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June 16, 2008
We Talked Too Much
There’s no polite way to say it. Porter, one of my nine-year-olds, talks too damn much. He narrates his actions as if I’m blind and can’t see what he’s doing. “I’m going to make an omelet with ham and eggs,” he’ll say, pulling the eggs and butter out of the refrigerator. “First I’ll mix up the eggs and scramble them,” he’ll continue, as he cracks the eggs into a bowl. “Now I’m waiting for the cheese to melt a little. Is it melted? It looks kind of oozy…”
I’ve learned to ignore most of the running commentary. But Porter’s also exceptionally curious, and his questions would drive even the most enthusiastic teacher to the brink of insanity.
“What would happen if the sky fell? What Mom?”
“The sky isn’t going to fall, Porter,” I’ll say tiredly.
“But what if it did? Just say it did? Would you feel it hit your head? If you looked up, would you see blue? Would the clouds fall, too? Would we be able to see straight into heaven?”
It had been a hot and dreary day. I’d been juggling Finn’s baseball schedule and trying to mark Drew’s clothes for camp. In between, Porter had followed me around, asking, “How many seeds do you think fit in Feather’s bird feeder at one time? Why do we have grandparents? What would happen if we didn’t? Who invented summer camp?”
By dinner I was spent. I could feel the symptoms of PMS creeping up on me like a cagey leopard. Across the table I saw Finn wielding his fork with surgical skill to extract the onions from the Bowties With Peas & Prosciutto I had prepared.
“Dude, just eat it all in one bite,” I snapped.
“I can’t eat onions,” he whined. “They’re like, really nasty.”
“They’re not nasty,” Porter said, stuffing a quarter of an onion into his mouth and chewing. “They’re actually quite delicious. What makes onions so delicious, Mom? And why can’t you eat the skin? Why do they make you cry when you cut them? What if everything tasted like onions—do you think Finn would starve?”
I slid my chair back abruptly and stood up. “I can’t take it anymore,” I said. “The questions, the criticism of my food, it’s all too much.” I looked at Bill. “Honey, y’all take care of this kitchen. I’m going to bed to read.”
I had barely taken a step when Porter asked, “What are you going to read? Can I read with you? If I bring a book, will you read to me?”
I was shaking. I got in his face and yelled, “Porter, if you want to continue to live in this house, The Questions Have Got To Stop.”
Then I got in bed and wept, over my picky eater, over my nutty schedule, over my cruel remark.
A while later Porter tiptoed in my room and handed me a piece of paper. It contained one last question:
It was nice to be forgiven.
****************************
Two years ago in My Tiny Kingdom: The Dirtiest Camper
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June 16th, 2008 at 6:55 pm, Linda Says:
You have made me see the future with my Baby A. She is only 4, but I’ve already had this experience dozens of times. Too funny.
Linda’s last blog post..Grieving: More on the Practical Side
June 16th, 2008 at 7:24 pm, Christine Says:
Hidden in every question that drives me crazy is the hope that there is a sweet one in there too. You just helped me keep hoping
Christine’s last blog post..It’s A ……
June 16th, 2008 at 7:54 pm, Susan@stopcallingmethat Says:
Beautifully written!! Two of my favorite questions from my oldest when he was about four were, “Do ants have bones?” and the piece de resistance, “Why don’t girls poot?”
Susan@stopcallingmethat’s last blog post..The Things You Can Learn on a Field Trip
June 16th, 2008 at 8:23 pm, Michelle@Life with Three Says:
What a great post — it made me laugh out loud! I’ve got a child who loves to ask questions, too. You’re right. It can drive you batty.
Michelle@Life with Three’s last blog post..Everyone Has Momentary Lapses in Judgement; Here’s My Biggest
June 16th, 2008 at 8:46 pm, kristen Says:
when I worked in day care one of the little monkeys asked me very earnestly: “What does ‘is’ mean?”
Try answering that with out using the word ‘is’.
kristen’s last blog post..Monday Review
June 16th, 2008 at 8:49 pm, Headless Mom Says:
My 8yo talks constantly, usually about Pokemon. I feel this way DAILY.
No wonder we can’t wait for BlogHer!
Headless Mom’s last blog post..Are you ready…
June 16th, 2008 at 9:20 pm, mandy Says:
Awww, I am sorry you are feelin it. I can relate.
It will all be better tomorrow.
What a sweet note!
mandy’s last blog post..A Father’s love for his son…
June 16th, 2008 at 10:25 pm, Liz Says:
Many hugs.
You need to buy that boy an Oxford American Dictionary. Then, when he asks a question, you can say, “You have a dictionary, Porter. Look it up!”
Liz’s last blog post..The Horror! The HORROR!
June 16th, 2008 at 10:27 pm, child's play Says:
That note!
The good thing about curious kids is…it’s hard to squelch their enthusiasm. Luckily.
This reminds me of the line in Shrek, “He’s the talking-est damn donkey that you ever saw…”
I’ve got a question asker, who is 8 and who I now routinely direct to google. Google never gets overloaded with questions.
child’s play’s last blog post..Camp Highlight
June 16th, 2008 at 11:16 pm, Kila Says:
Awww… Be sure to keep that piece of paper.
People have said of my oldest boy, “Does he ever stop talking?” He didn’t start talking until he was over 3! Once he started, he never stopped!
Kila’s last blog post..Monday stuff… After the flood…
June 17th, 2008 at 12:21 am, Sam Says:
I have completely been there. Just at the end of your rope, you lose it at them, and then…
…without knowing it…
…they turn the other cheek. And you’re humbled. And ashamed. And sorry. And full of love.
Until the next time…
June 17th, 2008 at 12:27 am, MamaD4 Says:
Just the post I needed today…I didn’t snap because of incessant questions, though I also deal with that on a daily basis. I snapped because my preschooler was dawdling when we caught out in the rain. I just couldn’t get him to shake a leg, God it drove me nuts!
The worst part is dealing with the guilt at getting angry over something that seemed so important and annoying at the time, but later on, you realize was probably not that big of a deal.
Luckily, our kids have short term memory defiencies and big hearts!
MamaD4’s last blog post..The Long Ride
June 17th, 2008 at 12:39 am, Erin Says:
We all snap sometimes. Their readily forgiving nature is also too much sometimes. It actually ADDS to the guilt. Hope you’re feeling like yourself by now.
June 17th, 2008 at 3:31 am, Charlie on the PA Tpk Says:
What your reaction shows is your human (and I daresay, able to withstand many more questions that I am capable of before I would have ended the questions).
And what Porter’s note shows is that he’s learned from his mistake.
All in all, not bad. Not bad at all.
Charlie on the PA Tpk’s last blog post..It must be Monday
June 17th, 2008 at 6:36 am, Karen Says:
I remember and really, really, really, really, REALLY miss those days. Now that my youngest is 16, I’m lucky if I get more than 3 word answers to any questions. I know it’s hard, but hang on to these days. They’ll be gone in the blink of an eye.
Beautiful writing and beautiful child!
Karen’s last blog post..The Summer of My Discontent
June 17th, 2008 at 7:41 am, Joy East of theKingdom Says:
Bless Your Heart!
Just remember, it’s when they STOP talking that the trouble begins.
Enjoy it while it lasts…
(Mother of 3 teens…19,14,13)
Joy East of theKingdom’s last blog post..Oh no…I’ve been “Tagged”
June 17th, 2008 at 7:55 am, Soccer Dad Says:
Ooooh Mom Guilt!
Dad’s do it too. We’ve all lost it when they’re being especially annoying in their cute adorable way. My daughter is the ace of being an absolute wench with attitude and when I finally lose it I get the note of contrition that she’s such a horrible person and is so sorry, etc, etc. Love her to death but if we could just spare the drama, there’d be no need for notes! 
Great post!
June 17th, 2008 at 8:02 am, Queen of Shake Shake Says:
Your 9 year old makes his own omelet? Holy cow, I’m only a little over a year from free slave labor! Woohoo!
I know what you mean by the endless questions. They NEVER! STOP! I have to bite back ugly remarks a lot. And sometimes I don’t bite them but let them fly. Then I feel about 3″ tall.
Queen of Shake Shake’s last blog post..What Advertising Asshole Thought This One Up?
June 17th, 2008 at 8:32 am, Charro Says:
That is sooo sweet! I would frame that note and put it somewhere you can see everyday to remind you that it is all ok.
June 17th, 2008 at 8:45 am, Rebecca Says:
First, GOSH YOUR BOY IS CUTE!!
And second? My 12 (this week!) yr old is another Question Boy. He mostly asks absurd “What if” questions… kind of along the lines of Porter’s “what if the sky fell” question… only HIS made more sense than the ones my boy asks. And he won’t take “I don’t know” or “that won’t happen” for an answer. He genuinely wants me to come up with a response.
Yeah, totally identify with your frustration. BTDT, but thankfully, they *do* always forgive, don’t they.
Rebecca’s last blog post..One more
June 17th, 2008 at 8:52 am, Lauren Says:
Now, that is really sweet!
Lauren’s last blog post..Small but Mighty
June 17th, 2008 at 10:36 am, Karin Says:
As a couple of people commented above, you will tear out your hair when you have to ask all the questions. “How was your day at school? Fine. What did you do today? Nothing.”
Thanks for the recipe reminder, I was just trying to figure out the answer for the upcoming question “What’s for supper?”
June 17th, 2008 at 10:48 am, Toni-EvinNRobsMom Says:
That was too funny!! My 8 y/o does that also-”Mom what’s for dinner?” “Mom, what are you going to do?” “Mom, where’s (enter name of annoying toy here)?”
I then look at my S.O. and say “Hey-remember when Robert couldn’t talk??”
He didn’t start talking til he was 4 or 5…now we can’t get him to stop!!
June 17th, 2008 at 12:35 pm, joanne Says:
It sounds like Porter is getting ready for his own cooking show someday.
joanne’s last blog post..Too much going on
June 17th, 2008 at 12:42 pm, Tana Says:
My almost-five-year-old can’t put the silverware away without having a conversation with each piece about what it is. Is this the big spoon or a little spoon? …the big fork or the little fork? And I only showed him that way once. They wanted to give him speech therapy at age 2 because he wasn’t saying enough words. We refused at the time, but if those speech therapists had a way to get them to shut up, I’d be first in line, signin’ my kids up for therapy.
June 17th, 2008 at 1:33 pm, Katrina Says:
I just had my own tantrum yesterday, so I can totally relate! Having my nine year old, Katie, home for the summer is a whole new kind of wear and tear on my nerves as she talks incessantly of various video games and, yes, asks about a million questions.
I’m always heartily ashamed of myself when I finally fly off the handle, especially given that I can feel it building up well before it happens and, hypothetically, as an adult, should be able to short circuit the response somehow.
Maybe I should give myself a time out.
Katrina’s last blog post..Borrowed Bliss
June 17th, 2008 at 2:58 pm, jen Says:
Sounds like my house…except one asks questions non-stop and I can understand him, and the other asks questions non-stop and has enough of a speech delay that he can be tough to understand. If I’m not actively following what he’s saying, I have a snowball’s chance of figuring out what he’s talking about. These two are exhausting.
jen’s last blog post..I totally stole this…’cause she told me to…
June 17th, 2008 at 10:26 pm, Vanessa Says:
The questions just keep on coming. It gets very overwhelming but every once in a while you get a gem of a question that makes it all worth it.
Vanessa’s last blog post..Writing Motherhood Giveaway & Book Club
June 18th, 2008 at 3:26 am, Tara@From Dawn Till Rusk Says:
I totally feel your pain!
It’s the “. . . but mummy” after every answer you give that gets me. NO buts. What I say is the TRUTH. Full stop. Underline. Double underline.
June 18th, 2008 at 8:15 am, karyn Says:
I love it.
Because I can relate to it. RainMan here doesn’t stop with the questions either, but his thinking is so divergent that I can hardly keep up with the rapid fire and the sudden change of direction his questions take. I start giving bogus answers.
This post made me tear up a little… because it reminds me that it’s not happening just to me.
BTW? I think the kid is a bloody genius. And you’re still my hero.
karyn’s last blog post..I Write The Songs
June 18th, 2008 at 12:00 pm, Lisa Says:
That was so sweet it made me want to cry. He’s a precious little thing, even if he does talk you to death. Reminds of when I was a kid and would come home and talk non-stop to my mom. She would say, “Didn’t anybody let you talk today?” while holding her head in her hands. I would stop long enough to grin and get right back into it.
Maybe you could get a set of encyclopedias (the real thing, not the net) for him to read. I would become totally engrossed with a volume at a time…and now know lots of random stuff.
June 18th, 2008 at 2:58 pm, Jennifer, Playgroups are no place for children Says:
I think this is Carson. He already asks questions non-stop.
I mean, I’m glad he’s curious and all, but COME ON! It’s driving me insane!
Jennifer, Playgroups are no place for children’s last blog post..Preserving the moment so that in ten years when he’s in trouble for throwing mud on a little kid, I’ll remember a time when he was truly sweet
June 18th, 2008 at 8:09 pm, LeeAnn (FrazzMom) Says:
I have a son who is a verbal processor too. The running commentary can drive you crazy although it could work to my advantage sometimes too… Especially when I heard things like “I’m going to kick sister. I’ll kick her hard!” over a baby moniter. I swear he thought I could ready his mind when I yelled at him before he carried it out!
LeeAnn (FrazzMom)’s last blog post..There’s no place like home(town)
June 19th, 2008 at 9:05 am, Cassie Says:
I live with that child everyday, 24 7. It’s not just you, we often joke that our son could make the pope drink, and honestly he could. But Porter’s questions are insanely easy compared to what I get. I promptly tell my son to leave the room for 20 minutes, and ponder the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, then come back to me. PMS hugs!
June 19th, 2008 at 4:57 pm, Heidi Says:
Except that Finn is totally right about onions. They are completely nasty. And seriously getting a bite of one when you believe they’re nasty will ruin the whole meal.
(It’s not like getting a pea in your bite when you don’t like peas. Onions hang around, and even onion lovers can’t deny that.)
June 26th, 2008 at 7:19 pm, My Tiny Kingdom » A Little Bit of Everything Says:
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September 3rd, 2008 at 11:08 am, pligg.com Says:
We Talked Too Much…
“Is there a floor in mud?” “How much does a giraffe’s head weigh?”
We’ve all dealt with the child who asks endless questions– what happens when Mom runs out of answers?…