INQUISITIVE MINDS

Few months ago, a close friend jovially complained of how her daughter was wearing her out with her constant calls of “mummy”. she spoke of how her daughter would call “mummy” at the slightest instance and how tiring it could be most times. My response to her was “I can’t wait for mine to start calling me mummy”, as mine could only call “daddy”. For real, I thought I was missing out on the “mummy calling” phase of motherhood. I know you all can relate with the feeling of missing out on “something” that you are yet to experience.

When I finished my first degree and was waiting to be called up for the National Service (NYSC), I was really impatient. I felt I was missing out on something. If it was in my power, I could have fast tracked it. After the National service, I was longing to start work, especially when my friends and mates were already gainfully employed; I also felt I was missing out on “something”. Then came marriage, getting pregnant, raising a child, looking out for milestones to be achieved….. the list is endless. This feeling leaves one living in anticipation of “something”…

And so on Friday, my 30 months old woke up a little earlier than usual (5.45am) and followed me round the house as I carried out my morning routine. At every instance, she would call out, “mummy what are you doing? I ran the tap to brush my teeth – mummy are you brushing? Mummy I want my brush. On entering the bathtub to shower – mummy are you bathing? Mummy I want to bath. On getting the towel to clean myself – mummy is that your towel? Mummy are you going out? Mummy is Dara (her sister who is still asleep) sleeping? Mummy …… and the mummy song continued till I left the house.

As I drove to work, I recalled the conversation I had with my friend and could now relate with what she complained about a few months ago. This early morning question and answer session was not an easy one, it can really wear one out. In all honesty, this morning’s episode is small compared to the constant “mummy this and mummy that” I get every evening when I get home. It continues till sleep shuts her off. The flip side of this inquisitiveness in children is that it helps them learn and pronounce new words, objects, animals and actions. They also learn to make simple but correct sentence in a comfortable pace. This particular learning process requires a lot of patience though, a parent whose patience is thin from a stressful day will lose her cool from all the badgering!!

Raising children require a great deal of patience and hard work. Last week, after a hard day’s work, my hubby dozed off in front of the television while watching a programme. Our 30 months old who saw him stretched out on the settee tapped him and when she was certain that he was awake, asked – “daddy are you sleeping?” Imagine!

These questions are sometimes hilarious, and other times tiring and annoying. Irrespective of the state we may be, let’s know that the patience invested in answering the questions and most often correcting the words and tenses will pay off when these little ones display excellent  use of words. More so, beautifully describing the activities and actions in their environment.

When next ,you are called “mummy or daddy” a hundred times and badgered with questions that takes the breathe off you, take a deep breathe, answer and anticipate the next question!! It’s all part of the plan!