Kids Wonder About the Darnest Things! - How I Answer My Kids Toughest Questions

As a homeschooling mom I am at home with my children all day long & all night long too. I try my best to answer their questions honestly.

I remember the first time I came across a mom who taught me this. She was a former elementary school teacher and I baby sat her little girl. One day as her mom was about to run out the door the little asked her mom why the outside of her cup was wet. I told her what my mom always told me, "Your cup is sweating." Her mom laughed and went on to explain the exact reason in details. I thought she was a little crazy and that a 3yr old would have no idea what she was saying. But I was only 17 at the time so what did I know.

After I had my own kids one of the first tough questions my daughter asked me was about thunder. She was terrified of thunder as I had been when I little. I think maybe she was around 5 or so at time and I was tempted to just say what my grandmother told me. My grandmother use to tell me stories about the devil beating his wife with a frying pan. I must say the picture of didn't give me much comfort. I liked my mom's stories about angels bowling up in Heaven much better than the devil beating his wife. So I was a little confused on what to tell my little girl. Should I tell her the truth or a sweet little story that may bring her comfort?

I decided to do both. I told her the story my mom told me. Then we got books from the library with good photos for her to see how thunder was creative. This seemed to help her fears. She is almost 11 now and really into weather. She loves going on the web to keep up with the current weather, checking radars and lets us know if we will have rain or not.

Another time came when I was expecting my third child. She asked me how the baby got inside me. I admit I panicked. She was only 6 and I didn't want to tell her too much. But I also didn't want to say the stork brought the baby. I just told her God put the baby there and it was growing inside my tummy. Then I got some books written for children that explained in it in a child friendly way. This worked for awhile.