Why? Where?

[Jenifer]

Joy is killing me with questions!!!

Every time I say something to her, her response is "Why?"

If I ask her a question, her response is "Where?"

I know she understands the things I say to her. She follows these automated responses with appropriate answers, so I know she understands.

Her ST said to ignore the questions because she is saying them out of habit, and doesn't really expect an answer. Allegedly ignoring her will break the habit. But if I don't answer, she keeps repeating her questions.

I AM GOING NUTS!!!

And now my DH, always the prankster, responds to everything I say with "Where?" He thinks he is so funny!

Just needed to vent. Thanks for listening.

Jenifer, mom to Joy Daisy

[kwisteena1021]

Oh man, I feel your pain! Kallie's question that she asks me about 10 times a day is "Mommy, what's for diner?" I am talking from the time she wakes up till the time she eats diner. Drives us nuts! I tell her don't worry about it, you'll eat! hehe good luck!

[Pat]

Jenifer... WHY are you going nuts? Did you not go nuts when Josh & Jana did it?? ;D And if by chance they didn't & you missed out on that wonderful stage LOLOLOL
Christina... My kids always ask me what's for dinner, except John-John LOL
Pat

[Jenifer]

Christina...my kids never ask ME what's for dinner because if I'm cooking they know they're getting grilled cheese, scrambled eggs or soup. That's pretty much the extent of my culinary abilities. DH is the chef in this house.

Pat...interestingly enough, Josh and Jana are my step children, so I didn't go through this stage with them. They were 5 and 3 when I entered the scene, and although we had custody of them, they were just beyond that stage.

That's not to say there weren't other challenges....Jana in particular liked to stick her fingers through the hole in our couch cushion, pick out the foam and stick it up her nose. Can't even begin to describe the smell of infected couch foam. We got a new couch REAL quick. ;D

I just hope I didn't come across as the most impatient mom on the planet. I am SO happy that Joy is verbal. I understand 90% of what she says, and others probably get about 70%. I think that's fantastic. I think my irritation lies with the fact that I'm tired, I know she knows WHY/WHERE, and I want her to think about what she is saying before she just automatically asks the question.

My best tactic has been to throw the question back at her, for example:

Mom: Joy, hold my hand when you go down the steps.
Joy: Why?
Mom: Why do you think you should hold my hand?
Joy: So no fall on ice.
Mom: Right! It's icy and I don't want you to fall.

That works pretty well, but it's just freakin' wearing me out. I think I just need a couple of days away and I'll be fine. DH and I are going to Chicago in March, just the two of us. That will probably be the cure.

Happy Monday!
Jenifer, mom to Joy Daisy

[Jessie]

Funny about dinner Jenifer - I'm the same way - if I'm cooking it's actually me dialing the phone to order pizza! LOL

Yeah, that WHY stage is so much fun with kids, isn't it? I remember my neices and nephews going through that and it is a major patience testing time.

I look at that unnerving time as a huge milestone for kids though and I think it's awesome that Joy is doing that!! Jason never went through that stage, probably because of his lack of verbal skills. I think he could be much farther along with understanding the "WH" questions if he could have gone through that stage.

So . . . there's your silver lining when you feel like your going to go nuts with one more why question!!


Jessie