Why?

Today Katie has reached another developmental milestone. It is one to which that I was not particularly looking forward. She has started the dreaded "Why?" phase. It is like someone flipped a switch and every single solitary thing that I said or did today, Katie asked, "Why, Momma?"

I have heard numerous stories from Rick's parents about how inquisitive Rick was as a youngster. Matter of fact he was unusually inquisitive and he wasn't happy with dumbed-down or non-technical answers. His parents ended up buying a set of encyclopedias just so when he asked a question, they could tell him to go look it up. I was hoping that the Katie Pear fell a little further from the Daddy Pear Tree on this trait, but no such luck.

Today I have had to explain why you don't talk with a mouth full of food (manners); why people don't want to see the chomped up food in your mouth (gross); why we needed to crush the soda cans (more cans fit in the recycling container if you crush them); why I was using touch-up markers on the woodwork in the dining room (to hide the scratches) and there were so many more. Right now I have the patience to give her complete explanations, but I fear that won't last and I might resort to a stock answer, such as "because that is the way God made it/them/him/her."

I can't wait for Mr. Mensa to get home so he can take over "why?" duties. And if he gets tired of it, we'll carry on the family tradition and get her a set of encyclopedias.