It's not the Higgs boson news that has me contemplating the fundamental constants of our universe. It's my two-and-a-half-year-olds.
My girl twin, Vieve, has just entered the "Why?" stage. Last week I was lying on the ground and "flying" her in the air. "You're flying!" I said. "Flying like an eagle!"
"No! Me flying like a... like a ostig!"
(Ostig? Ostig? Oh!) "You're flying like an ostrich?"
"Yeah! Me flying like an ostrig!"
"Did you know that ostriches don't fly?"
"Why?"
"They're really good at running so they don't need to fly, and now they can't do it any more."
"Why?"
"They're really big birds. They're too heavy to fly."
"Why?"
"Because they're so big. They weigh too much."
"Why?"
"Because... the Earth's gravity pulls them down more than their wings can pull them up." It's usually the fourth "Why?" that I start to flounder, particularly when I'm simultaneously holding 13kg of child straight up in the air.
"Why?"
"...because of the fundamental constants of the universe."
After that exchange, I knew I'd have to resurrect the "Can't just ask 'why?'" rule that we used with our eldest. He had to ask "Why (something specific)?" to prevent him mindlessly, and endlessly, asking "Why?" Vieve seemed to understand when I explained it to her (though she did ask "why?" she couldn't just ask "why?"...).
"Mummy, what are you doing?"
"Hanging out the laundry."
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why hanging out-a laundry?"
"It's wet from getting washed, and it needs to get dry in the sun."
"Why dry sun?"
"Because the sun makes them warmer and that makes the water come out."
"Why water come out?"
"Uh, the warmth makes the water molecules move faster."
"Why faster?"
"...because of the fundamental constants of the universe."
To be honest, I resort to that answer when I'm past the bounds of my actual knowledge and into the area where "Just because, okay?!" looks mighty attractive. It's slightly depressing that I'm consistently only four toddler-whys away from the point where I have to resort to hand-wavey stuff indistinguishable from magic.
I'm quite happy to say "I don't know. Let's go find out!" though. It can be frustrating, but the "Why?" stage is also delightful, educational and amazing. I'm looking forward to many more "Why?"s yet.
What's the oddest "Why?" you've had to answer?
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Great blog! My nearly 3-year-old is has been going through the "why" stage for a while now, and I find he quickly exhausts my knowledge - I will have to remember "because of the fundamental constants of the universe". I usually end up with something very lame, unless it is something mechanical, in which case I tell him to go and ask Daddy! This morning had me baffled though - he asked "why won't the trees move toward me?"
My own kids didn't do the "why" so much, but years ago I was in the car with my sister in law and nephew when we were stopped at some roadworks. My nephew suddenly asked "why are those (expletive) leaning on their shovel?" referring to the roadworkers. Not odd so much as very funny.
Brings to mind the song "Why o why" by Woody Guthrie. Questions like... Why can't a dish break a hammer Why can't a bird eat an elephant Why aint my grandpa my grandma
This is a brilliant, brilliant post. "hand-wavey stuff indistinguishable from magic" - Awesome!
My friends, very literal people, only ever resorted to "Why do YOU think it is?" with their little girl, which was their version of "Just because, okay?!" I learnt a lot listening to those conversations!
After our great grandmother died, my sister asked why she had to be buried in the ground and why they couldn't keep her above ground and "hose her off each day so she doesn't get smelly" hehehehe!
There is a book prehaps you should read to your kids.... might help you and them! Its called "the magic of reality" by Richard Dawkins. It is a kids book
Unbeknowest to my 3-year-old was quite taken with Kim Dotcom's name when she heard it on the news so asked one day out of the blue, "Why is Kim Dotcom in trouble?" We've also had "why can't I fit my hand up my nose?", "Why don't you know the poeple whose names you don't know?", "Why do people get old?", "Why does daddy do such stinky farts?", "Why don't you like John Key?" and "Why don't children go to jail?" .... So. Many. Questions. If I run out of answers I do what #5 suggested and say "Why do you think it is?"
My 3 year old sister in law is at this stage currently. She likes to ask me where my husband is, as she assumes he's always with me. "Where Ryan?" "Ryan's at work" "Why?" "Ryan is making money" "Why?" "So Ryan and Liz can get food" "Nana makes dinner. Ryan eat Nana food"
Dunno if Nana would be too happy to have Ryan turn up unexpectedly to dinner because Leah said he could!
My three year old doesn't seem to ask why, and never has. Is that odd? Instead, he makes some random decleration, then when I ask why, he says 'because...'.
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