Grandpa, why is the ocean blue? Mom, why do I have to go to bed at 7:30? Nana, why do you have big disposable diapers in the bathroom cabinet? Dad, why do you snore?
Sound familiar? If you have been or are a parent or a grandparent of a toddler, it’s a sure bet that you have heard that three letter question repeatedly. WHY?
According to riseandshine.childrensnational.org, children start asking that question around ages 2 and 3 and continue into ages 4 and 5. Asking why is a sign of curiosity and a desire “to understand the world around them.” Understanding can help increase a child’s “security and confidence.” Well, I guess it feels a little less annoying when I hear those reasons and think about why they’re asking. The organization suggests a replacement for the repetitive “why”? Teaching the child to say “Tell me more about…” can help when we don’t know how to respond to why or when one why follows another follows another follows another. This suggestion makes sense. Children ask questions to learn, as do adults. Once again, let the children lead the way.
At my Weight Watchers studio meeting on Friday, we explored “why.” What are the reasons we are on this wellness journey? Why we are involved with WW? We were encouraged to drill down.
My drilling down follows.
Why did I become involved with WW? I want to lose weight.
Why do I want to lose weight? I want to be healthier and to lower my A1C (a three-month measure of blood glucose levels).
Why do I want to lower my A1C? I want to decrease the amount of insulin I’m taking (tablets and injections).
Why do I want to decrease the insulin I’m taking? It’s expensive and side effects can be nasty.
We were encouraged to answer our “why” specifically and to write it on a sticky note to post where we can see it often; or if we want to keep it private, put it in a notes app on our phone. I will write mine on a sticky note and post it on the fridge next to my favorite Bible verse, Philippians 4:6-7.
I have decided I need to ask myself that “why” question more often regarding life in general. Why should we convert the three-season room to an all-season room? Why should we pay to have professionals trim Java’s toenails? (Our chocolate lab could answer that one.) Why should we wait to purchase a new camper? I’ll drill down and figure out those issues.
I have been asking why a lot lately about some serious matters. You probably have too.
Why are the terms of legislators and Supreme Court justices not limited? Why is a president limited to two four-year terms, but members of the Senate and the House of Representatives can serve for life, for as long as they choose and are elected to serve? And why do justices of the Supreme Court serve for the rest of their lives if they so choose? If we were smart enough to limit the term that presidents serve to two four-year terms, are we not smart enough to recognize the need to limit the others’ terms?
A proposed amendment to the Constitution suggests Senators be limited to no more than two full terms (12 years) and House members limited to service of no more than six terms (12 years). I’m all for that. I did some math — 39 of our 100 senators (39 percent) began their service in 2010 or prior; 74 of our 435 Representatives (17 percent) began their service in 2010 or prior. Eighteen Senators have served two decades or longer. Thirty-three Representatives have served for more than two decades. What do you think about congressional term limits?
And what about the Supreme Court? Why are justices permitted to serve for life? Once confirmed, they serve until they die, resign, retire, or are impeached. A proposed amendment establishes staggered 18-year terms for Supreme Court justices. It also requires the president to appoint a Supreme Court justice every two years. I don’t have a problem with that. Do you? I’m really tired of the politics involved in Supreme Court appointments and confirmations. Currently five of our Justices have served between one and 13 years; two have served for 16; and two have served for more than 27 years, one of whom is retiring.
And why do we have nine Supreme Court Justices? We’ve had nine since 1869. Before then the number varied between five and 10. I know it’s not wise to have an even number, so let’s go for 11 (which happens to be my favorite number). If two heads are better than one, certainly eleven heads are better than nine. And I know there is room for another chair on both sides of Chief Justice John Roberts.
I am bombarded daily with vexing “why” questions. Why do we permit large donations to campaigns of individuals running for office, many of those donations cloaked in secrecy? Why do we give so much power to lobbyists? Why do a gun lobby, an oil lobby, and a pharmaceutical lobby even exist? And why, for crying out loud, can we not put an end to or at least drastically curtail or even acknowledge the gun violence for which the United States of America is so well known?
Here’s the Thing: If asking “why” helps toddlers better understand the world around them, shouldn’t it also help us understand our world, too, help us gain greater clarity? I don’t argue that hearing “why” repeatedly can be exasperating, but that question is not nearly as maddening as the idea that we don’t deal with the “why” questions that need to be addressed, that need honest answers. Maybe we adults could change our approach when we seek those honest answers from family, friends, neighbors, and legislators. How about we begin our inquiries as to why someone thinks or believes what he does with a simple “tell me more about…” and let the children lead the way.
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Editor’s Note: This is one of a series of articles written by a group of retired teachers — Ken Ballinger, Billy Kreigh, Marianne Darr-Norman, and Anna Spalding. Their intent is to spur discussions at the dinner table and elsewhere. You may also voice your thoughts and reactions via The News-Banner’s letters to editor.
