Asking the same questions over and over

United States
June 6, 2009 11:17am CST
Do your kids ask questions that their sibling has just asked? Mine are terrible for this! The older 3 just decided they wanted to go outside. They each came up to me 1 at a time "Can we go out?" I say yes, the next one comes up, "Can we go out?" I say yes, the next one comes up.... I mean really, can't the first of you just tell the other 2 that I said yes? They do this for everything. If they want a candy after lunch each of them will ask seperatly. Even the 3 year old has jumped on the bandwagon and will come to me asking the same question they asked, although he normally doesn't even know what he's asking, he just wants to be like his big brothers and sister!
7 responses
• United States
6 Jun 09
You should just explain it to them that you don't like it when they do that. Tell them they should ask together and that would be better by not wasting their time or yours. They'll understand if you try talking to them about it.
• United States
6 Jun 09
It's not really a big deal, it's not that I don't like it or that it's a waste of time. I just notice that this is something they do, it's sort of funny when you think about it.
• United States
6 Jun 09
Okay. But if you ever have a problem with something they do, you should talk to them about it when they first start doing that so it doesnt become a habit. If you think that it will not be a problem ever, then you should just let it be.
• Canada
9 Jun 09
My older two do this all the time. Even when they know the answer, they still ask. It drives me up the wall. If knowing the answer is not bad enough, they'll ask me a question and after I answer it they will go and ask their dad the same question to get the same answer...it is extremely maddening and often I get very irritated and tend to lose my cool. Then they get upset because mom is yelling...blah, blah, blah...ongoing cycle that happens every single day. On the other hand, if it didn't happen, I would probably miss being asked ;)
• United States
9 Jun 09
Yeah, you're right, because after I started this discussion it dawned on me that it used to be only 1 child would ask and they'd all assume my answer was meant for each of them. Now when it comes to something like a dessert or treat, my answer would normally be different per child, so I started to tell them that they each have to ask seperatly. So this is why they each ask seperatly for everything! I've created monsters, lol.
@ravinskye (8237)
• United States
6 Jun 09
Mine do the same thing but usually it is questions I already said no to. My oldest will ask me for something and if I tell her no she will go in the room and get her sister to ask me for it. Sometimes I think she sets her up to get yelled at because she knows if I keep getting asked the same question I get upset. My oldest is also good for asking over and over again when she hears no the first time around. It drives me crazy.
• United States
6 Jun 09
Yeah, I can hear mine whispering in the other room "What did she say?" "Did you ask for this?" "No, you go ask!"
@Karpov (68)
• Australia
11 Jun 09
Next time, when they are playing, could you please stand behind them, watching them? And try to count the times of their repetitive behaviour. Maria Montessori has observed that a girl can repeat her practice for over 40 times! Doing so, they can have their abilities of hands, languages, etc, well-built. In the theory of Montessori, children have an 'spiritual embryo' and since they were born they will use all means to explore the world. Indeed they may not really know what they are asking or doing. They asked you the same sentence, just for practice. They are practising their abilities to use grammar and vocabularies. Additionally, children all have a need for love. They kept asking that they were trying to know what they were in your mind and, whether you really love them. Actually, the question and criteria of love is not really that easy to answer with. Be patient with your children, if you really love them.
@jayrene (2708)
• Philippines
6 Jun 09
lol... really cute and funny..never experienced those with my kids, since they have 5 years age gap... when ever one comes to me and ask something, each one says it like this 'mommy can I go out?' then when the one that asked goes out the other one will come and say 'can i go out too?'... same thing with food. sometimes if the oldest one ask i just say ok bring your brother out too... lol do you think your kids have a conspiracy or something..?
• United States
6 Jun 09
Maybe they do. There is a 5 year age gap between the oldest and the twins, then a 3 year age gap between the twins and the toddler... but they still do this. Sometimes they will do the "Can I go too.." But I just thought I had it all covered when the first one said "WE" and I said yes.
• India
11 Jun 09
i dont know its correct or not what i think is that there is no proper communication and togetherness between them why i think so means see we arev two children for my mom and believe me really we are very close to each other .when we are close obviously we would love to stay together then the child will come and ask"can we go out" but not "can i go out".if this happens really it means that ur children love each other and trust me i will be really enjoy them seeing together so what i say is let them develop love among themselves trust me it really gonna work
@zackn87 (345)
• United States
6 Jun 09
I guess kids just like to make sure of things...alot...lol