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

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.

When she was 8 asked me more directly for details. I was prepared and had some books to help me walk through the process. Reading the book with her I was able to cover all the questions she may ask. I only went into more detail when she asked. What was great though was I didn't have to tell her more than she wanted to know. I think some parents pile on to many details when their kids ask them questions. For example a child may not want to know how and why the egg travels from here to there in a woman. All the child may want to know is how does the baby eat? Or does it hurt when the baby kicks you? So I followed my daughters lead not my own.

I feel comfortable now knowing that my oldest who is about to be 11 can ask me anything and I'll tell her the truth. She enjoys watching Cops with her father at night. She came to me one time asking me why some men dress up in women's clothing. She had the weirdest look on her face and I couldn't help to giggle. I told her that I really didn't know the answer but I did know that it is just something some men like do to. I am still not sure how I did with that question, but is free to ask me more questions and she knows that.

Some questions are harder to answer. She came to me one day looking upset and troubled. I asked her what was wrong. She told me she was watching a court show with her father and she heard about a woman who took off her clothes for money. I told her that some women do that. She asked me why. I explained the best I could. I told her some men enjoy seeing women do this and will pay a lot of money for it. It is a quick way for some women to make a lot of money. I also let her know that years' later though some women regret doing this.

My hardest question of all was just this week. We are studying American history in our homeschool. My daughter and I were watching the first episode of Roots. We were watching Kunta Kinte going through the man-hood test in Africa. She had some questions about the circumcision. She saw the boys lined up and a man bring out some kind of tool. I knew this was going to tough to explain. I tried my best to tell her about how this goes back to bible times & how it is still done today. Really that was all she wanted to know and I was thankful about that.

I believe that honesty is the best with children. I want them to know what they can ask me anything and I will be truthful. Sometimes my oldest will ask me a question and I'll ask her before I answer if she really wants to know. Sometimes she says yes and other times no. But at least she knows she will get the truth.

Here are some resources to help you answer your child's toughest questions. Some I have used these with my children.

1. Where do babies come from? - The Story of Me (Ages 3 to 5), Before I Was Born (Ages 5 to 8) & What's the Big Deal? Why God Cares About Sex (Ages 8 to 11) by By: Stan Jones, Brenna Jones

2. What are thunder and lighting? - Thunder and Lightning: They're Not So Frightening by JD Schmith , Weather coloring books for kids online at: http://weather.about.com/od/lessonplanselementary/qt/coloringbooks.htm

3. Questions about death- I Miss You: A First Look At Death by Pat Thomas and Leslie Harker, When Dinosaurs Die: A Guide to Understanding Death (Dino Life Guides for Families) by Laurie Krasny Brown and Marc Brown

4. Books that answer everything (well almost everything) - Questions Children Ask by Miriam Stoppard, How to Talk to Your Kids About Really Important Things: Specific Questions and Answers and Useful Things to Say by Charles E. Schaefer, 801 Questions Kids Ask about God by by Anisa Baker,

5. Use the internet to find answers - I have found some of the best answers to my questions on Yahoo! Answers. You can submit a question and you most likely get an answer very quickly. I find it very helpful when you are stuck at answering your own child's questions.

Please keep in mind is keep your answers simple and to be honest.

Still wondering why water forms on the outside of a cup with something cold inside? The humidity (the water in the air) condenses on the cup. It's called condensation. Condensation: deposition of a liquid or a solid from its vapor, generally upon a surface that is cooler than the adjacent gas. A substance condenses when the pressure exerted by its vapor exceeds the vapor pressure of the liquid or solid phase of the substance at the temperature of the surface where condensation occurs. Heat is released when a vapor condenses.

Hmm, I don't know maybe after reading that answer I like the idea that the cup is sweating? What do you think?