Do you suffer from Kid Induced Incessant Questioning?

HOW TO KICK KIIQ TO THE CURB

Written by Dr. Thornburg

Do you suffer from the parental condition known as KIIQ (pronounced ‘kick’), Kid Induced Incessant Questioning?

You may be a victim of this life altering condition if you frequently hear, “Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom?” in a single breath from one of your children who is 6 years and older.
 
This is often followed by, “Uhh. Uhh. Uhh. Uhh. (fidgeting) Uhh. Uhh. Uhh. Uhh. Oh yeah. What will the weather be like in 18 days?”
 
Or ask, “Do we have a swimming pool?” after returning from playing in the backyard where there is clearly no swimming pool and in the house you have lived in for the past five years.
 
Others may hear, “Who would win in a game between the NY Yankees and the Kentucky Derby?”
 
Other symptoms of KIIQ include nonstop knocking at your bathroom door while you are in the bathroom just to be asked once the door is opened if they (your 8 year old) can have a drink of water.

 
The perpetrator is often devilishly cute and has been known to flash dimples to disarm people.
 
Depending on your current state of mind KIIQ sufferers can experience symptoms ranging from meditative acceptance to feeling like an actual Picasso painting with its disjointed facial features and blank stares.

 
The cure is quite easy.
 
Repeat their question back to them with love and understanding. “What will be the weather in 18 days? Who would win between the Yankees and the Kentucky Derby? Can you get a glass of water?”
 
You will see a smile appear on their face as they realize their scheme of parental occupation has been revealed.

 
The reasonableness of your questions represents a method of teaching a child self-reliability and inflection. Turning the question back on the child is loving, conveys a message of ‘you got this and you are smart,’ and meets their silliness head-on.
 
So kick KIIQ to the curb like old cigarettes and replace your frustrating and energy sabotaging encounters with PEACE (Parents Expanding a Child’s Environment.)