Questions I find hard to answer
Jul 21st, 2008 by learningumbrella
I had a chemistry professor once tell me that studying science was a progressive discovery of all the lies you’ve been told along the way. That, basically, to simplify things so that most people/kids can understand them, bits of the real truth have to get left out. That idea really stuck with me, and I’ve always wanted to be able to present as much of the truth as I understood to my kids from the very beginning, while being honest about what was too complicated or “weird” to get into.
And I’ve tried, even as people roll their eyes while I launch into some complicated explanation of electrons or molecular bonding with a two year old. The result? A child that comes up to me this morning (before I’ve had any coffee, too) and says he “doesn’t understand time” and “does it have anything to do with electrons?” and “can you explain to me exactly how time works, Mommy?” Now that was a headache-causing discussion!
Yesterday it was “would something that couldn’t get flat still get trapped inside a black hole?”. That question led to a discussion of just what he thought “couldn’t get flat”, which led to a discussion of 2 dimensions versus 3 dimensions and how “even a flag” or “even a piece of paper” still is 3D. I guess I should have been prepared for him to bring up the 4th dimension today! 
Seriously, though, have I created a monster? Or are all kids like this anyway?
It tells me that you are raising a thinking child.
Something I’ve been thinking about lately.
Kids that age notoriously ask quite difficult philosophical questions. I think your kids are normal. they are just getting better answers
Yup you’ve created a monster. *LOL* I think kids this age do typically ask tough questions, but you seem to have nurtured a child who questions on an even deeper level in many respects. Kudos to you!
http://tribeof3feistykids.blogspot.com/
I love this post, and your straightforward approach to teaching your children. It’s really a joy to share in your journey.