But, why?

Around 12:30 yesterday afternoon, the preschooler officially entered the "Why?" stage.

I'd just put the toddler down for her nap and the preschooler and I were working on a jigsaw puzzle. She wanted to have a drink of milk and I told her she'd have to keep the cup away from the puzzle.

"Why?" she asked me.

"Because I don't want it to spill on the puzzle," I told her. "It would 'break' it."

"Why?"

"Because the milk would soak into the pieces and they'd get yucky."

"Why?"

"Um, well, because they're made of cardboard, which is paper, and paper soaks up liquid."

"Why?"

That was when I realized what was happening. Sure enough, every conversation I've had with her since then has been dominated by that word.

At the moment I'm finding it a little tiring, but amusing and it's reassuring to see her development moving right along. I can see that it's going to start getting less amusing at some time in the future, though. Oh, well. My mom put up with me, I can handle it, too.

How long do they stay in this stage, anyway?