They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different result each time. If that's the case, then Connor is most definitely insane. He asks me the same two questions multiple times on the ride to and from school, apparently unsatisfied with the only answer he's ever going to get.
For the most part, the conversation goes like this:
(Stopped at a red light)
Connor: Why are we just sitting here!?!?!?!?!
Me: Well, Connor, we're sitting here because the light is red. It turns red to let us know to stop so those other people can go, and there won't be any (as many) wrecks.
Connor: Mom! The light is greeeeeeennnn! Why aren't you gooooiiiing?!?!?!?!
Me: Connor, the reason we're not going, even though the light is green, is because the cars in front of us have to go first. There's a lot of traffic, and we have to wait on that traffic to move before we can. If I tried to go right now, we would hit the car in front of us and have a wreck and we might get hurt. So we have to wait our turn.
At least that's the way it goes the first time we have it on any given car ride. (Time out: Did I mention that each weekday we spend at least an hour together in the car? Because that's pretty important.) The next time I get the "we're just sitting here" question, I go ahead and try to head off the rest of the conversation by saying it all at once. "Connorwehavetostopwhenthelightturnsredandthenwehavetowaitonthelighttoturn greenandforalltheothercarstogobeforewecangothatwaywewonthaveawreckokay?" Connor usually accepts that. At least until the light turns green. "Mommy! The light is greeeen! Gooooooooooooooo!"
The next stop light becomes a little more aggressive:
Connor: Mommy! Why are we sitting here for sooooo looong!? Go NOW!
Me: Connor! We are sitting here because I know how to drive and you don't! Stop questioning me!
By the time we get to his school, we have decended into:
Connor: MOMMY! YOU NEED TO GO! STOP SITTING HERE AND TURN THAT WAAAAAY!!!
Me: Connor! You are being very disrespectful! You do not tell adults what to do, and you especially are not to tell me how to drive! Do you really think if I went right now that I wouldn't just run into the car in front of us? Quitbeinguglyandstoptellingmehowtodrive!!!
I don't get it- I tell him the same thing every time! Why doesn't he just listen to me?
4 comments:
So what makes you think my car rides with him aren't EXACTLY like that?
Yes, but twice a day? I think you leave after us and get home before us, so I don't wanna hear it.
couldn't you have asked her that in person?
Hi Stephanie---I went to high school with Chip in Nashville, and I would love to email, but I'm not sure how to contact him. My email address is eudailey@bellsouth.net....I was Melissa Hendon during high school. I'm fascinated by your blog...I have a son who is 3 1/2 and a daughter who is 15 months, so I can feel your pain!! Thanks so much--melissa
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