When your kid asks a question you don’t know how to answer
Learn how to answer kids’ difficult questions with honesty, confidence, and age-appropriate responses while keeping communication open.
These questions always seem to come at the most inconvenient times: while you’re driving, getting ready for bed, or rushing through the grocery store. They show up out of nowhere, and your child always means them sincerely.
“Do people die when they’re asleep?” “Where do babies come from?” “Why did God let grandpa get sick?” “What do you feel: a sudden jolt of panic; then your mind races: How much should I say? How do I say it? Am I going to mess this up? What if I say the wrong thing, or too much, or not enough? And why is this happening right now in the cereal aisle? And if I say too little, why is this happening now in the cereal aisle?
The good news is that your answer doesn’t have to be perfect. Expecting perfection only makes these moments harder. What your child really needs is much simpler and much more achievable than a flawless answer.