Why is this blog?

As a mother, my intellect is not exactly stretched on a daily basis. I mean, the job description calls for a good deal of organisational skills and an exceptional ability to multi-task, but that’s about as far as it goes, brain-wise. 

Kids require routine and repetition, and a lot of bananas and clean pairs of pants. My children would like me to hold them, rock them and read to them, but they don’t seem particularly bothered by the fact I have a University degree and a mind that is turning to mush. In fact, anything that happened before them matters very little in their golden heads.

So sometimes, just as I fall asleep at night (i.e.: two seconds after my head hits the pillow, approximately 9.38pm), I feel the urge to learn something.

Aside from this yearning for learning, there is a deep-seated fear driving me. Ever met this woman? She can often be seen in supermarkets, pharmacies or playgrounds. She wears the badge of motherhood on her shoulder: burped up milk or a handprint of Marmite. She may still wear maternity clothes despite the fact her youngest child is three years old, because they’re comfortable and because “who has time to shop?”. 

This is all fine and understandable, until you get to her voice. Her pitch is high and it constantly sounds like she is singing a nursery rhyme. She speaks as if to a child, even if she happens to be talking to a high court judge, or the Pope.

She is the epitome of mumdom and SHE IS MY BIGGEST FEAR.

To avoid becoming her and forgetting all else I once was, I have devised this blog. Actually, its purpose is twofold:

1.)   I will avoid childcare-related brain deterioration

2.)   My sons will respect me

Number 2 is simple and relates to the title of the blog. Ever met a kid going through the ‘why phase’? Everything you say, they ask why? Then when you explain, they ask why again. It’s very frustrating, and as the mother of a two year old and a four month old, I plan to be prepared. I figure I don’t have long with the toddler; he’s already asking ‘what’s that mama?’ and following up my explanations with ‘huh?’ (See background image for an example of 'huh?' face).

So in preparation, I have decided to answer a few of my own questions as they occur to me. I will do one per week and I will try to keep this up for at least the rest of the year. The result: my kids will think I know everything. I will learn stuff. Brain stays go-go. Success!

So for my first question:

It's stormy tonight and I have just spent the last two hours lulling a small sniffle-nosed baby into dreamland, which has given my mind a chance to wander (there is a bright side to every situation). As the bedroom was illuminated with flashes of white, I got to thinking about thunder and lightning. I'm pretty sure I had this one sorted a while back, like when I was eight, but right now I’m not exactly sure how it works.

Do thunder and lightning actually occur at the same time and how we perceive them is all about the speed of light and sound, or did I make that up? What causes thunder and lightning?

There are probably some of you out there scoffing, but I’m sure there are also a good number of you just as unclear on this one as I am. If a three year old asked you, would you be able to explain? Answer next week.

PS If you think of a question, please post it in the comments and if I also don't know the answer to it, I will use it in coming weeks.