lord! Because answering “I don’t care” would be… wrong…. but giving advice seems to be equally wrong, even tho she asked…
They make no sense anymore.
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bronxboy55
October 14, 2011
But it’s a good sign that she’s still asking for your advice, isn’t it? That seems preferable to cutting you off completely, which many teenagers do — just when the risks have gotten huge and they could use some guidance. I doubt you’re mucking it up at all.
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hybridmonkey
October 13, 2011
I had the same curiosities as a child. The only difference was that I ended up asking myself these questions. The language/culture barrier with my parents probably played a part in that. I was also scared of being beaten by thin sticks! haha
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bronxboy55
October 14, 2011
Sometimes silence really can be golden, and less painful.
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Today's Dad
October 13, 2011
Great Post. Loved the part about assembling the giant solar system only to have them dissappear. That sounds just like my dad. I’m new to blogging and just started my blog for dads at http://www.todaysdadblog.com. I’d love some feedback if you get a chance. Again, loved the post.
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bronxboy55
October 14, 2011
I just read a couple of your posts and I think you’re onto something important. Fatherhood has become confused in some ways over the past couple of decades. Your blog will help change that.
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Laurie Winslow Sargent
October 13, 2011
Thanks, Charles. Very funny! I sent out a tweet for you about this post on @LaurieSargent. Love the illustrations, too. Did you draw those?
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bronxboy55
October 14, 2011
Thank you, Laurie. The original art for most of the cartoons was drawn by Ron Leishman. I add dialogue and captions according to what the post is about. You can see some of his work here:
http://www.toonclipart.com
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blo
October 13, 2011
you know those horror movies that start so normal, and end up in a nuthouse?
my daughter is 5 and on her way to become a royal pain. rolling eyes, avoiding answers, kindergarten boyfriends and still looking forward to cuddle with me, listening to a bed-time story.
the newest addition to the family is only 5 months old, but he’s cool. smiles a lot, eats, farts and sleeps. what more could you want from a child?
I look at them both and hear the soundtrack from psycho somewhere on the background :))
Thank God for therapy, although I’m not sure I will have the energy to go there and talk about my day :))
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bronxboy55
October 14, 2011
Just find yourself a few other parents you’re compatible with and keep talking. That’s all the therapy you’ll need.
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chime11
October 13, 2011
OMG, how great to get taken back to when my nephew asked me “why do the lights have to be on the ceiling, why can’t they be on the wall like they are at Grand Pa’s” and I sat there thinking what a damn good question.
Thanks for making me laugh, I needed it this morning : )
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bronxboy55
October 14, 2011
And thank you for the comment. I’m glad you liked the post.
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Kamran
October 13, 2011
hilarious..im in splits ..lol
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bronxboy55
October 14, 2011
Thank you, Kamran.
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princesayasmine
October 13, 2011
So many questions and they expect answers. My little sister would expect my mum to know a stranger’s entire life story even if we were just passing him by in the car. Where is he going? How old is he? What did he have for breakfast?
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bronxboy55
October 14, 2011
With my daughter, I used to make up answers to those questions. “He’s going to Argentina. He looks to be about a hundred and eleven. He had spaghetti for breakfast.” That approach backfired completely, because then she thought I actually knew things.
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chaks
October 13, 2011
Nice post. After seeing the cartoons i couldn’t stop myself browsing your old posts.
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bronxboy55
October 14, 2011
Thank you, chaks. I hope to see you again.
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theRealSasha
October 13, 2011
Sounds like something to expect in my future. Where did you get the drawings?
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bronxboy55
October 14, 2011
They’re from a great cartoonist named Ron Leishman.
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Jah
October 13, 2011
This post is awesome! Thanks to Freshly Pressed, I’ve got a new blog to follow.
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bronxboy55
October 14, 2011
Thank you, Jah. That’s nice of you to say.
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Nathalia Cruz (@nathy006)
October 13, 2011
I absolutely enjoyed reading this post, I have a 6 month old and can only imagine all the questions she will be asking when she learns how to talk. Something to look forward to, or not!
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bronxboy55
October 14, 2011
It can be maddening, Nathalia, but the alternative — that she doesn’t ask questions — would be far worse.
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girlgeum
October 13, 2011
Is it safe to say, “What goes around comes around?” We often hear, “Wait ’til you have kids, . . .” And when we do, then we realize what our parents were trying to say. Perhaps. 🙂
No, I don’t have kids.
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bronxboy55
October 14, 2011
Bill Cosby called it the mother’s curse: “I hope that when you get married, you have children who act exactly the same way that you act.”
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mamadestroy
October 13, 2011
This made me laugh out loud. I’m still in the first phase of the questioning– I actually find watching any movie or YouTube clip or anything with my children to be an infuriating exercise since the incessant questions distract me so completely that I find myself just as confused about the plot as they are. Your description of your son as a teenager sounds a lot like i remember my teenage self, so I am sure that my karmic is forthcoming in about 10 years. Hope you get plenty of your answers from your cat.
Thanks for this post!
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bronxboy55
October 14, 2011
Thank you, mamadestroy. I have a similar experience with my son. He’ll ask me to watch some video with him, then as soon as I sit down, he’ll start to tell me about a completely different video. And so the voice from the computer and the voice from my son just mix together into this noise and I can’t comprehend any of it. Weeks later he’ll ask me if I remember the video, and when I say I don’t, he loses his mind.
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bvt0688
October 13, 2011
LOL this hits close to home for me cuase im a firm believer in “there is no such thing as a stupid question.” I figure i rather know than be ignorant and have no problems asking anyone anything. now i think about my future wheni have kids and the never ending lines of questions coming from them. lol they say what goes around comes around but my lil children will get all the answers they need till they have no more questions to ask……hopefully
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bronxboy55
October 15, 2011
Your kids will be lucky to have a mom like you who welcomes their questions (AND knows how to cook).
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Samantha
October 13, 2011
This was hilarious. I was laughing out loud in the middle of each section 🙂 Congrats on Freshly Pressed!
I think it’s a good thing to ask questions..it keeps us curious, inquisitive, and willing to learn, even if when we’re little, we aren’t exactly looking for answers.
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bronxboy55
October 15, 2011
I agree, Samantha. The thing that’s always knocked me off balance is the unanswerable question, the one that causes me to stop and try to figure out what’s being asked. And then, by the time I’m ready to attempt a response, the moment has passed and we’re on to something else. My brain, I fear, is now just a tangle of these loose ends, like hundreds of little staircases that lead to nowhere.
Thank you for the comment.
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LisaaLinh
October 13, 2011
Funny, loved it and the drawings are hilarious!
– LisaaLinh
BitchinRants.wordpress.com
Lisaalinh.wordpress.com
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bronxboy55
October 15, 2011
Thanks, Lisa. I liked your post on pet peeves:
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brandimiller
October 13, 2011
Haha, great blog!
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bronxboy55
October 15, 2011
Thanks, Brandi. I visited your Dorky Dino site. Good luck with it.
http://dorkydino.com/
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Tilting Tiara
October 13, 2011
So funny. My favorite question to date out of my young one is, “Mom, what do leprechauns smell like?”
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ichnobabe1991
October 13, 2011
That made me laugh out loud!
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bronxboy55
October 15, 2011
And you said, “Lucky Charms,” right?
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Tilting Tiara
October 16, 2011
Unfortunately, my mind went blank. When she asked, it was so out of the blue and during one of those few moments where life was quiet and I was feeling really relaxed. I remember just giggling and saying (very thoughtfully, of course), “I don’t know, I haven’t met a leprechaun.” Fortunately, if I at least look like I’m considering the question seriously, that kind of answer does satisfy her — until the next question.
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Mary
October 13, 2011
Help with the teenager thing- just ask a few questions. So they’ll know you care but not feel so pestered. And if they got a bad grade on a test, you might want to just drop it unless they are in danger of failing the class. (This from a college student, by the way.)
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bronxboy55
October 15, 2011
It’s a thin line, isn’t it? Thanks for the good advice.
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Rob
October 13, 2011
Thanks for sharing.
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bronxboy55
October 15, 2011
Thank you, Rob.
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addielicious
October 13, 2011
“What is one million trillion million five hundred and six thousand and three times four trillion trillion and nine hundred and seventy-five?” – Gah. I am cringing at the idea of my future children asking me Math questions. I am not a numbers person. Sad.
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bronxboy55
October 15, 2011
I used to just answer with, “Twelve.” They weren’t listening anyway.
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msperfectpatty
October 13, 2011
lol interesting read. Makes me reflect on my childhood.
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bronxboy55
October 15, 2011
I hope the reflections were happy ones. Thanks for the comment.
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Tattoos, love and lunacy...
October 13, 2011
“Do I have bangs?” haha priceless.
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bronxboy55
October 15, 2011
When my daughter was five, she asked me if she could out-grow her bangs. She meant to say grow out, I found out much later, but at the time I had no idea what she was talking about. I said, “Oh, I’m sure you will someday.”
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KL
October 13, 2011
This one really had me laughing! It is so hard to stay patient when they ask so many questions. My five year old son has provided many entertaining things for me to blog about. He has been described many times as being equivalent to a teenager in the way he argues and asks questions. He also has that teenage attitude. We are in for it! I’ll have to keep reading your blog to learn I think!
KL
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bronxboy55
October 15, 2011
Maybe your five-year-old son has the attitude now because he’s gifted and just way ahead of himself. Probably by the time he’s actually a teenager, he’ll be helping you clean the house and inviting you to watch educational documentaries with him. Probably.
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rp71
October 13, 2011
Hilarious…so true.
But then youth is wasted on the young 🙂
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bronxboy55
October 15, 2011
I’m not sure I’d go back, even if I had the chance.
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leadinglight
October 13, 2011
I think I was rather influenced by what my family did for a living – medicine. The clinic was adjacent to our house and since I had little access to my parents as they were busy with patients, I used to bother those patients in the waiting rooms, ask them questions on why they were sick and then go into the dispensary, scribble on a prescription pad and prescribe my own doses of what meds they should take!
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bronxboy55
October 15, 2011
I bet that alone made them feel better.
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Callsign Mommy
October 13, 2011
Mine are only two and four. Both boys. Now I’m scared.
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bronxboy55
October 15, 2011
It’s too soon to be scared. Wait another six years. Then at least you’ll know what to be scared about.
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prespreacher
October 13, 2011
Terrific post! I was laughing out loud! You are a gifted writer and humorist. And talented artist too. As a father of a 3-year-old I can relate. I’m a little weary of the teenage years that you just described. Oh well, it’s not about the destination but the journey.
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bronxboy55
October 15, 2011
Thank you, prespreacher, but I’m not the artist. That’s Ron Leishman, who does all of the original drawings, allows me to modify and add dialogue to them, and is (I suspect) the biggest reason anyone reads my blog.
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Janis
October 13, 2011
Really entertaining post. Congratulations on being Freshly Pressed. It’s funny how I stumbled upon this because this afternoon, on our way home, my daughter asks me where people go when they die to which I naively and conveniently answer Heaven hoping that punctuates the whole conversation. Then a follow-up question backfires and slaps me in the face “So, when did God die?”
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bronxboy55
October 15, 2011
There’s no short answer to that one. What did you say?
Thank you for the nice comment, Janis.
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Jess Witkins
October 13, 2011
If you and I grew up together, we could’ve taken over the world, Charles! Congrats on being Freshly Pressed.
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bronxboy55
October 15, 2011
Thank you, Jess. And there’s still time to take over the world.
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Kia Zi Shiru
October 13, 2011
I love this post, reminds me of my siblings and cousins 😛
I used to always be the one asking questions, but then, I was the eldest child in the family and the eldest grandchild so I was cute when I did it. After a couple of them people do seem to get tired of all the questions.
These days I ask my friends stuff, basically because I’ve never gotten around how to get the right answers from google (and I’m only 23 😉 ).
It used to be so easy; walk into the library -> get to the right shelves -> disappear for an hour looking for the right book -> come out with more books which will answer questions I didn’t go in for -> never find the answer to the question until someone randomly tells you at some point 😉 (or like often, never find out because even science hasn’t found out yet 😛 )
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bronxboy55
October 15, 2011
It seems that everything we learn creates more questions than we had before. I guess that’s a good thing.
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Aileen Torres
October 13, 2011
You got the short end of the stick! Nice to know you’ve got a good sense of humor, though 🙂
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bronxboy55
October 15, 2011
Thanks, Aileen. I appreciate that you took the time to read and comment.
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JSD
October 13, 2011
I feel your pain, but keep in mind that phrase that goes something about ‘what goes around, comes around’…? Anyway, I see my son dealing with the same behaviors in his six children that we dealt with in him. And it’s all I can do not to burst out laughing. Oh, and they really should be chained down until they are 25 years old. Scientists are now telling us that their brains do not mature until they are almost in their mid-twenties.
Great post!
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bronxboy55
October 15, 2011
I suspected that idea about their brains long ago, and if it’s true I find it comforting. They can’t help the behavior, and they may outgrow it, too. But twenty-five? I’m not going to make it.
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Nana
October 13, 2011
The last part of this post, talking about how children react to their parent’s questions is entirely accurate. I do wonder why parents always ask the same questions over and over again; I think my brain has changed to automatically get annoyed when my parents ask me those same questions. It’s weird, because if someone else asks me how am I doing, I’m perfectly fine. But if it’s my parents, I just immediately lose my temper. I have no idea why I behave like this, but it’s good to know that others get annoyed at their parents’ incessant questions easily.
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bronxboy55
October 15, 2011
It isn’t your fault: your brain isn’t fully developed yet. (But don’t get mad at me. See JSD’s comment, just above yours.)
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jaredecus
October 13, 2011
I’ll be honest, I didn’t even read the words outside of the pictures.
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bronxboy55
October 15, 2011
Okay, but you still could have lied and said you read them.
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idreamofeden
October 13, 2011
What a hilarious post. Makes me a little nervous for the future because my three sons will be teenagers at the same time 🙂 Great job!
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bronxboy55
October 15, 2011
Three teens at once? I believe that entitles you to apply for refugee status in another country. Something to consider.
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Karen
October 13, 2011
If the light bulb ever goes off and you figure it out….PLEASE let us know!! In the same boat.
Great post.
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bronxboy55
October 15, 2011
Okay. If you figure it out, please let me know. I’m sitting in the back of the boat with my head under the water.
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Tiffany Hall
October 13, 2011
I LOVE this!! I laughed so hard I could only barely hear my husband upstairs getting question overloaded by my own seriously inquisitive three year old.
“Did God make this Camel?” “Can I have some milk?” “Is it nighttime?” “Where is the moon?” “Did Joel (my one year old son) poop?” “What happened to the dinosaurs?” “Joel is a Stegosaurus!” “Can we watch Bubble Guppies?”
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bronxboy55
October 16, 2011
It made me smile inside that I’ve never even heard of Bubble Guppies. You’ll understand someday.
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BeingEuropean
October 13, 2011
This is genious and true. It made me laugh, made me think. Exactly the situtation I had with my parents, Exactly the way I think about my future childen, hopefully to come in the future (not the near future!).. Hmm. anyway! Loving it! 5 STARS
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bronxboy55
October 16, 2011
Thank you, BE. I have a feeling you’ll be ready when those future children arrive.
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Rayme Wells @ A Clean Surface
October 13, 2011
Love it. I liked answering my kids questions, except when they didn’t listen to the answer! As you pointed out, sometimes the asking is more important than the answer.
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bronxboy55
October 16, 2011
I think it’s true, as frustrating as it is at the time when they’re not listening to the answer. I like your blog a lot. It’s informative and fun to read, and that’s tricky to pull off.
http://acleansurface.com/about/
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zebracrossing
October 13, 2011
wow, you’re a really good writer! i’ll be reading more of your blog soon!
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bronxboy55
October 16, 2011
Thank you, zebracrossing. I’m glad you liked it.
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morristownmemos by Ronnie Hammer
October 13, 2011
The good news is that your teens will some day be charming, interesting people.And then they leave home.
Ronnie
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bronxboy55
October 16, 2011
And don’t forget to change the locks.
I’d recommend your blog to anyone who enjoys well-written, funny, and sensitive essays:
http://morristownmemos.wordpress.com/
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Jezzmindah
October 13, 2011
LOVED this post! So very well written! I’d like to believe that by the time I’m a parent I’ll have all the answers to everything and live in a peaceful home with children who grow from infants to geriatrics thinking I’m the bees knees. Am I to believe from this post that I’m misguided in my imaginings? If this is the case perhaps the best preperation I can undertake for parenting is the thorough development of a happy place infested with fluffy clouds & psycadelic rainbows.
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bronxboy55
October 16, 2011
I wouldn’t say you’re misguided. I’d say you were completely delusional. But I’m pretty sure you know better, and will be well-prepared for all of the surprises — happy and otherwise — that will come your way. Thank you for the nice feedback.
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luaydpk
October 13, 2011
Fun, and good! This quentions is very fanny and genious… Questions is key for knowledge, said an anonim.
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bronxboy55
October 16, 2011
Yes, questions are important, and without them we wouldn’t know much. Parents have to remind themselves of that, frequently.
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My Camera, My Friend
October 13, 2011
This is so funny. I just hope I wasn’t so annoying as a child.
@Jezzmindah: sounds like a pretty place, but beware, all the little girls in the universe will follow you there.
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bronxboy55
October 16, 2011
It’s probably just as well that we tend to forget how annoying we were. The guilt would be overwhelming.
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newsy1
October 13, 2011
When kids are small, I swear they just talk and ask questions to hear their own voices and maybe get your attention but not really care about an answer. And then when they are older they talk and ask questions that they actually want you to answer–so they can prove you wrong. Terrific post.
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bronxboy55
October 16, 2011
Sounds as though you may be a parent. Thanks for the comment, and congratulations on your 100th post:
http://newsy1.wordpress.com/2011/09/25/bloggers-shall-inherit-the-earth/
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Michaela Mitchell
October 13, 2011
Glad to know I’m not the only one who envisions the glass between the front and back seat…um, I mean butterflies and puffy clouds…during the chatter…
And not so glad to know what I have to look forward to as they become teenagers…lol
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bronxboy55
October 16, 2011
Fear not, Michaela. There are some wonderful things about living with teens. I can’t think of any at the moment, but I’m sure there are.
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Edward Hotspur
October 13, 2011
Nice! Where did you get the idea for this blog post? Did you write it yourself or have help? What are some of the unbright ideas you had? Why are ideas called ‘bright’ instead of ‘loud’ or something? Why is Spain? When is orange? How often is train?
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bronxboy55
October 16, 2011
Those are excellent questions, Edward. But my brain is about to explode, so I’m going to take a nap for eleven or twelve days. I promise to answer them as soon as I wake up.
I believe I actually said that to my daughter a couple of times. Except I didn’t call her Edward.
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Archan Bahulekar
October 13, 2011
hi, congrats on being “freshly pressed”.
well written and something everyone can relate to>
My nephew once asked in full view of everyone – “why are you so slow in making coffee?” — and I don’t know what to say to that!!!! Kids say wierd stuff, but there seems to always be an underlying wisdom in what they say…. (or am I reading too much into a random comment by a kid who is a Calvin & Hobbes fan??)
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bronxboy55
October 16, 2011
I think kids have fireworks going off in their heads — an endless explosion of thoughts and questions — with not much of a filtering system. That’s why they say things that seem random and non-sequential. Smart parents know this. I kept trying to make sense of it.
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pezcita
October 13, 2011
From what I remember of my own early, highly-inquisitive years, my dad was unusually patient during my streams of trivial questions. He’d listen, listen, and then respond with some highly academic version of “nobody knows”. Then a good deal on an Encyclopedia Britanica cropped up and he bought it post-haste. Wonder why?
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bronxboy55
October 16, 2011
I never had much success with “Nobody knows.” My daughter, especially, took that to mean I had failed to understand the question and that she simply needed to rephrase it, in every possible way.
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yippiie
October 13, 2011
I’m also like that asking so many idiot question to my parent.
and my parent just got angry on me ,
love your post
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bronxboy55
October 16, 2011
Thank you, yippiie. Speaking for at least some parents, it probably wasn’t that they were angry at you. As I’ve said to my kids on a few occasions, “Sometimes my ears get tired.”
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topiclessbar
October 13, 2011
Great post! Congrats on being FP! Just out of curiosity, what was your son whistling? It sounds sinister to me.
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bronxboy55
October 16, 2011
I never know what he’s whistling. Whatever song he happens to be listening to. I can’t whistle, but it seems to me that you’d have to be in a certain emotional state in order to feel like whistling. Do people whistle when they’re angry? I don’t think so. It always makes me wonder how he can seem so unaffected.
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ditchthebun
October 14, 2011
This is so true, had me giggling out loud. I don’t have children yet, but I have quasi-nieces (AKA friends kids I have enveloped as my family) and a 3.5 month old nephew named Hendrix (yes my brother is a guitarist). Whilst my nephew can’t technically talk he demands your attention already because he sits there and makes sounds, gurgles and bubbles and the expression on his face is saying, I am cooing important stuff your way and you should be writing it all down! Knowing the terror my brother was when he was a child (all 3 of us were actually) I don’t know whether to be excited or extremely apprehensive about his growth. Talking… ok I can handle that… crawling… well you can get those baby locks… walking… uhhhh… running…. dear lord. Considering we once found my brother on top of the piano asleep before he could even walk I think we need a disaster pack ready 😀
Congrats on the FP!
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bronxboy55
October 16, 2011
I think all kids say and do things adults view as unusual, but we tend to find our own children amusing and even delightfully brilliant, at least some of the time. If it’s someone else’s kids, well, they’re kind of weird; there may even be something really wrong with them. But no matter whose kids they are, there’s no way to predict exactly how the weirdness will come out. Just know that it will come out, and you’re ahead of the game.
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stellycious stella
October 14, 2011
Be patient? well, I actually forgot the way I asked my parents questions, since my mom used to gave me many books to read, to enjoy myself in reading. But now, I’m really disturbed with the way my mom asks me how my relationship is going on. I think it is something I need to keep for myself. What do you think? 🙂
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bronxboy55
October 16, 2011
I think you should tell your mother whatever you feel comfortable with. She’s probably concerned and wants to know that you’re happy. Just keep in mind that she’s going to remember every single detail of what you say.
When exactly did I become an advice columnist? You didn’t really read this post, did you?
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aspergersandwich
October 14, 2011
This is hilarious, yet similar to what I had thought was my unique situation, with a dash of disability in the generations above and below me. Funny to realize that that does not really change the dynamic. Thank you so much for making me feel included in the grand scheme.
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bronxboy55
October 16, 2011
I guess kids are kids and parents are parents, and the other details don’t necessarily change the relationships — and the inevitable conflicts.
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manne11
October 14, 2011
haha now this is funny
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bronxboy55
October 16, 2011
I’m glad you liked it, manne11.
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Damyanti
October 14, 2011
I missed this post…and you were freshly pressed! how awesome 🙂
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bronxboy55
October 16, 2011
Thanks, D. How’s your book doing?
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Elaine
October 14, 2011
Oh my gosh, I am not looking forward to the flood of questions at all (my girl being at the age where she’s still unable to speak). And your sample question is the reason why I need to get myself an iphone pronto so that wikipedia can tell her who was the first person to see dirt. hopefully.
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bronxboy55
October 17, 2011
By the time she’s old enough to use it, the iPhone will be so obsolete that she’ll ridicule you for it. Better wait, I think.
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Being Jewish in Hawaii
October 14, 2011
I am a talker. I finally learned to be quiet when my kids started driving me nuts with their incessant questions, requests and comments. Now I have learned to listen.
Great post. Great blog. Mahalo.
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bronxboy55
October 17, 2011
‘A’ole pilikia!
(I had to look that up.)
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childfreefeminist
October 14, 2011
This is amazing! You just summed up my volcanic adolescence and boy, do I feel guilty now! It’s so much clearer when it’s written in original cartoon! All these shows about modern families (like, well, Modern Family) seriously need to hire you as a consultant!
M
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bronxboy55
October 17, 2011
Volcanic adolescence — that sounds like a year’s worth of posts. Are you writing about it (with or without the guilt)?
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Jenera
October 14, 2011
My oldest is 5 1/2 and he’s been asking questions since he could talk. But now that he is in school he’s asking more questions and sometimes I want to tape his mouth shut! But I also think it is amazing some of the things he comes up with and his approach to things so for now, I’ll answer even the ‘stupid’ ones.
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bronxboy55
October 17, 2011
You might as well answer him, Jenera. The tape doesn’t hold, anyway.
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joahnadiyosa
October 14, 2011
Very funny! just yesterday, i asked my officemates about all these damning questions kids keep asking which eventually gets us (adults) off guard. I mean, where in the hell did they get all those questions from? Ha.. there starts the questioning again.
Great post!
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bronxboy55
October 17, 2011
I think they attend secret meetings in the middle of the night.
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Anonymous
October 14, 2011
I LOVE this posting. It inspires me to keep going with my site that I just started. Do you have any advice for a up and coming guy such as myself? This is kind of the same mojo of movement I’m aiming for.
Keep up the awesome work on your end…this site rocks (so does this particular story and also do you draw your own stuff)?
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bronxboy55
October 17, 2011
Why are you hiding behind Anonymous? You have a great blog going:
http://cartoondailynews.com/
The original drawings are done by a cartoonist named Ron Leishman.
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arindam_maitra
October 14, 2011
Incredible post!!! Had me laughing all through…. and remembering my similar inquisitive nature leading me into trouble.. I got away at times acting comfortably dumb though.
Thanks for starting my day with a hearty laugh!!!! Cheers…
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bronxboy55
October 17, 2011
Thank you for the kind words, and I hope your inquisitive nature is still getting you into trouble (but not serious trouble).
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myfilthyroom
October 14, 2011
damn, that’s a lot of questions. whew!
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bronxboy55
October 17, 2011
And they’re not over yet.
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Christopher O'Brien
October 14, 2011
I can relate to asking questions of the cat. I talk to my two dogs constantly, going so far one night as to tell ’em a bedtime story (I covered the exploits of Humpty Dumpty and his wall exploits). My roommate thinks I’m completely crazy ha ha.
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bronxboy55
October 17, 2011
I talk to the cats all the time. I hate when they roll their eyes at me, though.
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patricemj
October 14, 2011
I really enjoyed this piece a lot, made me remember how thrilled I was as a child to be around people who would actually take the time to answer my steady stream of meaningful, all so meaningful (ha ha) questions. Like you, I decided I would be more available to my own child than my family had been to me. But my daughter is not so much a question asker. And she hates it when I ask her questions. It’s funny, I really can’t relate to that.
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bronxboy55
October 17, 2011
So, like me, you’re again having your questions bounced back to you. It can be frustrating, especially after making that decision to be more available to your own kids.
I think your blog is great, by the way. The writing is wonderful.
http://patricemj.wordpress.com/
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patricemj
October 17, 2011
Thanks for visiting and taking the time to comment. For some reason people never comment on my blog…I’m trying not to develop a complex about it. Presently I’m actively resisting the urge to write a piece on my Aunt Josephine’s apple strudel. My 15 yo daughter is like, “Geez Mom, you just get rejected a lot, don’t you?” She’s mercilessly astute. I really must admit, if it wasn’t for this person, this girl who lives in my house, I probably never would have grown a spine. Now that I have one, it’s sorta nice, I don’t flop over so much, need less propping and look so much better in my clothes :0.
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gnovember
October 14, 2011
“They just wanted to know that it was safe to ask questions.” Very astute summary …. lovely writing!
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bronxboy55
October 17, 2011
I’m glad you liked it, gnovember, and thank you for the comment.
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Erica
October 14, 2011
My dad used to encourage my siblings and I to ask questions, because he believed that every question was an opportunity to learn something new.
I have to agree with him, because I definitely learned a lot from my dad. Whenever I would ask a question like “what are books made out of?”, he would explain to me everything.
However, I have to agree, there are sometimes where questions are just plain irritating. I now feel sorry that my siblings and I put my parents through this.
Great post, I really loved it.
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bronxboy55
October 17, 2011
Repetitive questions can be irritating, but having a child who doesn’t seem curious would be much more upsetting. So there’s no need to feel guilty. I’m sure your parents would agree.
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lookoflife
October 14, 2011
I absolutely love this!
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bronxboy55
October 17, 2011
Thank you very much. That’s nice to hear.
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Rashmi Kamath
October 14, 2011
That was a hilarious post. But i’m sorry i still don’t have an answer for your final question!! 😛
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bronxboy55
October 17, 2011
Thanks, Rashmi. I wasn’t really expecting an answer.
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Asta Burrows
October 14, 2011
Great post 🙂 My lad isn’t old enough to ask any questions yet, and allthough I am looking forward to him talking more I am not looking forward to the ‘stupid’ questions!
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bronxboy55
October 18, 2011
You won’t think they’re stupid, but at some point you will think you’re losing your mind. If you don’t, you’re just not paying attention.
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Sai
October 14, 2011
Nice Post! Loved it :).
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bronxboy55
October 18, 2011
Thank you, Sai.
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richannkur
October 14, 2011
very sweet post…
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bronxboy55
October 18, 2011
I’m glad you liked it.
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eng_wy_melinda
October 14, 2011
I really identify with this. I guess this is the “life-cycle” of man, isn’t it?
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bronxboy55
October 18, 2011
I guess it’s how each generation passes on its ignorance to the next.
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whatsaysyou
October 14, 2011
Great post and yes, that put a smile upon my face
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bronxboy55
October 18, 2011
I’m glad to hear that. Thank you.
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Missjlouise
October 14, 2011
Fantastic, well written, humourous and absolutely genius!
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bronxboy55
October 18, 2011
Miss J, you’re welcome to comment anytime!
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talker2youth
October 14, 2011
hahahaha… reminds me of myself. I used to also a asked my father a million questions but in my case my father is quiet patient with me, if he’s not busy working. but i annoy him to his wits when his fixing something and i would ask all and every question imaginable.
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bronxboy55
October 18, 2011
You wouldn’t be trying to annoy him, now would you?
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2Da1
October 14, 2011
Haha. Thanks for posting this. Laughter and recognition in abundance.
Peace and blessings,
2Da1
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bronxboy55
October 18, 2011
Thank you, 2Da1. The same to you.
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samanthahamade
October 14, 2011
So funny, so true, love this! great job!
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bronxboy55
October 18, 2011
Thank you for taking the time, Samantha. I appreciate it.
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underwhelmer
October 14, 2011
You are a patient, patient man… I’m not looking forward to having kids if they have a fraction of my curiosity. 😦
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bronxboy55
October 18, 2011
They will definitely have some fraction of your curiosity. And you’ll be patient, too, I hope.
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ankitmittal13
October 14, 2011
laughs….laughs…and loads of laughs……:)
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bronxboy55
October 18, 2011
I’m glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the comment.
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vectorcrazycat
October 14, 2011
Great post. It is amazing how little minds work and to watch them grow into adult minds.
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bronxboy55
October 18, 2011
I just heard a story of a six-year-old who speaks three languages. That was humbling.
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hadass420
October 14, 2011
Amazing! I loved that post. Got me laughing quite a bit 🙂
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bronxboy55
October 18, 2011
Thank you for saying so.
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neelthemuse
October 14, 2011
Kids and parents….a cycle of distress/destress…the stress is always in it….lovely post!
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bronxboy55
October 18, 2011
It’s nice when the destress balances out the distress. I’m waiting!
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Myra's voice.
October 14, 2011
Big Bird: “Asking questions is a good way of finding things out.”
My daughter and I saw this episode of Sesame Street together, and now my daughter asks me everything under the sun. How ya like dem apples?…
This was funny and in-line with parents with inquisitive offspring “)
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bronxboy55
October 18, 2011
Big Bird has always been a troublemaker, don’t you think?
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Joe
October 14, 2011
So funny, so true! My 4-year old daughter is much the same. “Are vampires real?”, “When is Halloween?”, “Are you and mommy married?”, “Am I going to school today?”, “What lives in the forest…water…cornfields?”, “Do vampires live in the forest?”.
And like you, I often find myself recalling the days events or fascinating myself on a bazillion other things that sometimes I can’t recall a single question she just asked. “Daddy, daddy, are vampires real, when is Halloween…?”
While this post was absolutely hilarious, there is a great message behind it! PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR KIDS…you might actually learn something.
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bronxboy55
October 19, 2011
Pay attention, yes, but protect your sanity, too. It’s tricky.
Thanks, Joe.
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QuakerBerry
October 14, 2011
that’s really good! i mean really really good post! having flashbacks on “how was your day? the school? how goes the party” thingy. my parents always asked those kind of questions whenever i was out from school or a friend invited me to a party and it just irked me b/c the first thing that i wanted after arriving home is to rest and there’s this kind of barrier yes the curiosity of a parent which we kids don’t want to entertain at that moment so better be ask questions the morning after. 😀 heehee. you must be very patient for that.
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bronxboy55
October 19, 2011
You know, QB, there are so many movies and TV shows about mothers and fathers who neglect, ignore, or abuse their kids. Parents watch this stuff and are motivated even more to be attentive and involved. When that interest is rejected, it feels pretty confusing. There must be some middle ground that’s comfortable for everyone (although I have no idea where it is.)
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ceciliag
October 14, 2011
I just know, judging by the enormous list of excited chatty people hovering above my little comment that you may never get down this far.But (having raised 5 kids in a rather lazy cat like way), isn’t it fantastic how they just spin and reappear as these alarmingly wonderful chatty, young adults who you can actually talk to and they talk back, and there is a conversation, until the internet blinks and the chat line unravels! I am interested to see what you write next. c
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bronxboy55
October 19, 2011
I wasn’t going to stop before I reached you! Yes, it is amazing how they suddenly turn into normal people. And it usually happens after they aren’t living with us anymore. I wonder what that means.
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Bandy360
October 14, 2011
This is my life!! Two sons, one 15 and one 13. My 15 yrs old is dying to ‘tell on himself’ for something he TRIED last week. [good lord]. My 13 yr old is all about sports but getting quieter by the day. Once our oldest confessed he asked so many questions as a stall when being tucked in or just before school. I swear They are educating my Husband and Myself!! This is my first visit to your site and at 5am I was laughing out loud. I couldn’t wait to repeat ‘Why can’t I see my eyes’ etc to my Hubby. Perhaps I should revisit my old Blog. It’s a bit like writing a letter to a loved one. Thanks for such a happy start to my day! p.s. the best advice on teenagers I received was “don’t talk to them!” You can say ‘Good Morning’, etc, etc but hang out with them and listen. Really listen. Sounds like you’re doing a wonderful job! Take Care.
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bronxboy55
October 19, 2011
Two boys, fifteen and thirteen. I’m groping for something optimistic to say, but it isn’t easy. I’ve downgraded my own hopes to this: I’ll be relieved if everyone just survives. I know I’m repeating myself, but get a copy of Betty Londergan’s book, The Agony and the Agony. Amazon is selling it for a ridiculously low price. Thanks for the comment.
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Govind
October 14, 2011
Hi Charles, came here by chance. Loved this post. Will come back for more. Wish I could write like you.
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bronxboy55
October 19, 2011
Thank you, sir. I appreciate your kindness.
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racedds
October 14, 2011
My mother is amazing, she’s done so much for me, when I was a child she’d read poetry to me and feed my tiny mind daily. But when I asked, ‘How do you know what’s a left shoe and what is a right shoe?’ I wish she’d sat me down and explained rather than saying ‘You can just tell.’ Might have saved some embarrassment.
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bronxboy55
October 19, 2011
All in all, I guess a well-fed mind is a valuable thing, even if your shoes are on the wrong feet.
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timberland schuhe
October 14, 2011
You make it entertaining and you still take care of to keep it smart. I cant wait to read far more from you. This is really a wonderful web site.
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bronxboy55
October 19, 2011
That’s such a nice thing to say. Thank you.
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therealbryon-or gaysexandthecity
October 14, 2011
You captured that wonderful trait we all have had (or will have). So very funny! I have a new read!
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bronxboy55
October 19, 2011
I’m glad you liked it, and hope to hear from you again.
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leapupchek
October 14, 2011
I am still laughing out loud about “the first person who saw dirt.” Laughing and laughing. My 17-year-old is in the kitchen. He asks why I’m laughing. I read a bit of your blog. He turns around in the middle and walks out. I am going to read it again. My goodness, you are doing my heart good! I’m sending the link to my mother directly.
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bronxboy55
October 19, 2011
I have a 17-year-old and he would have done the same thing. Thank you for the nice feedback.
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Spiritual Implications
October 14, 2011
It’s so true! I don’t have kids yet, but I teach, and I can tell that there are those moments of talking to my students when I sound just like my mother when I would finally push her wrong button.
Glad to see I’m not alone! Keep up the good work!
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bronxboy55
October 19, 2011
I think kids look for that wrong button, don’t you?
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madamfickle
October 22, 2011
I say “don’t push my buttons”, and i get….”What buttons? I don’t see any buttons. Where are the buttons? What color are the buttons?” I’ve been asked more times than I can count “Why don’t you have a penis? and “Do you really have eyes in the back of your head?” Yes, yes I do.
What a wonderful read. Thank you. All of you just helped me feel a little closer to normal.
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Sophia Morgan (griffinspen)
October 14, 2011
I loved this post! And the cartoons with it. I remember pestering my mother all the time with questions when I was little. And pets sure are great to talk to!
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bronxboy55
October 19, 2011
It wasn’t really the number of questions that drove me crazy. It was the number of questions — one right after another — that I couldn’t answer.
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greywolfreviews
October 14, 2011
Haha great post! My brother has a slightly different tactic to your son, however. He operates with a sullen look about the house and whenever my mother asks him questions he is at great pains to display his loathing at having to answer them. Teenagers!
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bronxboy55
October 19, 2011
So he wants to be asked, just so he can react with disdain to the questions. I get it. I don’t understand it. But I get it.
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tegantallullah
October 14, 2011
This is fantastic and really made me laugh. “Who was the first person to see dirt?” Hahaha. Love the little pictures aswell. I’m off to look around the rest of your blog! x
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bronxboy55
October 19, 2011
I’m glad you’re here. Thank you for the nice comment.
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simplemanhattan2010
October 14, 2011
If my future children are anywhere near as inquisitive and talkative as I was when I was a child…dear God, please help me…
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bronxboy55
October 19, 2011
I used to wonder what it was like for God to have to answer so many questions.
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myonepreciouslife
October 14, 2011
Teenagers are just like that. It probably wouldn’t matter what you did. Wait it out. You’ll get to ask your questions one day.
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bronxboy55
October 20, 2011
Yes, but by then I’ll have to come up with a whole new set of questions.
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INDIATRIPPING.COM
October 14, 2011
Hilarious post!
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bronxboy55
October 20, 2011
I’m glad you think so. Thank you.
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ladyfordyce
October 14, 2011
The inaccuracy becoming the focal point of the discussion (argument) — that is why we always predicted our son would become a lawyer.
We were constantly saying, “Focus on the main point; we will not go down that path; stay on the main idea.”
Instead of becoming a lawyer, he has become a computer programmer/ engineer – where an inaccuracy is the focal point. The program will not run!
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bronxboy55
October 20, 2011
I hadn’t thought of it that way. Maybe this maddening trait is really a strength. Thanks!
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Abigail
October 14, 2011
I’m finding more and more that people just aren’t curious. We had a giant hole dug on my campus this week (apparently, they were fixing the heat). I would stop and look at the hole and see how far they were going. Very few others even glanced at it. So I’d like to say that I want to cultivate the curiosity in my own children, whenever they come, but at the same time, if they talk half as much as my sister does (Yes, Elle, you told me that now four times.) , I don’t know if I’ll have the patience for it.
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bronxboy55
October 20, 2011
I wonder if it’s even possible to cultivate curiosity. I think you can encourage and feed it if it’s already there, but I’m not sure it’s possible to plant it. Thanks for the comment. I hope they get the heat fixed soon.
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Martin Tjandra
October 14, 2011
But still, too much curiosity is still better than none at all! 🙂 bravo for all the wonder thoughts. You’re going to be a great dad. 🙂
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bronxboy55
October 20, 2011
I agree, Martin — too much is better than none at all.
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asoulwalker
October 14, 2011
There is little in life more therapeutic than talking to a cat. Cheers.
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bronxboy55
October 20, 2011
So true. But sometimes I wish they would tell me what they’re thinking. I could use the advice.
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Dounia
October 14, 2011
This post made me laugh out loud so many times! The worst part is that I’m sure my sister and I did that to my parents when we were younger (we possibly still do now, even in our mid-late 20s, that can’t be a good thing…) Now we’re watching our 17 year old brother do that! I really enjoyed this post and your writing – thanks for sharing! And congrats on being freshly pressed, it’s well-deserved!
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bronxboy55
October 20, 2011
Those are the exact ages of our three kids — daughters 26 and 27, and son 17. Thank you for the kind words. I visited your blog and it looks great. You’ve had an interesting life (already).
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Dounia
October 21, 2011
Wow, that’s a very funny coincidence – my sister just turned 29, I’m 26, and my brother turned 17 this summer. It’s a lot of fun (when it’s not a pain! 😉 ) having a much younger brother, although it’s been a whole new challenge for my parents after 2 girls! Thanks for stopping by my blog and for your kind comment. I really appreciate that, even more so because you’re a fantastic writer. Thanks again, and I look forward to reading more.
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Ashley
October 14, 2011
LOVE this. I have a ten year-old that chatters incessantly, AND a seventeen year-old who simply knows everything. I needed a laugh today, and you definitely delivered. Thank you for that:)
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bronxboy55
October 20, 2011
You’re welcome, Ashley, and thank you for the nice comment. I hope things in your life have gotten easier, or will soon.
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Peter j Foster
October 14, 2011
Good stuff! Thanks for sharing. Keep up the writing.
Greetings from UK, Peter.
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bronxboy55
October 21, 2011
Thank you very much, Peter. I’m glad you stopped by.
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dressupforme
October 14, 2011
A very interesting post! I have actually learned, that the most “question makers” are not looking for answers. They simply need attention and to be sure, as you said here, that it is ok to ask. According to some scientists, asking questions is genius! 😉 Nice to know you! 😉
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bronxboy55
October 21, 2011
Maybe children are just testing the waters when they rattle off a string of questions, practicing for some future time when they really are looking for answers. Thank you for your comment. It’s nice to know you, too.
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icedteawithlemon
October 14, 2011
Hey, congratulations on being freshly pressed! A most deserved honor …
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bronxboy55
October 21, 2011
Thank you, Iced Tea. That’s especially nice coming from one of my very favorite bloggers.
http://icedteawithlemon.wordpress.com
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Kavya
October 14, 2011
Congrats on being on the front page. 🙂
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bronxboy55
October 21, 2011
Thank you, Kavya. And I promise to visit your blog again soon!
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Mamá Leche
October 14, 2011
I hope I remember this post when my children are teenagers! It would help to be able to think that no matter what my approach, they’d still likely have turned out a sulky, snappy and hormone-drunk. I recently wrote a post about the constant chatter of the five year old. Sounds so much like what you describe when your children were younger!
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bronxboy55
October 22, 2011
I agree completely. I think kids are born with their personalities, and unless we do something drastic — like locking them in a closet for ten years — we don’t have that much effect on how they turn out. And that period between twelve and nineteen is a mystery that defies explanation or prediction. But judging by what I read on your blog, I think you’re going to be fine. Just keep reminding yourself of your own phrase: “sulky, snappy, and hormone-drunk.”
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judithornot
October 14, 2011
Many things come full circle. When I was a kid/teen, my mother kept asking me to turn down the music. When my son was 7-years-old, HE would ask me to turn down the music. I think it only stops when you live alone . . . but I like the drawing of you talking to the cat. 🙂
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bronxboy55
October 22, 2011
Thanks for the comment. It made me wonder if you have a cat, and if the cat ever asks you to turn down the music.
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fuzzlovefamily
October 14, 2011
I almost forgot how patient my parents were when I asked them nonsense questions…
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bronxboy55
October 22, 2011
It sounds as though you have great parents. And I’m sure that when your own kids are driving you crazy with their questions, your parents will remind you about what you were like. Thanks for the comment.
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Jan Simson
October 14, 2011
Fantastic post. Made my morning. Man… if I look back now, my parents have done so much for me. I’m gonna do something awesome for them today. Thanks for the inspiration, and congrats on being FP! Cheers.
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bronxboy55
October 22, 2011
Thank you, Jan. Hearing that the post inspired you to do something for your parents is the best feedback I could possibly get.
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Oh God, My Wife Is German
October 14, 2011
Great post! Extremely well written. Thank you for sharing.
I will follow your blog for sure!
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bronxboy55
October 22, 2011
Thank you. Your blog is great, too!
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Prudence
October 14, 2011
I love it! My youngest daughter is the inquisitive child. Still now, in her late teens, she is still inquisitive; however, while she demands answers to her questions, she meets mine with silent indifference, surprise and sometimes hostility. Great post! Congratulations, also, on being Freshly Pressed!
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bronxboy55
October 22, 2011
I know what you mean, Prudence. I’m always surprised at how many different ways a seventeen-year-old can take a simple question like, “Where is the party?” and respond with vague, partial, and contradictory answers. But then, maybe I would’ve done the same thing, if I’d been invited to parties. Thanks for the nice words.
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amy-gaffigan
October 14, 2011
This is fantastic. I myself can’t remember whether or not I was a curious kiddo, and I’m not sure if I’m ready for such a child just yet. Thank you for making me laugh, and I hope that you can eventually get through to your teenage son. I would say that spending more time with him might fix things to an extent, but I don’t really know how boys work. All I do know is that the more time I spent with my parents, the easier it was for me to communicate with them.
But don’t mind me. I’m a crazy college student who feels like a superhero with words. Just a little bit. You’re awesome, last thing I’m gonna say.
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strangecrumb
October 14, 2011
amy-gaffigan said it for me. (Well, except for the part about being a crazy college student.) 😛
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bronxboy55
October 22, 2011
Thanks for the good advice, Amy. I try to spend as much time with my son as I can, when he’s open to it. I know this phase will pass; I just want to be alive and functioning when it happens. And by the way, you are a superhero with words:
http://gaffyvarietyblog.wordpress.com/
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bronxboy55
October 25, 2011
Thanks for the comment, strangecrumb.
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Greg Z.
October 14, 2011
My 8 yr old daughter, after scanning your illustrations . . . “So, is he English or not? . . I don’t get it!”
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bronxboy55
October 24, 2011
When I was about six years old, I began to make the connection that Italian people spoke Italian and German people spoke German. I assumed that because we spoke English, that we were English. Actually, it still confuses me a little. Please apologize to your daughter for me.
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Sisterhood of the Traveling Military Pants
October 14, 2011
Wow, funny, insightful and it makes me introspective as a parent. Although, what motivation do I have to change my frustration level if it’s only still going to bite me when they are teenagers:)?
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bronxboy55
October 24, 2011
It is going to bite you, but I think being prepared helps to take away some of the sting. Talking to other parents or reading a book or blog about someone else’s experiences can be comforting. A little, anyway. Thanks for the comment.
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Joy
October 14, 2011
You took me way back, back down memory lane. I was, as a child, a literal questionnaire. Questions of every kind I had asked: Under the sea-bed what? Who was great grandfather’s father? God made me, who made God? Where did the universe end? and a million more…-:)
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bronxboy55
October 24, 2011
Those are some pretty deep questions, Joy. I wonder what kind of answers you got.
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Gracie
October 14, 2011
Love it!
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bronxboy55
October 24, 2011
Thanks, Gracie. I’m glad.
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BackwardAmerica
October 14, 2011
“Daddy, why are you biting your hand?” Ah…I laughed all the way through. Thank you for being so transparent!
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bronxboy55
October 24, 2011
Thank you.
Wait — transparent is good, right?
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Daren Sirbough
October 14, 2011
“Daddy, why are you biting your hand?”
I lost it about then!! Haha
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bronxboy55
October 25, 2011
Thanks, Daren. Your blog is filled with thoughtful writing.
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pnwauthor
October 14, 2011
Thanks for this bit of humor mid-day. Dang, I wonder if I asked my parents too many questions.
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bronxboy55
October 25, 2011
My guess is that you asked exactly the right number of questions.
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Nhan-Fiction
October 14, 2011
Great post.
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bronxboy55
October 25, 2011
Keep up the nice work on your blog, too.
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ournote2self
October 14, 2011
Loved reading this! As a mother of 2 I now find myself realizing why my parents said things to me like “you talk to much” or “go ask your father”. Those are things that roll out of my mouth quite often. Funny how that happens…
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bronxboy55
October 25, 2011
Your kids know you love them, so those occasional curt responses probably don’t mean a thing to them.
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aprilslife
October 14, 2011
love the post. 🙂
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bronxboy55
October 25, 2011
Your blog has more categories than any other blog I’ve ever seen.
http://aprilslife.wordpress.com/
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I Made You A Mixtape
October 14, 2011
So funny! The illustrations are to the point! Especially the last one…lol!
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bronxboy55
October 25, 2011
The cartoons are the fun part for me, too.
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blackgirlsurvival
October 14, 2011
So love your blog! I am one of those people who asks lots of annoying questions but get even more annoyed when someone asks one of me so I am both busted and amused!
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bronxboy55
October 25, 2011
Does your annoyance include questions about you, like when someone shows an interest in getting to know you? Or do you mean questions like, “What’s the capital of Montana?”
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Amanda
October 14, 2011
So funny and so true! As a schooteacher I find myself holding back laughs when my first graders come up with these random questions!
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bronxboy55
October 26, 2011
Have you blogged about them? Please let me know — I’d like to read it.
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Joseph Gilmore
October 14, 2011
Congrats on the Fresh Press sir. That’s at least twice now…
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bronxboy55
October 26, 2011
It’s exactly twice, Joseph. Thank you, again, for reading my stuff. I’m a great admirer of yours.
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basketcase
October 14, 2011
Teachers experience this on a daily basis, its fun to hear kids asking things,especially science, but sometimes its quite annoying.
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bronxboy55
October 26, 2011
I’ve been in meetings with grownups, and I find it even more annoying when they do it.
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Dean Buckley
October 14, 2011
This was very amusing. The cartoons really added to it.
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bronxboy55
October 26, 2011
Thank you, Dean. My posts have been pretty long lately, and I think the cartoons help to break them up.
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Lady Gwendolynn
October 14, 2011
Hey Bronx,
this actually took me back to my teenage years myself and a little to the times when I was in Middle School. More so Middle School. My mother would always ask me the dreaded question of “So how was school today.” Everyday she’d ask me that question and all I wanted was to NOT hear the question because my life in Middle School to me, was hell. I was being bullied by my peers and often I informed the teachers of things related to this they should be looking into, but either they eventually tried to IGNORE the problem (or me), they’d say there was NOTHING they could do or something else. I think many of the problems kids have aren’t just at home but also at school. So there’s another factor to be THROWN into the mix of “Be careful what kinds of questions you ask your kids”. Often if the kids have a pretty good home life – but they are reacting in an explosive manner like this regularly everyday – perhaps there might be something more going on at school (especially if they try to avoid the subject) or it could be the excuse everyone likes to use “Hormones”. That’s just my 2 cents.
http://gwendolynndedanaan.wordpress.com
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bronxboy55
October 26, 2011
I keep coming to this same conclusion, LG: Everyone is different, and we have to treat them as such, including our own kids. The perfect response to one person may be the worst possible response to another. And that’s part of the difficulty of being a parent. You have to get close enough to know what to do (or not do), but the very act of getting close may create new problems. It’s tricky.
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OracularSpectacular
October 14, 2011
What an excellent post.
I teach grade one, and on a difficult day (remember I’m dealing with 25 innocent, curious, sweet, frustrating little ones) I try not to lose my temper because I know that at their age I was just the same.
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bronxboy55
October 29, 2011
That’s an important job you have there, OS, and a difficult one. I often wonder how teachers maintain their sanity.
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mjcinti
October 14, 2011
Very well written. I always find breaking a long post up with funny pictures always makes it easier to digest. I will be following your blog from now on. 🙂
Infact, I have a post entitled “Do We Still Need Religion?” that is in the same style as this. Check it out if you’d like and check out the rest of our stuff @CulturedSavages
http://culturedsavages.wordpress.com/2011/09/29/do-we-still-need-religion/
Thanks,
Marco C
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bronxboy55
October 29, 2011
You’re right about the pictures, Marco. A long post that consists of just get will scare a lot of people away. Keep writing!
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katscraftchallenges
October 14, 2011
I enjoyed the part about the aborted solor system demonstration. I once had the opposite happen to me. When my teens were small boys, I was teaching them a lesson about why people cannot see the stars during the day. The three of us entered a dark closet for the demonstration, when my elderly mother-in-law slipped in, trying to be nonchalant. She was curious about it, too.
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bronxboy55
October 29, 2011
I wonder how the solar system lesson went. I also wonder how you got so lucky that you have closets big enough for four people.
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ozarkdreams
October 14, 2011
My moto is “Don’t get mad, get even.” Every teenage is that way about questions. The best revenge is to embarrass them in public. I’ve never found that hard to do as almost everything you do will embarrass them, so do it often and in front of their friends. Try it, its great fun. Then write and tell us about that.
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bronxboy55
October 29, 2011
I’ve noticed the same thing. Saying or doing anything out of the ordinary will cause profound embarrassment. And often, we don’t even know what it was.
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psbyrd71
October 14, 2011
God! I totally remember asking question after question until I would get the tired parent shut down. I also remember shutting down my own son after the 30th question. This is one of those things that I wish I had handled differently. Really funny, thank you!
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bronxboy55
October 29, 2011
I think a little impatience is instructive, too. At some point, kids have to learn that too many questions and too much repetition can be inappropriate, depending on the circumstances.
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Tessa Heywood
October 14, 2011
Just stumbled upon your blog and loved what I’ve seen so far – will definitely spend some time on here this weekend. Please feel free to check my own site out at http://tessaheywood.wordpress.com – keep up the good work!
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bronxboy55
October 29, 2011
I just checked out your blog and it looks great. Thanks for the comment.
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fornormalstepfathers
October 14, 2011
Oh, yeah, this is exactly how teenagers react to the questions! 🙂
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bronxboy55
October 29, 2011
The behavior becomes easier to live with when you discover how common it is.
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corzgalore
October 14, 2011
Oh man, I know exactly what you are talking about.
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bronxboy55
October 29, 2011
Thanks for the comment, Corrie. And good luck with your blog.
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bari6363
October 14, 2011
Very nice blog Im 13 and am doing homework for school kinda just looked at the cartoon and started reading. I think this is very true and I remember notat all long ago asking millions of questions. Now that I think about it I don’t know if Igot any answers. Mydad is alot like you and when he gets home he starts asking questions. I think I kind of shut him out because thery fell repeditive from the last day. I think next time I might actually listen next time and start answering his questions. Once agian very nice blog keep it up.
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bronxboy55
October 29, 2011
You just might find that as you answer your Dad’s questions, he may not ask as many. Sometimes, for a parent, a non-answer causes us to think of three more things we feel compelled to ask. Give it a try.
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The Clarence White Blog
October 15, 2011
It is one thing to live these dynamics with a child, but what is it when we have to live them with adults?
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bronxboy55
October 29, 2011
I don’t know, Clarence. But here’s another question: Why do we sometimes have less patience with our own kids than we do with complete strangers? I’ve been guilty of that, and I have no satisfactory explanation.
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Barbara @ Just Another Manic Mommy
October 15, 2011
my favorite part:
My mind had drifted off to some quiet place with butterflies and puffy clouds. (I may be inventing the butterfly and puffy cloud image. It’s more likely that I was fantasizing about those glass barriers that they have in expensive limousines, the ones that go up and down between the driver and the back seat. They were soundproof, I was pretty sure.)
I love it so much because I have 3 who sound like this…all at the same time!
thanks for the laugh!
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bronxboy55
October 31, 2011
Thank you, Barbara. I never had to handle more than one at a time. I hope you’re all doing well.
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Betty Londergan
October 15, 2011
Charles — you ROCK STAR !! On Freshly Pressed once again … and so well deserved, as this was one of your best columns ever! I particularly loved the accuracy of the questions — “Daddy, do I have bangs?” is one of my faves! And cruising through your billions of comments, I was SO delighted and honored that you gave my book a shout-out!! Thank you!! (Unfortunately, it kinda broke my heart that it’s selling for $5.98 on amazon … i mean honestly — why don’t they give it away??) In any event — CONGRATS! Have a great weekend, enjoy your fame & remember to ask yourself, “Am I getting vain?” “Will all these comments last?” “Do I really look like my photo?” xooxxo B
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bronxboy55
October 31, 2011
The comments will last for weeks, even if the actual readers are long gone. I recommend your book every chance I get, Betty. It would be a bargain at ten times the price. Hope you’re enjoying your trip to Uganda!
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minam8
October 15, 2011
This was so true and so funny haha…
But seriously parents, stop asking us how are day was!!!
Psh.. nosy parents…
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bronxboy55
October 31, 2011
Be honest: would you prefer parents who weren’t interested?
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Brown Sugar Britches
October 15, 2011
you must have heard my friday afternoon rantings within my own head that this will NOT be another weekend of “can i have a popsicle?” or so help me, i’m going to turn my ears off. it is ridiculous the number of times the same question can be asked. *whew* your writing is always so refreshing and tied to very specific memories. missed ya lately. congratulations on continuing to be mostly bright and freshly pressed.
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bronxboy55
October 31, 2011
Wouldn’t that be great if we could turn off our ears? I’ve said that a thousand times. Thanks, Tanisha. You never fail to “say something sweet!”
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emmefemme
October 15, 2011
Hey there, this had me laughing …God, the parent folk have a lot to bear! My brother still makes fun of my ‘stupid’ questions and I know for a fact that my poor mother came close to bursting a nerve with my never ending babble when i was a child. As an adult, i guess nothing has changed, all my mom says is, ‘just you wait till you get married and have kids, you’re going to GET IT!’ and then does the evil cackle!:)
Totally looking forward to reading more from you 🙂
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bronxboy55
October 31, 2011
Bill Cosby called that the mother’s curse. And as he said, the curse works. So watch out!
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sb6121
October 15, 2011
Very humorous and hilarious. However also so true. Greatly enjoyed your article. Thanks.
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bronxboy55
October 31, 2011
And thank you for the comment.
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Body & Mind Balance
October 15, 2011
It’s a bit like when you are a kid you hide stuff from your parents, and when you are a parent you hide stuff from your kids, nothing ever really changes.
Inquisitive is good, we should never stop asking questions…how else would we find out anything?
Congrats on FP and thank you for some nice reading.
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bronxboy55
October 31, 2011
It does seem like some kind of cycle. Thanks for the comment.
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G&B
October 15, 2011
Very funny, congrats for freshly pressed.
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bronxboy55
October 31, 2011
Thanks, G&B. I appreciate it.
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ailsapm
October 15, 2011
Loved it!!!!! Well deserving of FP 🙂
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bronxboy55
October 31, 2011
Thank you, ailsapm. And I promise that I’ll never again take this long to reply to a comment.
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laarnidelusong
October 15, 2011
Wonderful post. Made me smile and laugh cause this reminds me a lot of my niece. I have to add that not all kids are like this, and most of the time, kids who do ask these crazy questions usually grow up to be smart. I guess that’s why you write well and know a lot about things. Cheers!
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bronxboy55
October 31, 2011
To tell you the truth, I feel sad when I see older kids who have stopped asking questions. Thank you for the nice comment.
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Tinytoes
October 15, 2011
Awesome post… Just love the way you have linked the post for each age group of people and their reactions 🙂 🙂 🙂
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bronxboy55
October 31, 2011
Thanks, Tinytoes. And good luck with your new blog!
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randomlyabstract
October 15, 2011
“Where is Christmas?”
“Why can’t I see my eyes?”
“What is one million trillion million five hundred and six thousand and three times four trillion trillion and nine hundred and seventy-five?
“Who was the first person to see dirt?”
“Daddy, why are you biting your hand?”
Once in a while, though, they would ask something that made my heart soar with hope.
“Where does the sun go at night?”
I loved LOVED this part!!!!
This blog ain’t good. Its the best!!
Although, the ‘reaction of teenage son” part sorta saddened me alot, but the rest of it, is not just ‘funny’ or ‘hilarious’, it is a point to ponder on! We people are usually so engrossed in our lives, that sometimes, the innocent minds have no other thing to do but keeping their questions to themselves. And the power to listen, and to answer requires courage!!:D☺
The photos are so cool! Congrats on being freshly pressed!
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bronxboy55
October 31, 2011
Sorry it took me so long to answer. I’m glad you liked the post and I appreciate that you took the time to comment.
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Autumn
October 15, 2011
haha, this is quiet funny! Also reminds me of myself too!
My father is an great man. I remember, and I still do sometimes, getting so mad at him at times for very simple things. I guess its just the stage of being a teenager. However though, no matter how many times i screamed or got angry for nothing, I love my dad with all my heart.
I found that the reason I was angry and was yelling is because I felt he is the only one who could actually listen to me without judging. He is the only one I can be who I am with. Ofcourse, eventually, I came to realize I needed to change my attitudes, which I am still working on till today. I pray to be a daughter who will honor his dad and for all what he has done for me.
Here is a post I wrote about my daddy. If you have time, please go through it.
http://wisepotate.wordpress.com/2011/06/25/it-was-all-for-me/
I am sure you are a great dad too! Good post!
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bronxboy55
October 31, 2011
I read your post and left a comment, Autumn. Your writing is beautiful.
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figmentsandimagination
October 15, 2011
Brilliant!
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bronxboy55
October 31, 2011
That’s nice of you.
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Priya
October 15, 2011
This definitely deserved freshed pressed! Had me laughing all the way through! 😀
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bronxboy55
October 31, 2011
Thank you, Priya. I’m glad you liked it.
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Usman Jafri (TTG! Editor)
October 15, 2011
Hahahaha, Amazing Article! Was laughing all the way through! 😀
Keep up the good work! 🙂
Im a 14yr old tech blogger : http://www.thetechnogeeks.wordpress.com
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bronxboy55
October 31, 2011
That’s really annoying. When I was fourteen, I was still trying to tie my own shoes. Congratulations on the blog, though. It’s impressive.
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Usman Jafri (TTG! Editor)
November 13, 2011
Haha, Thanks for the compliment man.
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lavz
October 15, 2011
you are funny. this is the first time i am reading your blog and immediately liked it. my sister is exactly like the way you depicted yourself. she asks questions which are absolutely absurd
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bronxboy55
October 31, 2011
Thanks, lavz. Your sister sounds very wise.
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speaker7
October 15, 2011
Just a few questions:
What is a blog?
How did you write this blog?
How does Maury Povich afford all of those DNA tests on his talk show?
If I swallow watermelon seeds and orange seeds, will they make a watermelon/orange hybrid in my stomach?
Why are strawberries called strawberries since they don’t grow in straw?
When will you answer these questions?
Thank you.
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bronxboy55
November 1, 2011
Just let me finish pulling my hair out and I’ll be right with you.
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charlywalker
October 15, 2011
Don’t you just love the circle of life…the way it swoops in like a tornado and helps one deal with their teenage Tasmanian Angels????……..
Great piece!
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bronxboy55
November 1, 2011
With any luck, we’ll still be around when they have Angels of their own.
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natryans
October 15, 2011
Hilarious! I’ll have to show this to my husband later.
I’m a question-asker, too. Glad to know I’m in good company. ; )
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bronxboy55
November 1, 2011
I’m still a question-asker, too, but I don’t get many answers. Do you?
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emjayandthem
October 15, 2011
I had great fun reading this and kept thinking, “PARENTING magazine!!” They need posts like this that make people think long before they ever have kids about what it’s REALLY like in the trenches of parenthood.
Brilliant post, MJ
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bronxboy55
November 1, 2011
Thanks, MJ, but I hope this post doesn’t actually cause anyone to think twice about having children. That’s a little too much responsibility for me.
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envisioningutopia
October 15, 2011
Can really relate to it, it seems our generation isn’t going to win. It reminded of me on when I got on a coach from Barcelona to London a little boy in front started asking his dad questions such as ‘Why are those hills there?’ the reply was always ‘Dunno son?’ I thought I could drown it out with my walkman, but the batteries gave up 10 minutes in!
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bronxboy55
November 1, 2011
The dad probably would have bought that Walkman from you, dead batteries and all.
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irreverin
October 15, 2011
love it. thanks–giving me a glimpse of all the question marks in my future…wrote this a few weeks ago .the fun is just startng at my house! http://irreverin.wordpress.com/2011/09/27/tell-me-why/
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bronxboy55
October 31, 2011
We must have been on the same wavelength that week!
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escapeinwords
October 15, 2011
Hilarious! I’ve always been curious about everything, and my parents often run out of answers for the never ending string of questions that I ask. Loved reading this post 🙂
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bronxboy55
October 31, 2011
I hope you never run out of questions.
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ilse watson
October 15, 2011
GREAT! Awesome. Congrats on being freshly pressed.
Kind regards, Ilse
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bronxboy55
October 31, 2011
Thank you for the nice words, Ilse.
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eritta
October 15, 2011
awesome! I was a reasonably simple teenager, but there were definitely still moments of “RAAAAGE!” in the household.
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bronxboy55
October 31, 2011
I think a little rage is required, eritta.
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Chaserlogist
October 15, 2011
Very interesting… your blog was on freshly pressed man 😀 ….
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Chaserlogist
October 27, 2011
hello,
can u do me the favor of editing the url of my previous comments on ur blog, please? somehow they have my old deactivated blog address, n it directs ppl to an empty page. please put my correct address: http://chaserology.wordpress.com thank u.
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bronxboy55
October 27, 2011
I’d be happy to, Joao. But I can’t find them. Do you know how many there are, and which posts?
Charles
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Clancy Cross
October 15, 2011
The cartoon caught my eye and the post captured my fancy. I might even use it to start a catalog of kid questions (to prepare me for the onslaught of my grandchildren.)
Cheers!
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bronxboy55
October 31, 2011
Nothing can prepare you, Clancy, because they’ll think of questions you could never have imagined. That’s half the fun. I guess.
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abidazz83
October 15, 2011
I have the exact same problem my son is only four but I guess he will be the one yelling at me and my questions then!! I try to be tolerent and normally suceed and love it when they ask a good question but your quite right as soon as you got it all set up he don’t want to know!! haha Thanks for making me feel slightly normal!!
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bronxboy55
November 1, 2011
This is what’s helped me survive (so far): communicating with other parents and hearing similar stories.
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workbee
October 15, 2011
I stumbled upon this blog when i logged in. What attracted my attention is the comic clips. As I continued to read, I found myself smiling. I therefore chose to follow :). Keep up the good work.
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bronxboy55
November 1, 2011
Thank you, workbee. I’m glad you feel that way.
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nomoregluten4me
October 15, 2011
This cracked me up, my oldest son (28) was like this but he would put his little twist on it. LOL Great job and congratulations. I will follow 🙂
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bronxboy55
November 1, 2011
They all put their own twist on it. That’s what keeps it interesting.
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Yulia
October 15, 2011
This is a very nice and also hilarious post!
Indeed kids will ask lots of questions. Mine are 4 yo and 2 yo. Both of them start to ask so many question to me, especially the older one.
Well, have to prepare my self to give the best answer when they come with some tricky questions 😀
Kids will ask some same questions. And sometime I might feel bored with their questions (I have to answer their questions, of course). But after read your post, I realize that I also do the same thing, I also ask the same questions when he come back from school 😀
I will be very happy if you are willing to drop by to my blog and share your thought there 🙂
Thank you
Yulia
http://www.mylifeismyrainbow.wordpress.com
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bronxboy55
November 1, 2011
You have years of questions ahead of you, Yulia. Good luck!
I visited your blog and left a comment (the post about the cable car).
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corneliamladenova
October 15, 2011
Fantastic post, just made my day 🙂
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bronxboy55
November 1, 2011
Thank you very much, Cornelia. I’m glad you liked it.
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Eeshan
October 15, 2011
Oh man!! This was really really funny!! I do feel sorry for you, but its the circle of life, I guess. :p
You know, I know how you feel when that happens with your teenage son.
It’s the same thing with my teenage brother, who just 2 1/2 years younger than me, but damn is he touchy! Same thing happens to me, I ask him something, slaps back to me, “why the hell are you asking?”, and then goes back to doing what he was doing in total peace!! How does this happen???
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bronxboy55
November 1, 2011
They tell me it’s hormones, although I’m not sure why there would be a hormone for that.
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georgiemathew
October 15, 2011
Cracked me up totally.. Great post!
Congrats on Freshly pressed too!
Georgie
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bronxboy55
November 1, 2011
Thank you, Georgie. Glad you liked it, and I appreciate the comment.
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Wimpy Mom
October 15, 2011
Really enjoyed, “Why are you even saying this?”
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bronxboy55
November 1, 2011
Those are the conversations that leave my brain spinning inside my skull.
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kathleenmae
October 15, 2011
This is fantastic and had me laughing all of the way through!
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bronxboy55
November 2, 2011
Thank you, Kathleen. I’m glad.
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jeik42
October 15, 2011
This is brilliant – and quite often true. Thanks for the laugh!
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bronxboy55
November 2, 2011
And thanks for the comment!
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tsizzles
October 15, 2011
An interesting perspective of the different reactions concerning the giving and receiving of the questions.
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bronxboy55
November 2, 2011
Thanks, Tarisai. Your blog looks great.
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Miriam Joy
October 15, 2011
Seriously, though, parents and questions. “So, how was school?” “Oh, schooly.” That’s what I’ve been saying every day for the past five years. They’re fed up of it, but what else is there to say?
And my brother, who I haven’t seen for about a month (one of the most complicated months of my life!): “So, how’s things?” Total mind blank. No idea what to say. “Um,” I said eventually. “Not bad?”
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bronxboy55
November 2, 2011
I still think having someone show an interest, no matter how lame it may seem, is better than being ignored. You don’t agree?
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Miriam Joy
December 11, 2011
Up to a point. It’s when they started nagging me for an answer and I’ve already left the room to get on with something that it becomes irritating….
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Bruce
October 15, 2011
Funny, frustrating and true. Great stuff. Bruce
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bronxboy55
November 2, 2011
That sounds as though you’re speaking from experience. Thanks, Bruce. Glad you liked it.
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prettylittleprince
October 15, 2011
That cat. The cat had me dying.
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bronxboy55
November 2, 2011
Cats are like that. Thanks for reading!
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fireygoddess
October 15, 2011
thank you, very entertaining. Nice to consider both sides.
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bronxboy55
November 2, 2011
Thank you, firey. I’m glad you enjoyed it, and I appreciate the comment.
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herschelian
October 15, 2011
Your post made me laugh so much – as a parent, as an ex-child(!) and as grandparent-in-waiting. ‘Twas ever thus, Rudyard Kipling wrote about it in the Just So Stories back in Victorian times:
‘ But there was one Elephant–a new Elephant–an Elephant’s Child–who was full of ‘satiable curiosity, and that means he asked ever so many questions. And he lived in Africa, and he filled all Africa with his ‘satiable curiosities. He asked his tall aunt, the Ostrich, why her tail-feathers grew just so, and his tall aunt the Ostrich spanked him with her hard, hard claw. He asked his tall uncle, the Giraffe, what made his skin spotty, and his tall uncle, the Giraffe, spanked him with his hard, hard hoof. And still he was full of ‘satiable curiosity! He asked his
broad aunt, the Hippopotamus, why her eyes were red, and his broad aunt, the Hippopotamus, spanked him with her broad, broad hoof; and he asked his hairy uncle, the Baboon, why melons tasted just so, and his hairy uncle, the Baboon, spanked him with his hairy, hairy paw. And still he was full of ‘satiable curiosity! He asked questions about everything that he saw, or heard, or felt, or smelt, or touched, and all his uncles and his aunts spanked him. And still he was full of ‘satiable curiosity!
One fine morning in the middle of the Precession of the Equinoxes this ‘satiable Elephant’s Child asked a new fine question that he had never asked before. He asked, ‘What does the Crocodile have for dinner?’ Then everybody said, ‘Hush!’ in a loud and dretful tone, and they spanked him immediately and directly, without stopping, for a long time.’
As we all know the Elephant’s Child was cured of asking so many questions when he met up with a crocodile – which is how he got his trunk!
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Sarah Doyle
October 21, 2011
Gosh, I remember this, but it sounds so brutal now, yikes!
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bronxboy55
November 3, 2011
Brutal, maybe, but the child is unstoppable.
I found myself wondering about the word satiable, rather than insatiable. And, of course, the concept of precession (a process that takes 26,000 years) — how did anyone ever notice?
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midnitechef
October 15, 2011
My 2 yr old always asks “what’s that?!” My 6 yr old comes up with crazy math questions and wants me to spell every word his little mind can think up. I remember my father going into complete scientific detail every time I asked him a question. After a while I just wanted to hear the last sentence that summed it all up, so i stopped asking. I wish I hadn’t 🙂
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bronxboy55
November 3, 2011
Your father figured out a way to turn the tables and drive you crazy. He’s my new hero.
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Secundinius
October 16, 2011
Thank you for the warning of things to come in my life. I laughed from start to finish because I find myself in the same position frequently.
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bronxboy55
November 3, 2011
May the fun continue!
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blouisdaniel
October 16, 2011
Epic! I love it.
This reminds me of my little sister.
http://theworldandherstage.net/category/photography/
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bronxboy55
November 3, 2011
Thank you. Your photographs are beautiful.
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Radioaco
October 16, 2011
O Wow! you read my mail! Raising a teenager I’ve come to the conclusion that somewhere between the ages of 12 and 19 the brain disconnects to make room for hormones and somewhere around 19-20 the reconnection occurs little by little. Sure seems like that for my son and all of his entourage.
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bronxboy55
November 6, 2011
I think your description of the brain disconnection is pretty accurate. I’ve been reading a lot lately about the teenage brain and how it actually looks different, because it’s going through a process of rewiring itself. I find that it helps to keep that in mind. Well, sometimes it helps.
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sydneykegan
October 16, 2011
Great post! I am not a parent, but I was definitely a curious, ever-questioning child who has blossomed into an ever-questioning adult. Best of luck with the teenager!
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bronxboy55
November 6, 2011
Thanks, Sydney. And best of luck with the Bangkok Marathon. I just read that it’s been postponed until February. That’s good, right?
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stayingalivemoma
October 16, 2011
How scary…I think you were describing my four year old. Yep, I’m pretty sure of it.
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bronxboy55
November 8, 2011
Thank you for the comment. I hope you’re doing well.
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achilliad
October 16, 2011
Growing is learning when NOT to ask a question whose answer you can glean from your experiences thus far, thereby protecting your fragile self-esteem from ‘The Parents’ and other bosses you will encounter as time goes by. Kudos upon being Pressed like a shirt who asks the iron, “Why are you so hot for me?”
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bronxboy55
November 8, 2011
I don’t think the iron was all that hot for me. I think somebody tripped over the cord and pulled the plug.
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charleemarie
October 16, 2011
I think questions are great. In a way I do think there are at least semi-stupid questions. And I’m sure you’re not alone in how your teenagers are (were) acting. I was a teen a few years ago, I was tamer but the same way! It’s a growing-into-an-adult thing. It’s refreshing to hear that you vowed to care about your children in the way you weren’t cared for. It really has an impact on a person. I know this from experience 🙂
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bronxboy55
November 8, 2011
I just visited your blog and it sounds as though you’re still questioning things. That’s the only way to keep growing!
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natspaintings
October 16, 2011
hello. i just read this blog, came accross it randomly linked from no where in particular. i can totally relate to the million questions asked my kids. my first of three sons is almost 19 and still exhausts me with his ridiculous questions, i can’t possibly get my mind around even a third of them. I am a very logical/practical person and have a hard time with his philisophical and hypothetical questions and as he gets older, they get more crazy. But after readind this entry of yours, i feel i owe it to my son to try to be more interested and less frustrated with his pointless questions. i usually just tell him to google it because i have no clue how to answer any of them. .i end up saying things like: “thats a good question” or “thats an interesting thought” but mostly i just say, “how is that even relevent to anything in my or your life?” a terrible way to respond. So, i guess what i am saying is that the questions never seem to stop and your entry has encouraged me to try to pay more attention and be invovled, so thanks!
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bronxboy55
November 8, 2011
Many teenagers go through this phase where they think they’ve figured everything out and can’t resist enlightening everyone around them. I may have gone through the same thing myself, but I don’t remember. The problem is that, as you said, the ideas often make no sense. Let’s hope it’s temporary.
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Anonymous
October 16, 2011
That is so funny! We do not have children – because for once in my life as a teenager I listened to my mother who sternly advised me (based on her experience with my sister and I) that having children is a waste of time and an endless struggle and heart ache. And you only get a kick in the backside for all your trouble…..
I took her at her word and did not have children and must be honest and say we do not miss it at all!!! In fact I once left a boyfriend because he started rumblings about having children. This was not for me. Reading blogs like this and listening to my friends with children and teenagers – all I can say is who needs this S*&%$? Really? People actually do this by choice? LOL
We are so out of touch with children, teenagers and their incessant needs, demands and entitlements, that we found it astounding to listen to our friends always and I mean ALWAYS complaining. To see our friends (parents) being slaves to their ungrateful children, we are always relieved to go home to our sanctuary that is our home with our beloved animals.
In fact we are living a wonderful life, self centered, selfish and spend all our money on ourselves and we do not have to worry about college funds and cars at 16 (!!) and all the other extras that goes with that!
We are living our life to the fullest. Spending our money on whatever pleases us, traveling in the best class possible, wherever and whenever. We have no intention of leaving our hard earned $$ to anybody. Whatever is left at the end will go to our favorite charity. We are at peace with it and we enjoy our lives of joy, laughter and happiness… Everybody should try it once……
In fact , you have just inspired me to blog about this topic. Ok i am getting my ink and pen ready. LOL! Fun blog. You made me laugh.
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charleemarie
October 16, 2011
Wow, I actually think that comment sounds mean and heartless.
Children have to brought into this world somehow to keep it going, and that’s a terrible thing for a PARENT to say to her children. A mother nonetheless. I have not met a single parent who is not stressed, yes, with having to raise one or more children but doesn’t love them to the fullest extent at the end of the day and would do it all over again. If you are a good parent with decent values and morals your children will learn that from you and not be “ungrateful,” and have “incessant needs and demands.” My sister and I were not that type of child because we were raised better than that and I can speak for a lot of other people I know from childhood. Just because children are raised in a generation that soothes instant gratification does not mean you have to give in to that. It’s ridiculous that a 16 year old should have their own car freely given to them anyway. If they think they’re adult enough to drive their own car they should work for it and not have it handed to them. If you have that type of mindset and play the adult then you won’t have sniveling children. You can’t be THAT out of touch with teenagers because you were them not that long ago. You don’t ever really forget your childhood no matter how old you are.
It’s also sad to hear someone say “we’re living a self-centered and selfish life.” The things you’re doing with just each other you could do with a child or teenager. Yes you may have ten or so years where you can’t do every little thing you want to do but how amazing is it to be able to open new eyes up to these things you selfishly experience? It’s awesome.
I get the context you mean it in but it sounds so heartless. I can hear maniacal laughter over there because you don’t have to put up with children. Albeit everyone should not have children and it’s their right to choose that, but your view on it sounds very skewed. And maybe you meant the whole thing in a humorous way but honestly, it didn’t come off that way. It makes me sad. (You should also maybe get better friends who have better things to say about parenthood and I’m sure you wouldn’t be as skeptical.) Parenthood is about joy, not constant stress, anxiety, and heart attacks.
If nothing else, I think you should at least applaud those people that do choose to have children and take on the feat of raising another human being. Just a LITTLE positivity 😦
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bronxboy55
November 8, 2011
Having kids is certainly one of the most life-altering decisions anyone can make. How we feel about the results of those decisions is going to change from day to day, or even minute to minute, depending on the circumstances. No parents are thrilled with their children all the time. There have been plenty of times when I didn’t even like my kids, and I have no doubt there have been at least as many times when they didn’t like me. It’s an often thankless job, but somehow more rewarding than any other, too. And yet, it’s certainly not for everyone. The decision to remain childless is a legitimate one; it seems preferable to not giving it any thought, one way or the other.
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Timothy Fowler
October 16, 2011
Har Har! Life truly does come full circle? “Where are my glasses?”
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bronxboy55
November 8, 2011
I didn’t want to close the circle completely, because I think at some point it stops being funny. Thanks for the comment.
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starlight
October 16, 2011
wonderful post! i remember when i was about 5yrs old, i used to ask my grandpa a lot of questions.. maybe he’s the one who had enough patience with all my inquisitiveness…
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bronxboy55
November 8, 2011
Maybe it doesn’t matter who shows the patience, as long as someone does.
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cassiemcblane
October 16, 2011
I absolutely love this post. I guess we all learn by asking questions. Great!
http://www.theforeverthings.com
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bronxboy55
November 8, 2011
Thanks, Cassie. I agree: asking questions is the best way to learn.
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Nel
October 16, 2011
This post reminded me of how I had to sit through those Harry Potter movies with my parents asking me several (not just one) questions as scenes changed (i.e. Who is that character? Why is he after Harry? Oh, so Snape is on Harry’s side. But why…?). I’d roll my eyes and silently wish I watched with friends instead.
But, as it comes to a full circle (kids ask you, you ask them and they retaliate, and you wondering if what you say matters) I can assure you that there is a glint of hope. I am an adult now and I am grateful for my parents’ questions (no matter how pointless/interfering they may have seemed at that time). I’ve come to realize that they ask simply because they care enough to know what I thought/if I was okay. Hang in there. In time, your questions will be met with a more willing response.
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bronxboy55
November 8, 2011
That’s good advice, Nel, and I think you’re right. Thank you.
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liam4588
October 16, 2011
Great laugh indeed. I adore this sort of content. Helps me relax and smile after working on my own blog. Thanks for the great content! Keep it up.
God Bless.
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bronxboy55
November 8, 2011
I appreciate the comment, Liam. Relaxing and smiling are good!
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IM_Author_of_TheDetour.info
October 16, 2011
Nice post, any parent can relate with it
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bronxboy55
November 12, 2011
Most parents, anyway. Thanks!
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PranktheOne
October 16, 2011
Absolutely true. I loved how you presented the whole thing. Especially those images with go so well with what you’ve written. 🙂
Loved it.
I can relate your post to one of the short stories I’ve learnt in school; Growing Up by Graham Greene. Cheers!
I’m an amateur philosophical blogger, my blog address is->
http://www.forthosewholiketothink.wordpress.com
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bronxboy55
November 12, 2011
Thanks for the comment, PTO, and for the link to your blog.
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Colrama
October 16, 2011
That is life. Being a kid and having kids. Learning that they are no different from what you were. young and innocent. The best years of one’s life and you realize they have just flown by.
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bronxboy55
November 12, 2011
You can read quotes from people who lived thousands of years ago, and they were saying the same things about their kids. We think it’s so different now, but it isn’t.
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oddlittlerants
October 16, 2011
My dad’s response to my barrage of questions (mostly stupid, occasionally hitting on something) was, “ask with your eyes, not your mouth”. Either I never learned the lesson, or all the reprimands in the world wasn’t force enough to halt my curious question-asking mouth. So obnoxious question-asking kid became obnoxious question-asking adult. (I’d like to think that the ratio of stupid to intriguing questions improved over the years, that I became a philosophical scientific ponderer rather than a font of blathering inquisition, but I was both.) I think part of my problem was rampant curiosity in all directions, mixed with lack of social perception, and naively believing that other people knew more than me and had the answers. I haven’t come full circle to have others barrage me, such that I was fully subjected to my own medicine. I have learned that the curiosity and question-asking keeps you sharp, keeps you interested in life, and could make you a good philosopher or scientist. But it’s also a sure-fire way to piss off people, teachers, peers, and alienate yourself.
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bronxboy55
November 12, 2011
It can be alienating, unless you happen to have like-minded people around you.
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Linda Paul
October 16, 2011
Congrats on being Freshly Pressed…and good luck keeping up with all those positive accolades! 😉
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bronxboy55
November 12, 2011
Thanks, Linda. It took me only four weeks to get to you!
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momisalwayswrite
October 16, 2011
Charles, I just love this post! As a mom of a 9 yo very inquisitive boy and his equally uber questioning 5yo sister, I do sometimes also finding myself dreaming of those puffy clouds. Very funny!
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bronxboy55
November 12, 2011
Thank you, Maria. And I’m sorry it took me so long to reply to your nice comment.
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Eva McCane
October 16, 2011
there is such a thing as a stupid question…if you know better. i have a 2 1/2 year old son, and he asks “dumb” questions all the time. because he doesn’t know any better. and my favorite…when he asks the same question over and over and over even after i’ve answered it. that usually means he doesn’t understand my answer…like he’s giving me a redo. anyway, right now, i enjoy the silly questions. because when he’s a young adult asking me why my outfit sucks so bad or why i’m so mean and won’t let him do what he wants, i’ll wish for 2 1/2.
http://www.icouldntmakethisshitup.wordpress.com
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bronxboy55
November 12, 2011
You will miss the two-year-old and his questions, at least occasionally. I can promise you that. I’ve always wondered about the repetition, too. I think it’s a form of rehearsal.
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SarahMannonMoore
October 16, 2011
So true! I guess you never fully realize how hard it is to deal with that maelstrom of kid-questions until you experience it for yourself. I never thought about the possibility that the tables might turn when we reach the teenage years, although I do remember responding to my mom’s questions with explosive ire. You have a very funny and professional blog going here.
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bronxboy55
November 15, 2011
Thanks for reading, and commenting, Sarah. I appreciate the kind words.
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morristownmemos by Ronnie Hammer
October 16, 2011
Wonderful, funny blog.
…but some questions are so endearing and show children’s belief that parents can do anything. I remember my son, aged 3, holding up an empty bunch of grapes that he finished as a snack, and asking me, “Mommy, can you put more grapes on here?”
Ronnie
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bronxboy55
November 15, 2011
You should write that stuff down, Ronnie. After they’ve grown up, kids love to hear about the funny things they used to say and do.
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Palomilla Apocatastásica
October 16, 2011
ha, ha, ha so funny specially the pic about “my teenage son reacting to my questions” I have my own teenage, but I said he’s “aborrescente” cause in spanish teenage is adolescente.
Any way, those almost imposible to answer questions are part of deeds from each parents.
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bronxboy55
November 15, 2011
There’s no avoiding those questions, Palomilla. And I imagine that’s true no matter which language you speak.
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Willi H2O
October 16, 2011
People forget too easily what it is like to be a kid. Thanks for the reality jolt.
Willi
http://redrundrain.wordpress.com/
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bronxboy55
November 15, 2011
You’re right, Willi. It’s easy to forget what it’s like to be a kid, just as some brilliant teachers can no longer relate to their uninformed students. It’s important to at least try to close that gap. Thank you!
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merry203
October 16, 2011
This is a very nice entry!
I will have to ask my mom about the kind of questions I used to ask when I was little because I don’t really remember.
Let’s see what happens when I have my children =)
Keep the good work!
Greetings from Spain.
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bronxboy55
November 15, 2011
I’m sure having children will give you plenty to write about. Thank you for the nice comment.
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krisse22
October 16, 2011
Ow, I had fun reading your text. It’s true what you say but so unfair you didn’t have your turn on questions. Hahaha.
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bronxboy55
November 16, 2011
It is unfair, isn’t it? That’s what I was trying to say.
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Rym
October 16, 2011
haha, that was fun to read, and yes i agree with you, kids ask alot of questions sometimes i think they just want to piss us off, but the truth is they only ask eventhough they don’t need the answer, my baby cousin used to ask alot of questions, like why this car is red? when we are going to reach? why he is driving? why are u looking at your fone? and alot of endless questions, its cute and annoying in a way, anyways at the end i think thats a part of them which means they are growing up, and it makes them curious.
nice article looking for more
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bronxboy55
November 16, 2011
As parents, we sometimes lose our patience with young children who seem endlessly curious. Then when they become teenagers who are constantly bored, we lose our patience with that. There’s a lesson in there somewhere.
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fey's diary
October 16, 2011
Wow congratulations for having a 600 more likes. I never seen this before. I enjoyed reading this. I remember when I was a kid, I also ask many annoying questions.
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bronxboy55
November 16, 2011
Thank you, Fey. I hope you’ll keep asking questions — and writing!
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sarahnsh
October 16, 2011
Love your cartoon with your cat, you can let any anger out on a cat pretty much! Even if you’re yelling they just look at you like you are crazy and just go back to sleep. And, I can understand how you feel about asking too many questions… I was the same way when I was a kid and my parents mainly ignored me too for it.
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bronxboy55
November 16, 2011
I always think the cat is thinking, “I’m so glad I’m a cat!”
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psychodynamom
October 16, 2011
What a great post! The title is PERFECT.
We call our daughter “the incredible talking child” so I feel your pain. Congrats on being “freshly pressed.” I’ll be following!
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bronxboy55
November 16, 2011
I bet the incredible talking child brings you a lot of joy. Am I right?
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Alex
October 16, 2011
Kids are great. Inquisitiveness is a sign of a strong mind. If I were a parent, I would have have them focused on things like books rather than tv. Maybe that’s where all these silly questions come from. Almost everything on television is stupid and silly. As for other idiotic questions, I would try to be patient. I find that idiotic questions are not only confined to children. Adults are just as silly with their questions.
http://www.nycgirlnextdoor.com
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bronxboy55
November 16, 2011
You’ll make an excellent mother, I have a feeling. And are you getting married very soon? Do I have that right? If so, I wonder if it’s going to be a big Long Island wedding — there’s nothing like it.
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notquiteold
October 16, 2011
Don’t know why it took me so long to find this…it looks like everyone else in the world has seen it. And for good reason – it’s awesome.
I don’t have kids of my own, so I find it easier to listen, since it’s all new.
I tune out my husband sometimes though.
I tell myself it’s okay – I’m sure he’s tuning me out too. I know I would make ME crazy.
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bronxboy55
November 16, 2011
I’m sure you’re not tuning him out completely. I mean, if he were pinned under a tree and screaming in pain, you would probably hear him, wouldn’t you? Eventually?
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Jen
October 17, 2011
A limousine, of course!!! How come more parents aren’t driving around with those to protect them from babbling children?!
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bronxboy55
November 17, 2011
Probably because it’s too hard to reach from the driver’s seat when the kids drop their sippy cups on the floor.
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Josephine
October 17, 2011
Aww, I love this post, and I envy you for being brave enough to ask questions as a kid. I don’t know why but I’ve always had the idea that questions were for the ones who don’t understand. Now I know that the wise ones are those who ask, because if they didn’t know anything, then they wouldn’t know what to ask in the first place!
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bronxboy55
November 17, 2011
You got it, Josephine. And every question produces another, which is what drives parents crazy, but is also what leads to understanding. Thanks for the comment.
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Amiable Amiable
October 17, 2011
Congratulations, Charles!!! I haven’t even read the post yet! I was so excited to see you were Freshly Pressed – something you have deserved 500 times over for all of your wonderful posts! YAHOO!!!! Okay, now I’m going to read it …
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bronxboy55
November 17, 2011
Thank you, AA. I never thought I’d be replying to a comment that was sent a month ago, and certainly not a comment from you, my first blogging buddy. I miss our Sicily plans. We need to keep the dream alive.
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myaphotoblog
October 17, 2011
haha very funny blog and well written
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bronxboy55
November 19, 2011
Thanks, Mya. I’m glad you liked it.
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Anna
October 17, 2011
This is awesome! And I really, really love the pictures 😀
Oh, and congrats on being FP!
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bronxboy55
November 19, 2011
Thank you, Anna. Sorry it’s taken me so long to reply!
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Writer's Apprentice
October 17, 2011
You are such an exquisite writer, carrying within your writing every thing that can keep a reader interested.OUT standing .loved the pictures too.
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bronxboy55
November 19, 2011
I’m so happy to read your kind and thoughtful comment. Thank you.
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Averi
October 17, 2011
Your story is funny, and mostly because i can see that it’s true. Children are often an oasis of the most curious questions. I don’t really know how curious I was as a small child(which was only a little more than 10 years ago), but i’m a curious person now. I ask my parents a lot of random things….mostly about their lives and my childhood.
Though, the sad fact that you’ve come full circle to being the poor scolded child to getting yelled at by your own children does not give me hope for my own future. I feel like I spent enough years under the megaphone—patiently taking every scolding and never talking back—for Karma to give me some obedient children who may not be perfect, but can at least not yell at me or be one of those typical teenagers that I never became(past tense because my time as a teen is almost up). I never did go through one of those “rebel” stages. It just seemed so inconvenient, and took too much work.
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bronxboy55
November 19, 2011
I guess there are different paths to adulthood, Averi. It sounds as though you took the least painful one — good for you and your parents. Most teenagers eventually find their way, and usually everyone gets through it, mostly intact. (That’s what I keep telling myself.)
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Pranav Singh
October 17, 2011
As a fresh graduate, I guess I am half way through. The post reminds me of my childhood and the immense patience my parents had with me. And yeah they did eventually hand me over an encyclopedia.
A really humorous post, a wonderful read! 🙂
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bronxboy55
November 19, 2011
Congratulations on becoming a graduate, Pranav. I wish you only good things. And I hope you’ll thank your parents, too!
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brinkofunique
October 17, 2011
Love the post. Reminds me of my self both as a child and an adult.
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bronxboy55
November 19, 2011
I’m glad you could relate. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment.
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momsterteacher
October 17, 2011
New mom here. 🙂
I was a deep thinker as a child. There were so many things my parents and teachers did and said that irritated me. I ingrained those things into my mind and swore to myself I won’t do the same things. As a teacher, I was able to do the bidding of the young me (at least those that I remember) and avoided doing things that I thought were senseless when I was a student (I don’t ask my students to greet me in chorus, ask for my permission when going out a.k.a. announce that they need to pee, stand up when reciting, etc). Now that I’m a mom, wish me luck.
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bronxboy55
December 10, 2011
That’s a great name — do you have a blog? I bet you’re a great teacher, and will be an equally great mom. Congratulations!
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mystifiedghost
October 17, 2011
♥ this….
My youngest daughter is for ever asking me all sorts of questions. The latest is where did I come from? how? how come my sister came out from a different part of u? etc etc…she’s 11 and has Aspergers and every time I give a reply she comes up with another…sometimes it makes me cringe with some of the things I am asked…then again it brings back memories of my Mum and I.
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bronxboy55
December 10, 2011
I don’t know why, but I hear someone mention Asperger’s almost every day lately. I’m completely ignorant about it, so I’ll have to educate myself a little. Meanwhile, good luck with the questions — they’re likely to get more difficult to answer, at least for a while.
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Lady Tam Li
October 17, 2011
LOL!! Aww, poor guy!!
I’m afraid to have kids, partially because of the rather sarcastic and fictional answers my husband would give to such questions.
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bronxboy55
December 10, 2011
If and when you do have children, please warn your husband that he’s likely to have sarcastic kids who will eventually grow into teenagers, and who will give it right back to him.
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Nicole
October 17, 2011
Great post. Very funny. I enjoyed this.
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bronxboy55
December 10, 2011
Thanks, Nicole. I’m glad you liked it.
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Melissa Barlow (@mcbarlow36)
October 17, 2011
Love it! The cartoons remind me of my son.
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bronxboy55
December 10, 2011
If nothing else, it’s nice to know we’re not alone. Thanks, Melissa.
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preciousbydesign
October 17, 2011
You just made my Monday! Anyone who has kids or who’s BEEN a kid can relate to this!
“Where is Christmas?” LOVE. IT.
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bronxboy55
December 10, 2011
Thanks for the comment on that long ago Monday. Do you have a blog? I tried to find a link, but couldn’t.
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✰✰♡☮ ThaaNie BiebeR ☮♡✰✰
October 17, 2011
A really very great awesome true fab post! 😛
Loved It! 😀
LOL! 🙂
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bronxboy55
December 11, 2011
Sorry this took me so long to say, Thaanie, but thank you!
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terrisv15
October 17, 2011
OMG! This is my life, too!
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bronxboy55
December 11, 2011
You probably don’t even remember leaving this comment, but I appreciate that you did. And I hope your life is going better! Thanks, Terri.
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bridgesallover
October 17, 2011
Classic. I don’t have kids but I have younger cousins and they ask questions like this. The other day one of them asked what color was rainbow.
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bronxboy55
December 11, 2011
I think most kids ask these kinds of questions. We should be glad they do. (We aren’t always so glad, but we should be.)
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sullenservant
October 17, 2011
I loved the illustrations accompanying this wonderful story! My son just turned 4, so I am constantly answering his ‘why’ questions. Usually it’s a very dramatic ‘OH BUT WHY?’ whine. The only one he really stumped me on was when he asked why we had to restart our PC to get it to work again. But Daddy had the answer to that… because we need a Mac!
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bronxboy55
December 11, 2011
Appreciate those ‘why” questions while you still can. And Daddy’s right: it’s time for a Mac!
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arjunsinghsoni
October 17, 2011
A lovely write up (with a beautiful comical touch) on a phase we all experience. True that we grow up to only realize how we evolve from those unlimited number of questions we used to put forth so innocently in our childhood. I also do agree to your view on children being inquisitive not because they want to put forth questions for the sake of asking, but to only know that it is right to do so. Was indeed a good read!!!
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bronxboy55
December 11, 2011
Thanks, Arjun. I appreciate that you took the time to read and comment.
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kazclow
October 17, 2011
love it! i was a foster mum for teenagers for 13 years, if anyone thinks raising your own teenagers is difficult, try raising someone elses. I couldnt write some of the things i was asked over the years, to say they made me blush would be sugar coating it haha.
having said all that i must add i wouldnt change a minute i love being a mum and now its my granchildren who drive me up the pole. Especially when they open my fridge and looking at the individual trifles etc, say, ‘we havent got any of those at our house nanny! needless to say they are happy when they leave with their bag full of goodies. My only concern is that their mums say to them ‘tell nanny we havent got any trifles when we visit her today!’ Only kidding, i’m blessed with my family.
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bronxboy55
December 11, 2011
It sounds as though you’ve made a happy difference in the lives of many kids. I hope they appreciate all you’ve done, and will continue to spread the love.
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Peter Parkorr
October 17, 2011
Great post, I have already relayed it to my parents and my sister (who has kids), much to all their amusement. 🙂
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Hadi
October 17, 2011
:)) I love the cartoons
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SzaboInSlowMo
October 17, 2011
Hilarious and all too true! One of the best posts I’ve read in a while! But I have a question…
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Terry
October 17, 2011
Love it. Family is just such a great thing to have 😀
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Misty
October 17, 2011
That was a great read thank you.
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ItsJohnnyMac
October 17, 2011
Questioning means you are interested, so keep on asking questions. I’m almost 63. I have so many questions, that I decided to go back to graduate school. Having a blast. Only one problem: now I have even more questions. Great blog, by the way.
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wordcatcher
October 17, 2011
just stumbled on this and this is such a cool post. i don’t have kids of my own yet but i have my nieces and nephews over at our house from time to time. while i love them, i am thankful that we have them and they are not my own especially when they start all those questions. (atleast, when my brain can no longer take the questions, i can send them back to their parents for the answers or non) 🙂
had fun with this, will surely see what’s next 🙂
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seriouslytellmesomethingidontknow
October 17, 2011
As a teenager, it isn’t that we find every little thing to blow up at. It’s just that, well, it’s all about the timing of your question.
I know that my mom has this disturbing ability to be able to think of the most bothersome question about a subject at the time I am most sensitive about that subject. Then, i blow up or lose it in tears and the conversation usually ends with “You just won’t understand.”
We don’t, usually, entend on being this crazy, bi-polar, hard-to-live with person, it just comes across that way. I also know that if my mom (my dad has learn that, when raising two girls, you don’t get to say much. If he doesn’t ask, he doesn’t have to respond, or come up with answers or solutions to anything) also asks question about thinks that get annoying, like “who are you texting?”. Obviously, she is just being nosey. It’s frustrating. I then respond with an “Will you please mind your business” tone, and a war breaks out.
It’s all about picking your battles. If you fight with your child about EVERY LITTLE THING, no wonder they want to blow up on you. I would blow up at you too. It’s about just letting your child have their tantrum, and not worrying what it was about.
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Texrat the Crypticum Keeper
October 18, 2011
I can’t wait until you’re a parent. 😀
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Ron
October 18, 2011
I am literally laughing out loud here in my room. LOL. I see my self years before and now, my daughter is reacting the same way, endless questions that seems to be better unanswered.
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lawyer delhi
October 18, 2011
ha ha! i started my day laughing after reading this blog.
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musingsofawaywardchild
October 18, 2011
That was funny :)). i remembered my dad telling me that i once asked if they are sealing my great aunt’s tomb with cement so she can’t come out. :))
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iwannabeaskinnyaire
October 18, 2011
Interesting read. I enjoyed it thoroughly. Communication is a paradox full of contradiction, in my mind. The red and green lights seem to signal the same answer so each car does what thinks it is being told. A great read to help remedy the situation in the home is called, “7 Habits of highly effective families”. It really opened my eyes to the inadequacies of our communication prowess between us as individuals and especially as family members. I highly recommend it. I absolutely relate to your blog. Really refreshing and funny. I, now, as a parent of five, do my utmost best to answer any question that comes my way, no matter how big or small. I remember how I felt with my folks and want my children to not feel that way with me. I hope I’m doing okay. Looking forward to your next blog. Thanks for sharing!
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Texrat the Crypticum Keeper
October 18, 2011
And I thought it was just me…
One difference in this household: I have two sons, the oldest being the incessant interrogator and the other the young yeller. Never a dull moment when they cross each other.
Oh well, at least then I’m not in the direct line of fire…
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queenoffamilosity
October 18, 2011
The best way to get an elbow in the sidefrom a sibiling at our house as a kid was to ask a question. That was due due to the fact that you always got an answer, a very long answer.
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uponatlas
October 18, 2011
This cracked me up. Love the post!
🙂
uponatlas.
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R.P.
October 18, 2011
My parents used to smack me real hard if I asked too many senseless questions. Maybe that’s why I prefer figuring things out on my own and relying on my common sense to get around.
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Andee B. (@misai_04)
October 18, 2011
I have a friend, little girl named Angela. She’s usually in our apartment because her dad works there. I’m really friendly to children, but then eventually, I got annoyed with all of her questions (being like an older sis) that every time I see her, I just say hi and then lock the room so she can’t enter. But it’s cute how they wonder, really. 🙂
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cequimentoure
October 18, 2011
It’s very funny! I think it’s the same everywhere!
It could be my little sister. She was so talkative and curious!
http://chapardoeil.wordpress.com
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danielcefram
October 18, 2011
Loved it! True, really true. I began wondering myself why I became a total opposite of what I was when I was a little kid. I mean, just what you pointed out, kids have this sort of ‘never-ending need to ask questions’. But upon stepping onto adolescence, everything just turns the opposite way. I just found out that I can’t really understand myself either =/
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AquaSurf
October 18, 2011
Everyone has questions, except the cat. He’s just fine!
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darkcontinent
October 18, 2011
Haha, I really like the dad’s modern reaction to his adorable daughter asking questions.
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Writer's Apprentice
October 18, 2011
Hahahhaha! Ohh my my! I loved it..i have been going through the same .. well im about 15 and my eldest niece has this crazy curiosity in everything and she keeps on asking questions to me , and well when my mom asks what happened at school or anything i just get mad and get out of the room.. i cannot have the stability you have with your daughter first of all you are quite mature enough …. Thank you for sharing this!
Ruqaiya 🙂
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victoria103
October 18, 2011
love it, many of these are so very true. 😉
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themanbehindthisblog
October 18, 2011
Haha. An awesome post Charles! My favourite lines: “This is what I hate about people. When they say things and they don’t know what they are talking about.”
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elizabethclymer
October 18, 2011
LOLed the whole time. No kids of my own- but I have a few in my life that are equally as inquisitive. At least they think you know something- most of my peers have come to the conclusion that I don’t know much about anything!
The dreaded question: “Can you help me?!” argh.
Hilarious post!
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iheartkendrab
October 18, 2011
This is funny. I’m like the teenager right now with my mom when she ask me endless questions
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suziandkids
October 18, 2011
Hilarious post, I feel like you set up a secret video camera in my house, then wrote about it better than I ever could. We’re still in the toddler/elementary stage but my kids have already surpassed my store of knowledge and we regularly go on-line or, even better, call Grandpa for the hard questions. My favorite so far is “Where does the wind start?” Thank goodness my BS King father had a ready answer because I was stumped!
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selena rencontre
October 18, 2011
Ha ha “Qui a été la première personne à voir la saleté?” Je pense que c’est la façon dont la philosophie a commencé. Réception d’innombrables questions à partir d’un petit enfant, quelqu’un était si bon à leur répondre ils ont fait une carrière hors de lui. Mon manque de talent en classe de philosophie au collège préfigurait mon incapacité à répondre à ces questions fou comme un parent. Mes parents ont toujours répondu à une question par une question ou avait-moi aller chercher la réponse dans l’encyclopédie. J’ai pensé que c’était pour m’apprendre quelque chose, mais maintenant je sais que c’était un plan génial pour mettre fin à l’interrogatoire.
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wildlife control Toronto
October 18, 2011
Ha-ha ~~~~ so funny. I think that situation happens on between every child and mom.
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writerdood
October 18, 2011
Every question is a stupid question. It’s just a matter of HOW stupid.
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Karin Babin
October 18, 2011
“Why can’t I see my eyes?” Hahahaha, this was a welcome few minutes of comic relief.
I was reading the results of a new study (I think done at a university in England, I can’t remember… but I digress… where’s my rootbeer can and salt shaker moon?…) and it said that brain function is at its lowest during the teenage years. Lower than at birth, and lower than a senile senior. So you know, that 2% really is a big deal! Such a shame there’s no inflection in type…
I sympathize with you, 110%
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Carrie Smith
October 18, 2011
Love this! Great perspective to get as a parent a little earlier on the track (I have a two-year-old). Not only will I remember to listen and respond to his questions with patience as they come, I’ll be sure to treasure the simple joys of having a young child who still thinks I can do no wrong! http://asimplersmith.wordpress.com/
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sri
October 18, 2011
Loved this post! Reminded me of my daughter as a toddler who talked so much to the carpet installer guy who’d come to our house that he begged us to take her away!! 🙂
I like your style of writing, and the humor! Wish I could write that funny! I added you to my blogroll, and would love it if you stop by my blog when you get a chance.
http://srilatha91.wordpress.com/
Thanks for making me laugh!
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Cassio
October 18, 2011
People wanna now… after all, are you English?
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rae-rae
October 18, 2011
OK, I can compare to this because I’m a kid. This made me laugh out loud. Several times. I love your humor!! I want to subscribe and keep up to date on you hilarious opinions. If you want to see some of my own, go to myvizion.wordpress.com and check out what I have to say!
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howficklemyheart
October 18, 2011
So funny! My friend’s daughter’s curiosity is so insatiable…whenever you tell her something, she always replies with “why?” and looks terribly confused in an adorable way. Example:
“let’s go outside, claire.”
“why, aunt Allie?”
“because we need fresh air.”
“why?”
“because it’s good for us.”
“why?”
“because Jesus made us that way.”
“why?”
“well you can ask him that in heaven.”
“…okay.”
Great post!
http://howficklemyheart.wordpress.com
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mostlikelytomarry
October 18, 2011
New to the blogging world and so happy to come across such a wonderful writer as yourself. Such a hilarious post and oh so true. My son is 3 and the questions are incessant. Sometimes I truly feel that I will loose my mind if he asks me one more 🙂 Thank you so much for the insight and the humor!
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Hailey
October 18, 2011
1) Why do people type so… many… comments…?
2) This blog was really funny, I sent it to all my friends
Good Job!
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D.D.
October 18, 2011
Got yourself a new fan!
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Anonymous
October 18, 2011
That was fantastic! I love it! I better take head then with my own children LMBO!!!!!
Support Writers!!!!!!
#WRITINGBRINGSCLOSURE
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Musicforkids
October 18, 2011
Great! I was just yesterday dealing with everyone of these same things with my 13 year old son. He’s always been a wonderful boy, we have a great relationship and I never thought there would be any lack of communication! But lo and behold…the same stuff. It’s like pulling teeth to get an answer to a question out of him. And….if I answer one of his questions with some wrong information….holy crap….I’m the dumbest person in the world!
Good to find out he’s normal! 🙂
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Just In Case
October 18, 2011
Well, I’m very new to the community here and just started my own very first blog! Trying to get some idea’s and found yours. I remember when I was a kid, thinking all these important questions were going to help me understand THE WORLD.. Funny thing is, I think I have even more questions now… Love your blog!
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Main Street Musings Blog
October 18, 2011
Loved the post. We tolerated the same type of endless questions of our oldest daughter, and now that she’s sixteen, the shoe is on the other foot: “What are your plans tonight? Diana’s house? Is she the one with purple hair? Are her parents home? What time will you be home?
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jaykeem
October 18, 2011
hahaha makes me wonder what I will do when I have children too!
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nenskei
October 18, 2011
😀
laughing much here 😉
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gaycarboys
October 18, 2011
It gives me a new view on my own childhood. I remember a teacher saying “there is no such thing as a dumb question”.
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patticlay
October 18, 2011
My sister and I were encouraged by our parents to ask questions. So, we did. My sister had to stand in the corner on the first day of kindergarten for asking questions. It didn’t stop her!
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Megan
October 18, 2011
Love this post. Love your blog. I teach high school, and so I can relate to the endless questions followed by the exasperated sighs (of both teacher and student). It’s true, you have to plot out your questions in advance to guide them to the right answers or to extract the right information. Thanks for sharing this. I look forward to reading more posts from you. When will your next post be? Are you going to write about parenthood or something different? Do you write in the mornings or afternoons? How do you feel when it is raining outside? Do you like to put sugar or cream in your coffee? Do you drink coffee? Do you wear socks when you go to bed? Where do the birds sleep at night?. . .:-)
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unravelmythoughts
October 18, 2011
Teenager commenting here: warning to all of you parents preparing to shudder and bite your lips!
We are people. We understand that you are our parents. We might think you’re old, stupid, slow or not cool at times. We may even find you to be unreasonable-what a novel concept! But we still love you. We don’t want anything bad to happen to you. And if someone disses you….OH!
So, yes, attitude problems, well, that’s just the crazy hormones raging inside us, the crazy thoughts going through our brains…if you think about it, us teens have all gone from nerdy little cute 10-12 year olds, loving horses, princesses and trucks, to suddenly having weird things happen to our bodies, friends, interactions with others; our thoughts become perverted as we’re introduced to a whole new world and the transition is very rocky. We become confused, insecure, unsure of ourselves, who we are, where we should be going…instead of life controlling us, we suddenly feel we need to control life.
So, with all of that change, you can’t really blame us for going mental. We usually know we’re being unreasonable. We’re just too confused to figure out why we don’t seem to care.
I’m confusing myself right now…
Hope I’ll understand my own teens one day!
And thanks for the amazing, hilarious post!
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idolizethemind
October 18, 2011
Love this! 😉 Keep up the good work and ill keep following you!!
-Chris Styles
http://www.idolizethemind.com
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PenniCash
October 18, 2011
Very funny, very true! I have said “There is no such thing as a stupid question” in my class of high school freshman anticipating the moment when I can giggle and joke (with the appropriately jovial student) “Except that one.”
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earthriderjudyberman
October 18, 2011
Love your writing/blog. If it’s any comfort, kids come full circle. Like Mark Twain who said he griped about how little his Old Man knew when Twain was a teen … and then was surprised at how much his Dad had learned when Twain was 21. My daughters couldn’t wait to get out on their own. It wasn’t too long before they persuaded us to move from New York to Florida to be near them. We have a great relationship now. No doubt – with your humor and patience – you will as well. Keep ’em laughing.
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3rdcultchild
October 18, 2011
what a funny blog you’ve got here! and so easy to read! the blogpost is appropriate for parents with toddlers, as well (not just teens) – like myself!
Greetings from Brazil! http://3rdculturechildren.com
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Hope
October 18, 2011
loved this…. thinking about coming full circle….and ending back where we started….my teens don’t want to answer or hear anything i have to say…..humor is the best relief… thank you for sharing this…
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skullsnkisses
October 19, 2011
Hahahaha I love it! Its amazing how it all turns out.
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drmarla1
October 19, 2011
This is so wonderful…and here’s my question: How long have you had a webcam in my house, because you know exactly what goes on here??!
I also agree with everyone who said that birthing the baby is the easy part. I should know, because I’m an obstetrician as well as a mom of three, the youngest of which just turned 13. “I’m a teenager, now I know everything!” she says, as we bite our hands.
Best regards to you–
Marla
coffeeandcrochet.wordpress.com
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Mogovôr'
October 19, 2011
*groan* I’ve just been berating myself recently for snapping at my youngest (4) for asking baffling questions that don’t even make sense. She is still learning to express herself coherently, so she has excellent language, but she’s still working out how to piece it all together. She will repeat and repeat the question, unsatisfied with any attempt at some kind of answer until I snap. Of course, she’s repeating it because my answer mustn’t make any sense in her mind. If I could make sense of her question, it would really help. I try my lateral-thinking best and try to get her to express herself differently, but for the most part, I’m ashamed to say, I end up getting short with her (to put it politely).
This post has dropped into my lap at a very fortuitous moment. Thank you.
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J
October 19, 2011
No matter how much life changes, it stays the same. “)
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Opinyonista
October 19, 2011
this gave me tummy cramps! real funny! more of this pls..
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Geni - Sweet and Crumby
October 19, 2011
I can absolutely relate. My daughter would talk endlessly in the car and usually I would listen, but sometimes, sometimes I would wander off and she would ALWAYS catch me. “Are you listening? Why did you just say, Uh huh? What was I saying…” My son, is the angry teenager right now! Please tell me that gets better. I am always afraid to ask him anything and I loved the dinner part….I never make him anything he likes apparently. Congrats on FP!
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bumbumga
October 19, 2011
There is a mistake in here, kids ask questions repeatedly as they come on their mind. There is no evaluation, we can call it curiosity….
Now the right approach would be to give the kid the tools to reserch his own questions but what will happen?
They most likely won’t do it as it takes effort and few of their questions are deep enought to push them to researching.
What is happening here is that kids are encouraged to put forward every thought that passes in their mind as there is no effort for them to search a solution, then you see, when you get ready for an explanation the effort of listening is too high for the prize and they leave. Given that it’s one to 0 effort they try to get (inconsciously) the most out of their parents if not given back answers they will quickly stop/get angry as they can’ follow up.
This situation is typical of parents and relatives as kids won’t dare to ask these things to unknown people (which are not perceived confortably) or to their friends as they will quickly dismissed in self defence.
Are you to blame?
The goal for kids is to get most of what they can to grow wise. So they will value this questions. At the same time they won’t answer to yours as it’s a burden, distracting them from their goal.
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ngaireg
October 19, 2011
Although I THINK you borrowed my daughter (and you are welcome to give her back when your ears wear out) I KNOW you have my middle son (and him you are most welcome to keep). One of the joys of parenting 3 teenage boys and a 6 year old daughter all at once is seeing them cope with her continual questions, touch-of-a-button tears and childish pouts and then grumbling how unreasonable she is with her mood swings and sulks. Obviously they don’t look into the mirror anywhere near enough.
A great read – thanks so much for the giggle.
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ermoogan
October 19, 2011
I was laughing so hard after the first two pictures. It mirrors exactly what goes on. Great work!
http://www.lensforeyes.wordpress.com
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Bud Walker
October 19, 2011
Questions really are an integral part of life. It’s true that they are irritating at times particularly when they tend to be nonsense but the good thing is, they’re part of growing up. However, don’t overdo it if you’ve grown enough 🙂
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Bharathi Ghanashyam
October 19, 2011
I loved your blog. I’m writing in from India and write my own blog on my experiences as a parent. here’s the link, if you’re interested. http://parentinggoofups.wordpress.com/2011/10/05/home/
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hangryhippo
October 19, 2011
i love this. especially because i feel like the title was the mantra i was raised with. and now that i work with kids, i understand how quickly their minds work and the need to be patient with questions and answers.
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Lonnie
October 19, 2011
“Thirty-nine, Dad! I got a thirty-nine! Where did you hear that it was a thirty-seven?”
So funny, this cracks me up! Really enjoyed reading this post. Thanks for posting and congrats on the FP.
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Wizard Prang
October 19, 2011
Simple answer: “Yes, you can ask questions. Pick five…”
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writingforacause19
October 19, 2011
Ha ha! Loved the bit about the solar system, doesn’t really seem fair that kids don’t have the patience for the answers does it?
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mdcstepsahead
October 19, 2011
You and I write in a similar style I loved reading your blog, don’t stop!
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heidit
October 19, 2011
What a wonderful post, Charles. I clearly remember my parents becoming all too annoyed by my incessant questions. But they learned the secret to it, which I will now share with you. They owned a large collection of encyclopedias, and when I asked a question, they told me to look up the answer for myself. They said it was to teach me to research properly, but I think the plan was that if they told me to find the answer for myself enough times, I’d stop asking. I’m pretty sure it worked. The problem is, whenever people ask me questions, I still feel compelled to look up the answer.
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schulzey
October 19, 2011
A very well articulated look into my future. I’ve only just arrived at the beginning of the questioning. My two and a half year old bombards me throughout the day with questions that don’t need answers and her latest is asking, “What’s your favorite color, Daddy?” She asks that one about ten times in a row every few hours. When she gets into one of her ruts where she’s going to ask that question for ten minutes straight, I eventually break from the pressure and admit to whatever crime she’s accusing me of. I have another little girl just 2 years behind her and I know that the next twenty years are going to be full of questions until I start questioning there choice in men, clothes, music, entertainment, etc… Thanks for the smile this morning.
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mysending
October 19, 2011
Having a grandchild on the cusp of teenagerdom, I’m definitely feeling like I’ve come full-circle! Thanks–I definitely needed this set of laughs!
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ctolle
October 19, 2011
Thank you for this post. I read it aloud today to my Honors Communications freshmen after we studied an excerpt of *The Joy Luck Club* by Amy Tan. Giggling and serious self-reflections were, of course, consequential.
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Melissa McGrath
October 19, 2011
I think we may be living mirror image lives… I was the inquisitive one as a kid and now have the sullen/explosive son! I can’t wait to drive every one crazy at the nursing home! 🙂
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Afromum
October 19, 2011
Lmao, I love this post. I bursted out with a big HAHA, my son woke up with a look on his face, one of those whats wrong with you? looks. It defiantly brought m back to my childhood. I am so looking forward to when my children start speaking, I cant wait to see what crazy questions they are going to come up with, I’ll probably regret it, but i cant wait. 😀
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domesticbubblewriter
October 19, 2011
Sooo many comments – you obviously hit a nerve. You certainly hit a nerve with me. As a mother to nearly teenagers, how true. Actually, it’s also similar to asking questions of husbands!
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grammyjinlx
October 19, 2011
Wow! How on earth (stupid question number 1!!) did you manage to respond to all these comments?
Great post – thank you.
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mokurai
October 19, 2011
South Park: “Remember, children, there are no stupid questions, only stupid people.”
I was delighted to see this post featured on the WordPress home page. I am running a program at Sugar Labs (originally the software partner of One Laptop Per Child, but now much more) called Replacing Textbooks, which aims to change schools around the world over from the Prussian-style, “When I want to hear _your_ opinion, I’ll *tell* it to you,” and the tyranny of the Right Answer, to the search for the Best Questions. Good questions inherently don’t have right answers. For example,
* Is this real? How do you know?
* Should you believe me? Why?
* What is the most important thing we should all do?
The two-dollar words for these questions are ontology, epistemology, and ethics, but children don’t need to know those words in order to ask and explore these questions.
Also, we in the Replacing Textbooks program have noted that computers cost much less than printed textbooks, and also weigh much less. They also allow millions of children to ask each other questions, and to look for answers on Google, Wikipedia, Wolfram Alpha, and elsewhere. When we have all-digital, all-free, all-singing, all-dancing learning materials, we can improve education while saving money. So there is no reason not to. There are, however, dozens of excuses, starting with, “We’ve never done it that way.”
My WordPress blog is http://replacingtextbooks.wordpress.com/.
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norquiza
October 19, 2011
thanks for sharing. =) this is a funny reality to think of as a parent. i think one of the greatest test a parent should pass is the need to learn how to communicate with their kids as they grow. As they grow they uses different language and approach.
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enyouknowthis
October 19, 2011
now i know how my parents felt.. THANKS
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loolagiles
October 19, 2011
Hahaha! I’m going to have to show this to my mom!
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Christine@100things100days
October 19, 2011
Amen. Wish I had an answer. My sons are 4 & 9. I guess there are a lot of questions ahead of me.
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livinglifehalffull
October 19, 2011
As the mother of 2 young sons I know this day will come for me soon as well. And when it does, I hope it is a short season of parenting! Thank you for sharing your post.
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monicafay
October 20, 2011
just saw your blog for the first time. its pretty funny. I hope you like mine too
i wrote this one on the rules of being fat and skinny
http://monicafay.wordpress.com/2011/09/12/the-rules-of-fat-and-skinny/
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monicafay
October 20, 2011
maybe if you like mine we can put each other on our blog rolls? 🙂
http://monicafay.wordpress.com/2011/09/12/the-rules-of-fat-and-skinny/
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Janhavi Saraf
October 20, 2011
This is really funny ! My kinda stuff….Please keep writing !
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Juan Daily
October 20, 2011
haha. This reminds me of my little cousin who asks a thousand questions for every story I tell.
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mysticpeaks101
October 20, 2011
Ahahahaha! Epic, and quite true. First paragraph has been story of my life so far. I am the master of stupid questions. But somehow, I can answer ’em myself. Still, feel kinda bad being forced to ask questions inside my head.
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fantailnz
October 20, 2011
It is so good just to laugh out loud sometimes. Thanks for the post.
My lot are past the teenage stage … I think!!!
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Cheap
October 20, 2011
Adolescence, the most memorable period in my life until today.
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k3n
October 20, 2011
Great read… Hopefully when i have kids, I’ll have witty enough answers to stop any other questions ;).
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chicaidcrutches
October 20, 2011
Ha ha Love this! When my son was 2 and getting into the ‘Why?’ stage, my mum advised me to answer his question and the resulting ‘Why…’ to the following 5 questions and then resort to ‘Because God said so’ as your answer. Worrying thing is that this can trigger all sorts of questions about what/who is God (it’s me obviously ;-))
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amylleblanc
October 20, 2011
Very funny! I’ve never stopped asking questions either and I don’t think my parents handled it very well. So I filtered all that curiosity into a career where questions are key: journalism!
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Claudio Silva
October 20, 2011
Inquisitiveness is good, but so are good manners. Kids have to be taught talking too much is simply not good for anyone; that questions demand answers and answers demand thought; and that parents rule, no matter how hard it might be for a child or a teenager. Problem is, too many people nowadays base their parening on guilt: they let their children do whatever they want ecause they want to be loved by them NOW, not when they grow up. My parents had not this kind of concern, or time to answer my questions (both worked hard). So they gave me all the books I needed (yeah, there was no Internet befoe the 1990’s!). And I knew, that, teenager or not, if I ever spoke badly to them I would have been beaten, or at least yelled ALOUD. Now everybody praises my gentleness and education, so I guess a lovingbut strict rearing does no harm to anyone.
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authordia
October 20, 2011
I’m pretty sure now I know how my dad feels. =P Very funny! Thanks for posting. 🙂
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VeggieSandwichGeneration
October 20, 2011
Love your humor and insight! Parenting is such a hard job and I admire your thoughtfulness and realism!
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jaronnewyork
October 20, 2011
So that’s what it’s like to be a parent of the inquizitve type child…deep man, you might have pridicted my future. I felt this post.
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joyfullyoutlandish
October 20, 2011
This is great! Thanks for bringing a laugh into an otherwise drab Western Oregon morning! This is a post I will share with my mother, who will particularly appreciate your commentary about teenage children reacting to questions. Sadly, I was similarly standoffish to my family. Thanks again!
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sdburns
October 20, 2011
This is the first blog I’ve really read from someone I don’t know. I loved it! My children certainly drive me insane with unanswerable questions, but I find the incessant chatter just as frustrating. My 5 year old son talks nonstop when we get in the car and even when it’s inconsequential (which is most of the time), he expects me to interact with the conversation. I inevitably find myself tuning out until I hear “Mom?” “Mom?!” Then I’m struggling to remember the last thing he said and make an appropriate reply. If it’s not what he wanted to hear, then I get a big sigh and a “You never know what I’m talking about.” And of course he’s right because most of the time it doesn’t make sense!
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whiteteenz4u
October 20, 2011
lol i like it so much
all music lovers visit my blog ( framework4u.wordpress.com ) i really aprecciate it
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Cheryl McNulty
October 20, 2011
Great read. Glad you made it to “Freshly Pressed”!
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changeoursociety
October 20, 2011
It’s funny isn’t it? I love to ask my friends pointless questions not because i paticularly care what the answer is but whenever I’m asked pointless questions I get so annoyed! Hypocritical me….
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Belfor Reno
October 20, 2011
Great post. It is so true. As a kid I regretfully admit that I didn’t like answering my parents questions and I don’t really know why that was. And now I am in the stage of asking my dog questions which isn’t fruitful either.
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Alli
October 20, 2011
Great post!
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Travelling Writer
October 20, 2011
amazing article!! it made me laugh here at work!!! salamat for sharing… it somehow released some pressures that i am having right now. 🙂
http://travelersdiningdepot.wordpress.com/2010/07/03/on-the-karts/
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Karim Maksoud
October 20, 2011
a great post especially because i think every parent can relate.
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Я.
October 20, 2011
I came across this randomly and it made me laugh! I have a 5 year old niece, none of my own & it so happens her beloved uncle is deaf. Though, the best part of all this is that I can switch my ears on/off anytime. Her dad begs me daily, “You are blessed, man. Here’s the skewer, do my ears in man..please I’m begging you!” (Say, what? Can’t hear a thing! Why are you on your knees, are you proposing to me?)
Best question I was asked, “Who’s brain is bigger, yours or daddy’s?” *grin*
Great post and keep on with the questions, I was the little inquisitive one myself too!
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Lee
October 20, 2011
This is the first post I have read from you and it was amazing. So funny, yet so true! I will definitely be checking out your page. I just started blogging on wordpress a few weeks ago, I am still so new and it is hard for me to get any type of following. Any words of advice?
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anthonymagro
October 20, 2011
How true!
I’ve only experienced one side of the fence (the youth and their pain in the ass questioning). The first half of your story was my child hood… questions, questions, questions. I still hold the curious nature to this day.
Great insight to what I should expect as a parent.
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ldsrr91
October 20, 2011
Grandma, when we get to heaven, will grandpa still smell that way?
Do you have any healthy food?
Were you always ancient?
Where do butterflies sleep at night?
Why do you always roll your eyes like that?
DS
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Nando
October 20, 2011
Awesome post and hilarious! My daughter is exactly the same BUT she clams up whenever anyone else is around. I guess I should just simply have frequent guests at my place…
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Marcia
October 20, 2011
Congratulations on being freshly pressed. As a mother and grandmother I can relate to the million questions children throw at you; sometimes it is hard to keep a straight face. This post is hilarious!
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Crazy Tech Teacher
October 20, 2011
Totally hysterically funny and, at the same time, resonates on a very serious level with me.
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Margie
October 21, 2011
I would imagine you will write a really good blog post about what it is like to be in Slot 1 of Freshly Pressed for, well, it could be another week or more before the WordPress Happiness Engineers return from their group holiday and retire your post from the front page!
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dreidel18
October 21, 2011
cute and hilarious!!! I love it
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quetzalcotl
October 21, 2011
Wow. I remember my parents used to dismiss 90% of the pointless questions I asked when I was 6 with, “I was absent when the teacher discussed that in class.” Now, whenever my parents ask me things, like how my day went, I’ll simply answer them, “I was in class the whole day so I’ll always have an answer to my future kid’s questions.”
I bet they’re waiting for me to have a kid of my own and be put to the ultimate test of patience. I’m kind of scared haha.
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Rapid Cycling
October 21, 2011
Good one, loved it 🙂
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Ingesti Harswadiati (@Gistinez)
October 21, 2011
digilain kali yee iseng neeeh aku gk ada kerjaan!! Bosen Niel pliss ya jwb jwban akyu!
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sawltixh
October 21, 2011
it was a great post..loved reading it! 🙂
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roomstogrow
October 21, 2011
Very cute, very true! Great writing and illustrating 🙂
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thinkingsec
October 21, 2011
Nice, I’ve heard some of these questions more than once – I’m working through the starting bunch for the third time, and looking forward to the tenagee ones on two more ! Thanks for the forewarning !
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Hisham Alssadi
October 21, 2011
this is very nice explanation , i definitely enjoyed it , thanks
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LaureeOhOhOh
October 21, 2011
I laughed so hard I needed to stop and breathe! Great, great, great!
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Cathleen Barnhart
October 21, 2011
Screaming fight with my 16-year-old son last night after I dared to ask, “Why can’t you do your homework?” It felt so good to know someone else is in the same boat – and able to laugh about it.
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Liz Benitez
October 21, 2011
Great post, grats on FP
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joachimlim
October 21, 2011
Very funny. Love it. Keep writing.
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theonetraveller
October 21, 2011
Very well written!! As a father of three VERY curious boys, one of which loves to take objects apart just to see how they work, I live this everyday! This was great.
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Teenage Saint
October 21, 2011
Hundreds of people have said this but still, THIS POST IS AWESOME!
But I have just one question : How do you make these beautiful cartoons? I would like to know..:)
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saskateacher
October 21, 2011
I would also like to know.
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All In The Invite
October 21, 2011
I completely get where you’re coming from. As the parent of four children I often have similar thoughts going through my mind. However, not quite as funny as your post! Love it!
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Cherilyn
October 21, 2011
Loved it! Great art, great read!
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twinravens2000
October 21, 2011
That is GOLD!
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madi
October 21, 2011
better to come full circle and end with a question mark, rather than a full-stop 🙂
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colorfulfoods
October 21, 2011
Join our journey through life’s most exciting foods… Follow me at
http://www.colorfulfoods.wordpress.com
Dont be shy comment or suggest 🙂
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Vishvambarvyasa das
October 21, 2011
Thanks so much for this post. I couldn’t stop reading. 😀
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jumboxboy
October 21, 2011
Hello.
I couldn’t help laughing and identifying with being the one yelled at. Although as a teenager I was able to give a lot to my parents (and by that, I mean a lot of yelling) I do remember when my parents reached boiling point when the questions marathon started. I was able to go from asking why the wall was green, to why boys love girls and why my mom is blonde and I have brown hair… Such a funny mess… now (with no children yet) as a godfather to 3 boys I know, and I KNOOOW… when the questions start… with no end.
Very nice read. 🙂
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Shaun
October 21, 2011
It’s peculiar how I’ve struggled with that whole aphorism: There are no stupid questions. I prefer to say, there are no stupid questions, only irrelevant ones. Although it’s difficult when you do Tech support.
Check out my blog Angrypatriot1776.wordpress.com
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melissashipman
October 21, 2011
Great post! I don’t have kids yet (I’m a newlywed wife, after all) but I sometimes feel my husband has the same frustrated reaction to my questions about his day at work!
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elacunha
October 21, 2011
I really love this!!
I felt identified. My OLDER brother dont stop making me questions…
—————————————————–
Me encantó!!
Me sentí identificado. Mi hermano MAYOR no para de hacerme preguntas ni hablarme….
Lo peor es que se enoja si no le respondo las miles de preguntas por minuto que me hace ó no le doy la respuesta exacta que él quiere.
You have a new follower : )
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adventuresofthe3littlethings
October 21, 2011
This cracked me up!! I fantasize frequently about the sound-proof limo sliding window – we actually had an imaginary one installed in our van, which we use quite frequently. I also have ear plugs in the car, the house, and my purse… Of course, we also find it amusing to just flip the questions back at them:
#2: What does that sign say with the big P and the circle no?
#3: It means no peeing. You can’t pee there.
#2: Why can’t you pee there, Mommy?
M: Why do you think you can’t pee there?
#3: Because God said you can’t pee there. Only at the park. This is the road. (Implied: Obviously, stupid moron of a brother.)
Flip those questions! Shoot them right back – you’ll be more amused at their answers than annoyed at the questions!
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hi hi
October 21, 2011
haha
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creeped
October 21, 2011
I would still like to know where Christmas is. Well, where is it?
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sapphiretiger05
October 22, 2011
wow spot on rotfl!
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travelingtrish
October 22, 2011
OMG. This was wonderfully written. I just had to read it aloud to my husband, who is sitting across the table from me as I finished my blog for the night. I aspire to write with the wit you bring to the page. Our biggest take-away, however, is that apparently our 15-year old son lives with you. We’ve had that exact conversation, and it’s so heartening to find other parents who are experiencing these tension filled (but eventually comically useful) conversations out in the world. Best of luck!
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madnessisidentity
October 22, 2011
I’m just 18, so maybe I can’t grasp the complete implications of this page; I only see one side of the coin. But it’s beautifully written and I smiled to myself more than once.
I think I’ve been where your son is. I don’t think I was a very curious kid, but in my teenage years, I was a nightmare. I was firmly convinced that no one in the world understood me and that my parents were talking bullshit. When I look back on it now, I’m rather ashamed of all of it. My parents are my best friends, and I feel terrible for treating them the way I did.
But anyway, have a great day!
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Sanya Kapoor
October 22, 2011
Perfect start to my saturday 😀 thanks a lot for this. you just got yourself a new fan….
sanyasays.wordpress.com
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Cy Quick
October 22, 2011
It is a Western, modern problem. At puberty, we need to be in a job, even if it is just a Young Pioneers style of community service, with our peers. Most of the child’s questions can be very simply answered with “I do not know” so what is your problem? The equivalent is the one about looking it up, either in print or on the computer internet. I did not get married and have children. Why did you do it, when you knew what to expect? Wait a minute… You intended this Post as humor? You really thoroughly enjoyed parenting? Oh good. I was in danger of feeling sorry for you for a moment. Have a nice old age.
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tenunindonesia
October 22, 2011
i agree i loved this
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igjepara
October 22, 2011
I think they attend secret meetings in the middle of the night.
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desmondian
October 22, 2011
it’s look like i want to flasback my childhood
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Alina
October 22, 2011
Teenagers are tough ones to talk to. 🙂 I remember how I was at that age. I also hated the questions like “how was your day”, but I would usually reply “ok” to everything and quietly retreat, which would essentially be the same. I think, if my parents instead told me about how their day was, talked to me like an equal, I would feel less defensive.
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CK
October 22, 2011
Cool wordpress theme – http://ow.ly/75BgV
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williamw60640
October 22, 2011
Congrats on being fresh-pressed.
You SO hit the mark. I helped raise a child, and, based on your writing, you must have been there in the room during our arguments. You perfectly depicted the teenager-adult conversational impasse. Keep writing – you do it well.
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zunotlucifer
October 22, 2011
that’s inspired me..
i think i should be wise when i have a son or daughter later..
lol..
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I Choose Happy Now
October 22, 2011
Awesome illustrations! The first one reminds me of my almost 5 year old. All the endless questions!
Cheers,
Louise
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Personal Concerns
October 22, 2011
I did comment on the post earlier. The comic pics and the array of questions presented throughout the post refuse to leave my mind!
Have shared it with so many of my friends and most of them have told me that they loved the post and they do know someone or the other who continuously asks them questions.
Congrats once more!
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mizunogirl
October 22, 2011
Ooooh. As a child, My Dad, an English teacher used to simply tell me to “Edit”
I’ve never changed, and avoided the having children like myself by not “yet” having kids!
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robsim222
October 22, 2011
love it! wonderful post and i really relate to the situations that you describe. i am a parent of a defiant teen-ager. thank you for sharing – i am the bad guy in the family and it makes me feel better when i know that i am not alone with this 🙂
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Thoughts Designer
October 22, 2011
Great post, Charles! And congrats to noticing that you ended always up to the receiving end of all that yelling. Since this situation comes back to you over and over, there’s something that you should learn out of it. If not, it’ll continue until you get your lesson. 🙂
Here are some questions to ponder, maybe it could lead to some insights:
What’s good about asking so many questions?
What’s good about not being answered?
What else can you do when others are yelling at you?
Where’s this need of asking questions coming from? Is it curiosity? Need to connect with people? To be heard? To feel loved?…
I can give you a few more if you want. 🙂
When you’ll know the reason(s) behind your need to ask questions, you might find new ways of getting that need fed. This way, you might not need to ask so many questions, and you might not feel frustrated when you’re on the receiver part. And you might even understand better your children too.
Let me know if this helps. 🙂
Gabriela
http://thoughtsdesigner.com/
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hidinginthesuburbs
October 22, 2011
This is hysterical… you have captured things so perfectly.
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keshavdubey
October 22, 2011
Your blog is quite entertaining.Go on.
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desisonia
October 22, 2011
no doubt if your post is being fresh-pressed.. 🙂 that’s so cool text and illustration…
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Shav B
October 22, 2011
Lol, I can’t wait for my niece and my cousins to turn into hormonal teens angry at everything and everybody. Some of ’em have already crossed the endless questions stage. Haha, I’ll remember this article, sit back, and laugh 🙂 love it
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Aurora
October 23, 2011
I loved the cartoons! Check out my friend advice blog: http://www.fixingfrienships.wordpress.com
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blucosh
October 23, 2011
Great post! I can identify with this for sure! Too funny!
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Hgjj
October 23, 2011
I ignore my parents because they ignored me as a child with the problems
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taylorjonesgaycorner
October 23, 2011
Great! Read my blog! https://taylorjonesgaycorner.wordpress.com
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iaraben
October 23, 2011
so nice blog, i like it, we hope to seee more from you sooon
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Cititoarea
October 23, 2011
This post was so awesome!
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sunsetblogging
October 23, 2011
so nice to write about Children behavior,
http://sunsetblogging.wordpress.com/
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danbacana
October 23, 2011
NIce!
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artykraft
October 23, 2011
It does remind me of my childhood :).
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thevanbrown
October 23, 2011
This was fun, and the cartoons certainly added a nice touch. The wonderful thing about the questions of children is that they have them. When my father would see me being quiet (and did the same with my children when they were small), he would ask me: “Whatcha studying about?” Sometimes the most creative conversations would take off just like that. Thank you for sharing, and best to you.
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thewizardofbod
October 23, 2011
This was quite refreshing and your instances are perfect. I need to practice tolerance more.
Great cartoons and dialogue.
The Wizard of Bod
http://www.bodaciousnewsletter.com/
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Jesse Rice
October 23, 2011
I don’t have kids, but they seem annoying to me after reading this.
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bodastory
October 23, 2011
Hehehehehe! Great post, I was like that as a child!
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Anonymous
October 23, 2011
I’m laughing hysterically. 729 comments, Charles! I’ll never hear from you again!!
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reflectionseed
October 23, 2011
Ditto! Love your humor! A couple of facts: it is a blessing to see young people asking all kinds of questions. That instead of just seeing them imagining who knows what. It is a challenge to realize what we’ve done as a child to our parents and until we’ve become a parent.
No one came with a manual under his shoulder. Parenting is learned as we go and there is no formula to all. Life is a school to learn from on a daily basis. Perhaps the best skill we can develop in life is to achieve a clear and transparent presence. Doing it with our kids: priceless! Personally I’ve learned more from my children than I learned through my entire growing years and I am grateful about it. Although I still wonder about my kids’ gratitude. But I know one thing for certain: once they become parents, they’ll learn the very same lesson.
Thank you for your blog!
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ishallbeanonymous
October 23, 2011
Haha.
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asingleletter.wordpress.com
October 23, 2011
I loved this post!!!! It definitely deserved to be Freshly Pressed (unlike that one about the burrito). I like to ask endless questions and make endless comments too, which drives my mother up the wall!!! Will follow your posts.
http://thespectatorssport.wordpress.com/
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তানিয়া সুলতানা
October 23, 2011
LISTEN TO ONLINE RADIO CHANNELS
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তানিয়া সুলতানা
October 23, 2011
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO ONLINE RADIO CHANNELS
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Estela Martinez
October 23, 2011
I loved this the way you explain it was so refreshing and so true. I have been going through that with my own kids and sometimes I find myself stump with some of the questions they ask and because I don’t even know the answer to them myself. I have found a simple solution to them is “Google it!” that is the most used phrase (even if it’s short) in my house. I always believe someone out there had the same question and thank goodness I have never been proven wrong. I really don’t know what I’ll do if I ever was.
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bluekoie
October 23, 2011
Reading your post brought back a lot of memories. I enjoyed it so much I can’t wait to see what you publish next.
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Dan
October 23, 2011
nice job this is a good blog how did u get so many comments
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hrperks
October 23, 2011
I can definitely relate to this. Now my kids are past the teen-age years but I’m glad they didn’t shout at me when I was asking the questions.
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Edward Hotspur
October 23, 2011
I remember, when I was younger, all the way back to a time when this blog post WASN’T Freshly Pressed. Yes, I am that old. At least, the picture I have in my house is that old.
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Am I Juliet?
October 24, 2011
love it.. mind if i share this on fb?
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flowerpoet
October 24, 2011
I love your intelligent humour. Many thanks!
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iamscotia
October 24, 2011
This is great. Love it…
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uma maheswar nakka
October 24, 2011
eantastic. permit me to share this with my circle of friends in your name
regards and blessings
uma maheswar nakka
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alvinnarvais12
October 24, 2011
LOL
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Cheryl Howard
October 24, 2011
I’m recommending your great blog to my family but particularly to my sister-in-law. She has triplets who turn 13 shortly.
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youknowicanseeyou
October 24, 2011
i can totally relate! as a kid i also had a lot of questions and i felt that at some point my parents got tired of answering them! that’s when i had to learn things for my self 🙂
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shanbrr
October 24, 2011
I really loved your blog post.
Even I have a blog on books.
booksastheyareknown.wordpress.com
Visit it please.
Do follow if you like it.
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Daniel Azarin
October 24, 2011
That’s how beautiful kids are. They ask simple questions and yet simple but really hard to answer.
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babymumdrama
October 24, 2011
I feel you lol! I have a 3 year old boy who’s driving me nuts everyday. But he’s too adorable when he asks crazy stuff so I just laugh it off.
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Illustret Mentem
October 24, 2011
Simply hilarious. I’m glad my dad actually answer my random questions.
I can so relate to the teenage boy though… :))
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Terrence J. White
October 24, 2011
This is an interesting topic that you bring up. Continue sharing, i might be back for more! 🙂
Terrence J. White / My Joy In The Morning
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J Besonia
October 24, 2011
Yes, that’s the solution; go get a cat.
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jenniferhinders
October 24, 2011
Cleverly done, hilariously funny…
jenniferhinders.wordpress.com
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kablom
October 24, 2011
Your page is really cool!
Post updates to your blog:
http://www.kablom.com/news.php
——– Kablom Group ———
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Ty
October 24, 2011
This is hilarious! I especially like the cartoons.
I remember when my eldest daughter would ask questions that I couldn’t quite answer (for lack of clarity, concision, or attention). She always seemed to decide that the perfect opportunity for her inquiry was when I was listening intently to a news program or a ‘critical’ moment during a basketball game (Go Bulls! if there is a season).
I attempted to patiently tell her that I couldn’t answer or wanted to wait until the radio was off. Many times, I received a pouty glare from the back seat. It was amazing that she managed sadness, disappointment, and irritation all in the same look. Silently chastised, I would lower the volume and reply as best I could.
Now, when she comes home from school, I want to show interest in her life. She is newly 13year old and I want to be sure I am present for these potentially confusing, exciting, and ever-changing years. Her once incessant voice has now, however, been reduced to single word responses – “Fine” or “Okay”, maybe “Yes”, maybe “No”. She will tell me lengthy stories of her experiences eventually, but only in her own time and rarely at request.
You have really captured this phenomenon. I appreciate the post.
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Ty Martinez (@TyMartinez_tmb)
October 24, 2011
This is hilarious! I especially like the cartoons.
I remember when my eldest daughter would ask questions that I couldn’t quite answer (for lack of clarity, concision, or attention). She always seemed to decide that the perfect opportunity for her inquiry was when I was listening intently to a news program or a ‘critical’ moment during a basketball game (Go Bulls! if there is a season).
I attempted to patiently tell her that I couldn’t answer or wanted to wait until the radio was off. Many times, I received a pouty glare from the back seat. It was amazing that she managed sadness, disappointment, and irritation all in the same look. Silently chastised, I would lower the volume and reply as best I could.
Now, when she comes home from school, I want to show interest in her life. She is newly 13year old and I want to be sure I am present for these potentially confusing, exciting, and ever-changing years. Her once incessant voice has now, however, been reduced to single word responses – “Fine” or “Okay”, maybe “Yes”, maybe “No”. She will tell me lengthy stories of her experiences eventually, but only in her own time and rarely at request.
You have really captured this phenomenon. I appreciate the post.
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Yudy Yunardy
October 24, 2011
I dunno if I’m competent enough to answer your question, but allow me to try….
The reason why you don’t come to full circle, is because your attitude that ‘makes’ you always be the prey (even to children, yours in this case). I don’t know you that well so I couldn’t pinpoint which attitude. But take it from the guy from the other side of equation, I was raised from very dominant father, hence I became alpha male in any situations.
Now, here’s the catch, being ME is not fun too! (I guess human being always want what they cannot have). Why? Just look at me, I’m divorced (yeah, my ex couldn’t stand it and because I not the easiest person to deal with, to put it lightly) and 37 yrs old single recently broke up with my 25 years old girlfriend (again, couldn’t stand with my dominance).
I guess everything in life is balanced, you had your ups and downs, so do I. We just cherish our life in our own way. This makes me remember of saying in Doogie Howser tv series, “there is a place for every kind of people in this world”. I might add, “even for the bad ones like me….hahahaha!!!”
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lynnemelcombe
October 24, 2011
When my kids were little, I used to tell them that I would answer all questions until 7 PM. Then my brain needed a rest and their questions could wait until the next day. It worked when they were small, but made no difference at all when they hit their teens and hated every stupid question I asked. But it is always good to read that other parents had exactly the same experiences I had.
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lizhicks5
October 24, 2011
Great blog! I myself asked a lot of questions as a child, even now that I am in my 20s I still bug my family with needless curiosities.
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paulsroom
October 24, 2011
I’m not married and so do not have children, and it’s too far back to recall whether or not I asked many questions as a child, but I can certainly relate to this. I’ve always considered it healthy to ask questions, but in work situations it’s often seen as pure ignorance and/or stupidity. The simple innocence of a child’s question like ‘why does twelve o’clock come before one o’clock’ is actually quite profound. As adults we may think it’s a stupid question, but of course it isn’t. It’s something we now take for granted when as a child it just seemed extremely puzzling and out of phase. I don’t think that these type of questions should ever be abandoned or dismissed. But when we become adults we enter a very guarded environment and our livelihood can depend upon not asking such questions. So children who ask such questions are living in a world that hasn’t become tainted with false accusations. Nowadays, I continue to listen carefully to everyone and observe everything, then try to match questions in my head to what I hear and see. I can become a child again without seeming to have lost my miond. Of course I Google the question to see if I had thought it out right!
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Tucker H.
October 24, 2011
That’s halarious!
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tenunindonesia
October 24, 2011
Great post! I can identify with this for sure! Too funny!
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igjepara
October 24, 2011
OMG! This is my life, too!
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arief3000
October 24, 2011
I absolutely love this!
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Huffygirl
October 24, 2011
Please allow me to be your 772nd commentor. What a lovely piece. Perhaps this is why you’ve been stuck on FP for so long.
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cookwithkids
October 25, 2011
I like the idea you talk about that your children just needed to know it was safe to ask questions. My 3 year old keeps asking the same questions over and over again. Thank you for offering a different perspective and giving me a bit more patience with his repetitive enquiring!
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Thrift Shopping Buzz
October 25, 2011
I was laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes as I was reading this. Hilarious!
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kalafels
October 25, 2011
That was definitely me when I was a kid. Asking about everything possible!
http://kalafels.wordpress.com/
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bitchyramblings
October 25, 2011
This is too funny. Don’t stop. Ever!
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karinedrew
October 25, 2011
I’m not in the habit of reading blog but I’m glad I stumbled upon yours. Thumbs-up, very well written 🙂
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Gina
October 25, 2011
Now that I survived the 8 million questions of their youth, I spend my time repeating directives and expectations to twin “zoned out” boys. I Look forward to the evasive answers, the wait time for getting a chore done (or employment) and eating like horses…sigh, Thanks so much for the laughs! 🙂
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shailshail
October 25, 2011
This is hilarious!
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charlywalker
October 25, 2011
782 comments……….your fingers must be tired. I forgot to say congrats!
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Anonymous
October 25, 2011
Asking questions can be a great way of empowering children to think for themselves, to use their own initiative… I remember one time my youngest son asking me questions about a stranger in a shop, so I told him if he really wanted to know he should politely ask the man himself.. to my surprise he did and the man told him everything he wanted to know… He never asked me a question about a stranger again, he learned the tools he needed to retrieve that information himself.
When obscure question are asked I would always ask for their opinion before giving my own, turn it around, it is great to nurture their creativity, and give them the confidence in their own decisions. This has led many places from painting sessions and experiments to google (thank you google!!)
I am a mother of 4 and two of them are teenagers 17 and 14, I was actually quite surprised reading through the comments.. The article was well written and funny, but I have to disagree with every negative stereotypical comment made about teenagers, for all of you that have younger children, the teenage years really are not something to dread!! If you read through the comments the answer to all of it is there. Early on in the comments there was a anonymous post by a teenager (funnily it was ignored) another comment attempting to show a new perspective and one that I know works was by another mother of four Brandy 360, and it seems to have been misinterpreted, and then further down I think it was Alina had a great comment… So here is my two cents worth:
It is an honour for me to witness my children evolve into adults, it never occurred to me (despite society’s insistence) that their teenage years would be tough on me, but I knew it would be tough on them. I have never had a disagreement with either of them (one boy and one girl), if there is a problem we talk about it and come up with a solution. I completely respect their opinions.. If you have trouble communicating with your teenager then please don’t leave the blame or responsibility of fixing the breakage in communication squarely on the teenager (they have enough going on).. If your child is acting out (and even if not) I can highly recommend Ross Greenes material on Explosive Children (it can build a fantastic bridge and that bridge will last for life) and also read everything you can find on Emotional Intelligence..
And remember we don’t actually know that much (hands up who has life figured out) so allow your children to teach you too :o)
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bronxboy55
October 25, 2011
Thank you for your thoughtful comment. Regarding a few of the earlier remarks, it’s difficult to reply to everything, especially when someone leaves a comment in the middle of an exchange that happened more than two weeks ago. (The Anonymous you refer to commented on October 16. But now that I look at it, I would question the idea that parents asking their children how their day was at school is a form of prying.) Also, you’re bothered by what you perceive as stereotypical comments, and you’re right. All teenagers are not alike; in fact, every one is different. One of the things Bandy360 said was, “Don’t talk to them!” I don’t think that approach, or any approach, would work for every teenager. I also don’t think she meant to suggest using that in every situation. There are times when a parent has to voice an opinion, because silence can be misinterpreted as a form of approval. I agree that miscommunication is usually a two-way problem. Sometimes things go wrong and it’s because of the parents’ shortcomings. But there are also plenty of parents who did their best and tried everything, and the kids ended up in big trouble anyway. The point, I think, is that there’s no one solution or philosophy or method that works for everyone. If you’ve never had a disagreement with your kids, you have to know how unusual that is. In fact, it’s incredible. But it must be, at least in part, a reflection of their personalities. Whatever that personality is, most teenagers don’t have it. One last thing. I truly believe that most of the griping we do as parents is a coping mechanism, and shouldn’t be taken too seriously. It’s certainly not a measure of how much we love our kids.
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Donny Joe
October 25, 2011
The inquisitive nature of young children is the coolest part of being a parent. I enjoyed those years very much with my son. Now he’s 15 and I am the one who is asking questions and he answers with single words like, ‘yes’, ‘no’, etc. I’ve shifted to asking open ended questions and multi-part questions, and I still sometimes get answers like ‘fine’, ‘good’, ‘ok’, ‘nothing’, etc. I’ve discovered that if I engage him in dialog prior to my questions, rather than beginning with questions, I get better answers.
I remember spending countless hours as a child thumbing through our World Book Encyclopedias (circa early 60’s). I liked the ‘B’ volume the best because it was the only one with color pictures (birds).
I enjoyed your post. Good stuff.
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Real Fit Mom
October 25, 2011
Most of my friends have younger kids and don’t understand what it’s like to have teens. Reading this made me glad I’m not the only one that has to go through the questions, frustrating non-answers and wondering how the heck I turned into my parents!
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klacenklai
October 25, 2011
Hahaha. This is funny. I have a toddler right here, and he keeps asking questions and it leaves me blank and blinking every time. Though it’s cute to hear him mumbling words that he can’t pronounce properly yet. Can’t imagine how life would be for me in his teen years. 😀
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trashbird1240
October 25, 2011
Hilarious! This is the most frequent topic of conversation amongst my friends who are parents. I suppose it will never end. Yesterday the conversation ended with me remembering some Zen monk who said that when children ask questions, they are expressing their “Buddha Nature,” i.e. reminding adults that our interaction with the world is clouded with concepts and attachments. When my sons are incessantly questioning, I often let it slide by me and silently thank them for keeping me in question mode myself.
My favorite is: “Why is it a truck?”
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jmatthewh
October 25, 2011
Excellent job! Just a small sampling of questions from our ride home last night:
“How do you make trees?”
“How do you make clouds?”
“How do you make fish?”
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nohur
October 25, 2011
well written ! great and funny! i liked it .many thanks!
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Anonymous
October 25, 2011
OMG! This blog is to funny, some of it so true!!! Signed me up for more laughs ” )
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Short Little Rebel
October 25, 2011
Cute, but accurate. As a parent of young ones verging on teenagerhood, I am opting for the role of ‘yeller’ to avoid being yelled at. I sure hope I am making the right choice!
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Crunchy Urbanite
October 25, 2011
I love the title. 🙂
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pursuenaturalny2008
October 25, 2011
A mirror of our lives! How beautifully you shared your story and brought out the past our memories and reminded us about the cycle of life.
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ProjectMNow
October 25, 2011
Hilarious! Made me laugh when I needed a good laugh, thanks.
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Heather Monica
October 26, 2011
Loving this most recent post… As a mom of 10, the insane amount of questions thrown around this house compare only in volume to the amount of laundry that seems to proliferate like the crab grass on my front lawn…cant wait to read more!
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shalahowell
October 26, 2011
Great post! And congrats on getting it Freshly Pressed, without which sadly I wouldn’t have found your blog.
My Four-Year-Old’s question-to-declarative sentence ratio still clocks in at a healthy 5:1. I’m dealing with it by turning those questions into a blog (caterpickles.com). I had thought this was an excellent strategy until I read your post and realized that there is very little I can do to protect against the Wrath of Teens. Oh well. All part of the parenting process, I suppose.
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pursuenaturalny2008
October 26, 2011
Are you the original cartoonist too? They are works of art! Along with the writing, this article is a timeless master piece.
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In All My Life...
October 27, 2011
Good Read 🙂 I love the way you capture the whole, “I know where I’m going until I actually get there.” mentality that we too often get stuck in.
Enjoyed this!
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agnil
October 29, 2011
it’s humane when it happened to us..
some of us occasionally ask without elaborate more, which we called ‘stupid question’..
we’ll end up with “why do you ask it? it’s clear, you just don’t get it” or
“i think it’s no need answer question”
hahaha
i mean in different context.. such as in short-quick conversation..
not in father-son-talking..
just another perspective
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smalltowndating
October 29, 2011
Lol. I like the limo comment. I never daydreamed about that for my own child and he too is the unending questioner. I love it more than anything though cause I love our conversations. Life can never get dull with him! Interesting topic! =)
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brainspill247
October 29, 2011
This is undeniably true! 😀
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Zaiba
October 29, 2011
It won’t be much new news if I was to say this made me cry with laughter, but it may come as a surprise if I told you I had lost just about everything I had ever achieved, wanted or dreamt of in life and was a manic depressive patient in this empty hollow world. I have my own blog, and I tend to find it grounds me well, but surfing blogs in the middle of the night is something of the norm when sleep is an far out alien concept, I hope anyone reading this would click on my blog to help me feel I’m not alone in a world where there’s apparently 6 billion people.
http://www.zaibakhanexmuslim.wordpress.com
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Internets bästa spelställen
November 17, 2011
are you spying into my home lol
I swear i have had some of these exact conversations just this week
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mythreeangels
November 23, 2011
Hilarious!!! I have till date reached the stage where I try to give ‘modern, sensitive’ answers. Many times i am walking a thin edge. My husband, with great ease, adopts the method of Calvin’s father in Calvin & Hobbes. I have to step in and tell the kids to ignore him. 🙂
I was anticipating easier times ahead but apparently, as you point out so clearly, the road ahead is bumpy 🙂
thanks again, hilarious stuff!
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StarGazer
November 28, 2011
Mr Charles, this is the 3rd time I’m reading this post and so I decided to comment on it and share some of my thoughts as well. It’s so funny. I think I like it so much because it express something I’ve never experienced. As a kid, I used to observe instead of asking questions. If I had a question, I’d normally go and watch a documentary about it on t.v.. In the rare situation that there wasn’t anything about it, I’d ask my parents as a last resort…
I have to admit though, I was given answers… But those answers would’ve been brief of 7-10 words top and always followed by the phrase..” I don’t know more about it. Don’t they teach you anything at school?”
It was pretty frustrating when my questions remained half-answered. But what’s been bugging me even more was that I’ve been expected to give answers to their questions (both teachers and parents) even about things I’ve never ever heard before. I guess I shouldn’t complain though. Because of that, I managed to learn alot of things (some of them pretty useless…) which I usually ended up asking others in order to observe their reactions and to test their patience. Having them troubling themselves to find the answers to something I already knew… It was too good to pass! I know Santa won’t bring me presents for what I just said… But, neh! I don’t mind! 😀
P.s.: I’m sorry if there are any grammar mistakes. I haven’t practiced my english for years…^.^”
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Alexandre da Rocha
December 2, 2011
Reblogged this on Safe Seas and commented:
There’s no such thing as a stupid question. Or is there?
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Marusia
December 10, 2011
Hi, Charles!
I love your blog! Great cartoons! This post is hilarious. “Why can’t I see my eyes?” is the funniest children’s question I’ve seen! You know, we’ve already had a lot of right answers; the world needs people who know how to ask right questions… like you!
You’re in my blogroll!
=)
http://theperfectmother.wordpress.com/
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Rebecca Levine
February 23, 2012
I found this looking for comments on a mother-in-law that asks incessant questions. She is a “nice” person but I have great difficulty by the end of a wkend visit remaining civil. she has always been like this so it’s not her age so much. It’s attention getting behavior and when confronted by how outrageous it is, complete denial ensues. What is that? I have come to the conclusion to limit my contact to very small times together even when she will be coming to visit for a week at a time, 2xs a year. Yikes!
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buckwheatsrisk
February 23, 2012
why is the world not flat? 😉
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ZinalBhadra
July 5, 2012
This is an awesome post Charles. If I, at 25, can have sooo many questions to ask to anyone who would bother to hear, if not answer, then it is very obvious that kids have so many questions. Sad that you never got to bat 😛
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bronxboy55
July 5, 2012
You’re right, Zinal. Young kids do have a lot of questions, and very often they can’t comprehend the answers — so they keep asking.
Thanks for the comment. I appreciate it.
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marymtf
October 24, 2014
Such a great feeling when newly minted daddies (your sons) want your opinion on how to handle a tricky situation with their sons. Hang in there, Charles.
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legitClever
June 3, 2019
Someone Started A Petition To Sell Montana To Canada And People Are Going Nuts About It https://www.rapidrationale.com/2019/06/someone-started-petition-to-sell.html
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