ASSk News: Tough Questions Kids Ask
How to respond when children ask hard questions.
ASSk News is a new series where we field questions from readers and provide insightful answers. Today’s topic:
What tough questions are your kids are asking you?
I’ve collected the most popular questions and will provide my insight on how one can answer these most delicately.
Please note, while I don’t have any children of my own, I grew up choosing to watch every sitcom from the parent’s perspective; they were always the main characters to me. That to say, I definitely understand what it’s like to be a parent.
So, let’s get to the questions.
Where do we go when we die?
We?
We’re not going to die at the same time. The only way that happens is if there’s some sort of natural disaster, or if you kill me and then off yourself.
So, I don’t think we’ll have to cross that bridge.
Why is the sky blue?
Um, I think it’s because of the ocean.
Yeah, the sun bounces light off the ocean, and that sort of projects into the sky that blue color you see.
Uh, hold on. Give daddy one second please.
hey siri, why is the sky blue?
Sunlight reaches Earth's atmosphere and is scattered in all directions by all the gases and particles in the air. Blue light is scattered in all directions by the tiny molecules of air in Earth's atmosphere. Blue is scattered more than other colors because it travels as shorter, smaller waves. This is why we see a blue sky most of the time.
Oh-
It’s the particles, Bubba. The gases and the particles makes blue.
Which one of us is your favorite?
I don’t know yet.
I have to wait until your personalities develop more before I decide.
Why does grandpa look wrinkly?
That’s the mark of his sin.
He’s old, but when he was young he was a deviant. No two ways about it; his skin buckled under the weight of his misdeed.
Life is long and there are plenty of tests along the way. Grandpa failed many, but I believe you to be different.
Who’s the GOAT? Jordan or LeBron?
What?
How did you get internet access?
I think there’s a monster under my bed - can you check?
OH WHAT THE HELL?!?! I’LL KILL HIM!!
*grab closest kitchen knife*
*sprint to the bedroom*
WHERE DID YOU SAY HE IS?! UNDER THE BED?!? I SWEAR TO GOD HIS SKIN BETTER BE MADE OF A KNIFE RESISTANT HIDE-
*check under the bed*
Oh, there’s nothing here.
Bubbaaa….?
Can you come in here…..?
We need to talk about telling lies.
How did I get here?
I think you flew United.
Yeah, we picked you up from Burbank.