According to the newspaper last weekend, the most frequently asked question today is "What are we having for dinner?" Well, it certainly feels like it at our place. It sometimes seems like I get asked this one about twenty times a day. Which is interesting, given that we are a family of four. But I know that the thought of a nice pork chop or two often used to keep me going through Double Physics (who am I kidding? Double General Science), so I try to have an answer for them.
It can be hard having answers ready all the time, though. Especially if you are married to the kind of man who takes one step outside the front door, turns and says "Do you think I need a coat?" Does he really want me to answer that? Really?
Other questions round here lately have included:
- Eurgh, What's that stuck to the outside of the fridge?
- Can I have a new Sheriff's Badge for Christmas?
- Are there cannellini beans in this?
- Would you take those things out of your ears?
- Who said Horsey could borrow my hard hat?
- What would happen if I sat on a paper piercer?
- Did you put that paper piercer there on purpose?
I'll leave you to guess who asked what. There isn't anything momentous there I know. It's just the stuff of everyday life; but I thought a page was in order. I did another simple speech bubble shape (like this one) and a bit of stitching so I could concentrate on the words:
And a funny thing happened. By the time I had finished my journaling, my thinking on questions had changed. It's not the being able to answer that's important: it's the knowing when you can't. Being able to hold your hand up and say I don't know is a good thing, do you think?
35 comments:
oh to live a single life where the only question is can i be bothered to cook tonight. although,
have u lost weight from the mother is often asked or are u taking ur tablets from the dr, do you think u could send some emails the father and meioux from the cats
Jo xxx
What's for dinner is a question I ask myself frequently, as I am completely rubbish at meal planning! Although tonight's supper is half prepped already ~ Apricot and Mango Chutney chicken.
this is a lovely page! It is the first rule of academia, if you don't know, be honest....blagging your way through a lecture or a conference presentation answer when you really do not know the answer is much worse than saying "sorry I dont know but I'll (a) think about it (b) look into it (c) get back to you". I don't know is a great response! I hate the tea question too. I used to pester my poor mother with it and pull a face if it was mince *shudder*
it is very important to be able to say 'I don't know', for so many reasons. I am rubbish at blagging, so learned quickly that it was easier to admit ignorance and then go away and find out the answers. a lot of people though find it very hard to say 'I don't know', which is frustrating for the ones who are asking, and achieves the opposite effect of what is intended. oh, and a great page - am liking the more and more journalling x
Love the "do I need a coat" question - that happens around here x4 for the kids and yes, my husband too. * Sigh * GREAT page :)
I hate the "what's for dinner" question! But at least for TONIGHT I know! I've been planning this meal for two weeks! Happy Thanksgiving.
ok, I have a question for you Sian ... where on earth do you find to time to create such amazing layouts??
Fab thoughts again Siân!
We often get the "What's for dinner?" question and I have been known to answer "Food!" to forestall the complaints from whichever child would be suffering from the menu - there used to were only about 3 dishes that everyone liked !!
The most amazing question I have ever heard was when a friend was presented with a menu choice and he asked his wife "Do I like that?" :o
As a trainer and teacher I was always willing to say "I don't know ... but I do know where we can find that out!" Much better than being found out later for blagging and meant that my students trusted the things I did know!
Sandra, you won't be saying that when I send you my next layouts in May!!
Jemma, that is a classic, Grade A question. Love it.
On the dinner question, I am ashamed to say that when my mum asked us what we would like I used to say "But you're the mummy, why can't you think of something?" I have since apologised.
Great page Sian. My husband is terrible for asking questions like the coat one. But I think the most asked questions in our house are:
'where are my car keys?' - him
'where have I put my glasses?' - me
'what you doin'?' - daughter
I should do a layout about some more of the questions my daughter asks though! x
so why did Horsey need the hard hat?
LOL!!! "I don't know," is a very important answer to have in your repetoire. At our house, it's my question "What would you like for dinner?" and this typical response, "I don't care," that's the problem. Because, in fact, they do care!
Helena - I'm tempted to say because he was thinking of doing a bit of bungee jumping. But actually I think he likes the fact someone taped "Boss" onto the side of it for me.
My favorite is What time is it? Usually asked while sitting next to a clock.
Rinda
Oh the what's for dinner question really gets me. I do have a standard reply but I don't think I should type it here but the first word starts with S and the second word ends in r!!!!
Being in education I am all for the 'I don't know' answer. Normally I say this when it comes to spellings but I can then also add 'But I can find out'. I think this is important too:)
When I changed my answer to the constant 'what's for dinner?' question.....to 'whatever you're cooking'.....the number of times it was asked dropped dramatically!!
Was nodding my way through most of these Sian - such a fab page I may scraplift when I ever finally do another page if I may - or maybe I'll do it as a journal page.
Most eurgh but annoyingly frequent one for us is 'what's that wet patch on the sofa? Has the dog/child weed? Has the dog licked? Who spilt something?' Ohhhhh to be single or at least have grown up children and be able to have nice stuff... but I bet when it happens I'll be reminiscing for the grunge, slime, dirt, spill, wee filled days... wont I?
Great idea for a layout and quite philisophical in terms of not answering the question but knowing when you can't...fab!
I thought my hubbie was the only one who asked the question about a coat! Love your layout - really good.
lol Sian - I get so fed up with the what's for dinner question. It does make me wish someone would invent a new food.
Glad you liked the bicycle story!
I have become very good at 'I don't know .... let's google it and see if we can figure it out together', inquisitive minds ask tricky questions over here!
That list of questions made me laugh so much!
Will he get a new Sherrif's badge from Santa? And Why Was he wearing the hat?
Who did put the paper-piercer there and who sat on it... And what an odd question anyway - I'd have thought the answer was quite obvious - "Sore bum!"
Hmm... people ask the strangest things...
You know, there are times when "I don't know" is the Most frustrating answer in the world - such as when DS comes in from school: "Would you like a warm drink, as it's cold out?" - "I don't know...." Grrr! We now answer that with "Well, let us know when you do know!"
Love the post, Sian; love the layout - especially all the little question marks dotted about.
Oh, fab layout :-) I love the idea of noting down all the questions you're asked on a particular day - so much so that I did it myself recently! It'll be interesting to revisit the idea at some point in the future to see what changes and what stays the same....
What a fun post and a great layout! I like the idea of recording the questions we are often asked.
What a great LO I hate the question "what is for dinner as I now get it asked by my mum and I know what she wants me to say and that is either lamb chop or bacon but there is only so many times a week you can have it but she love it,she does have weird tastes!
What a wise statement - one we could all learn from.
Great post Sian, the questions made me giggle :)
I have a list of questions that my 2 oldest DGSs asked when they stayed with us last half term....what a coincidence to see & read your LO Sian! I like your idea of putting the whole design in a speech bubble!
My DH never asks what's for dinner - he's just happy that I cook something, anything....LOL
"I don't know" is heard frequently in this house :-}
:o) Super cute post, Sian. Isn't it amazing how, no matter what the question, Mom always knows the answer?
Just catching up again & am smiling at the thought of you as an eight year old 'in charge'...love your Christmas club recollections & will be back to see what you reveal tomorrow!! fabulous idea for a LO & that speech bubble is perfect!
Fantastic post, a great record of memorable questions. I love the speech bubble layout!
Thanks for your comments on my photo post....i think you could be right!lol!
Lovely post - not knowing is absolutely OK. My favourite answer to the "What's for dinner?" question was always: "I don't know. Who's cooking tonight?".
Nice layout! I have this in my journal from True Stories to take notes on ?s - great inspiration from you here!
Yep, Steve asks me that all the time. Even when he has just been fed....men eh!
Love the layout, It is so important to capture the everyday stuff and you do it so well.
xx
LOL - I couldn't help but laugh at the dinner question. In this house it's usually me asking DH "what would you like for dinner tomorrow" and the usual response is "I haven't had tonight's yet".
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