One of
the very difficult things I face on a regular basis is answering Bobby’s many
questions. They are not the usual questions that you might expect from a child
whose father died – “Why did Daddy die?” or “Is Daddy in Heaven?” I think I could
answer those. I could probably even answer “Why is the sky blue?”
Lately
though, his questions have to be answered with a firm response. And when I say
firm, I mean almost mean! He constantly questions my rules. He always seems to
think his plan is better.
At what
point does it become okay to say “Because
I said so!”? That’s one of those answers you never want to give your child
because you should always have a reason but there are times where I’m
questioned and shouldn’t be questioned on my reasons – it should just be “Because I said so!”
I don’t
know that I want to become that Mother who demands complete obedience without
questions. I mean aren’t there times where it should be a “teachable moment?” For
example, don’t touch the hot stove because you will get burned. Or you need to
take a shower everyday so that you don’t stink up to high heaven and your
friends refuse to even talk to you because you smell so bad. However, some
rules are rules because they are rules, right? For example, clean up your room
or turn off the TV.
Sometimes
I do want to explain to him my reasons. Sometimes I want things done because I want
them done and that should be good enough. Sometimes I am the parent and that’s
why. But maybe sometimes I could just say “Because
I said so!”
