{Tough Questions}

Having kids is tough. Seriously tough. And you know what's crazy? There are all sorts of classes and tests that you need to take and pass before you can get your drivers license, but there is nothing, no certification or anything, to have a baby [except puberty, but let's not go there, folks]. When you're driving down the street and you come to a 4 way stop you know what to do thanks to your wonderful teacher and your dutiful studying of that little book. But when your toddler grows up and starts asking hard questions it catches me off guard and I don't always know what to say.
She has "officially" reached the "why" stage of life and everything is a question. She questions everything - which is wonderful because that's how she learns, but it's super exhausting at the same time. Sometimes we just get the "why why why?" over and over again, but sometimes we get some profound, knowledge seeking questions - and those are harder to answer.
The other day our neighbor a few doors down was smoking outside on her porch [unfortunately that's allowed....] and I told her she couldn't ride her bike outside because the lady was smoking which ensued the question "what smoking means?" How are you supposed to explain smoking so that a 2.5 year old can understand but not make your neighbor lady out to be a "bad guy"?
Today we went to Barnes and Noble to read some books and play with the trains there. When we got to the train table all we saw were tracks. "Where the trains go?" We asked one of the workers and he said that they had all been stolen. WHAT?! So sad. "Why kids take trains away?" So then I had to explain to my two year old what stealing was and that sometimes people make bad choices.
This is tough, friends! And this is just the beginning! As she grows older and experiences more disappointments and pains, I'm sure the questions will get harder to answer.
I'm grateful for the gospel and for the grounding it gives me and my family - For the spirit that helps direct my words to help my daughter gain understanding - and for the peace it gives me in this crazy world.

After walking all around town this morning Evette said, "It's been a long day, Mom. I got tired legs." and into the stroller with Miriam she went. She was so sweet and held Miriam's hand the whole way home.