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I remember very well those days when question after question from my little ones tried my patience. My answer to one question was always followed by the proverbial 'why?'  and then 'why?' again followed by another 'why?'  I'm sure all moms know the drill.

I have to admit those questions back then used to stump me sometimes. Some had to do with science, which I never mastered in school, 'Mommy, why is the tree green?'  Some of the questions dealt with theology, where the answer I thought was right might not be, 'Mommy, why doesn't Joey wear a skirt?' and some of the questions dealt with experiences, ones which I thought they were to young to have to know about, 'Mommy, why does Mr. Tims use bad words to yell at Mrs. Tims? I used to think, man, why aren't all these questions much easier, like when do I get to eat and can I go outside? 

I have now learned that the simple questions come much later in life.  Now that my kids are all grown and living their own lives, I don't need to give them the hard answers, they did much better in Science than I and are aware of why the trees are green (something about green pigment and chlorophyll or something like that...they tell me), my son Joey has mastered his own style and his sister's have accepted that it doesn't include any skirts and all three of them have reconciled themselves to the fact that all relationships take respect and work and some people don't have the character to show respect or do the work.

Don't get me wrong, I still get questions and more questions, but these days the responses are much simpler,  the questions are about location, 'Mom, hey where can I find hazelnuts at the store?',  they are about demographics, 'Hey, Mom how old will Grandma be?' and they are about neccessity, 'Mom how long do I cook my tri-tip?'

And my response, to the last one... about 50 minutes and Dad and I will be right over!