I distinctly remember as a kid growing up that when my mom would ask me a question, she would ask it like 12 times before she actually heard the answer. I would get so annoyed by her asking me the same thing again and again and again. Usually by the third or forth time she asked me, I would go up to her, grab her face and make her listen to me.
I hated that she did this. I just didn’t understand why she didn’t listen to the answer. When I questioned her about this, she used to always say that it was because that she has moved onto the next thing. I never understood her answer. How could she have moved onto the next thing when she didn’t even have my answer?
This used to puzzle and annoy me. I just didn’t understand what she meant and why she would always do this.
Until now.
Now, I totally get it. I know exactly why she never heard my answer. It probably has something to do with the way the mind of a mother works.
I walked over to give Jake is breakfast and I asked him if he wants a banana. I turned around and walked back to get him that banana, without hearing the answer as to if he really does, when I saw the laundry room and remembered the loads in the washer and dryer. I walked in the room, and saw the mail that needed to be put away in the kitchen. I walked the mail to the kitchen, saw Jake and asked him if he wanted a banana. I walked to get the banana and saw that the coffee was not made. I went and made the coffee, when I remembered that I did not bring down the milk cups the kids had from last night. As I came downstairs, I saw Jake and asked if he wanted a banana then I saw the dirty towels on the counter and I remember about the laundry waiting for me. As I walked to the laundry room, I saw the computer and wanted to check my email. While reading my email, I smelled the coffee and as I went to pour a cup, I saw the towels. I went to the laundry room to switched loads and took the dry one to spread out on my bed to be folded. I walked back to the kitchen and tripped over a couple toys and thought about how I really need to organize the toys. The I heard Jake talking away while eating his breakfast and I realized I didn’t know if he actually wanted a banana or not.
Then it hit me, I was just like my mom. I had asked Jake a question but I never took the time to actually listen to the answer. Jake didn’t care but it annoyed me. So I stopped asked my question and actually listened to his answer.
Well, I tried to listen to the answer. But if you have ever talked to a 2 year old, you know they are not the quickest people. But I willed myself to stay focused even though, I heard the buzz of the dryer, the ding of a new email and I heard a child playing in the toilet.
