A Boy of Many Questions

Austin didn't say much for the first 3 years of his life. With moderate hearing loss, he was slow to learn to speak. With ear tubes improving his hearing, and speech and language therapy, he finally began talking. After a year we saw great improvement, and in the last year he's amazed me with huge jumps in his speech. And now...he talks non stop.

If we're in Target, you'll know it. His voice carries well, and his running commentary is hard to miss. But he's not just talking, he's asking question after question. And he wants answers.

"Mama! Why is that sign there?"

"Mama! What does that man have?"

"Mama! Where did that pumpkin go that used to be here?"

And on and on, aisle after aisle. Of course I love it. I love that he finally found his words. Sometimes I wish he were a bit quieter, or at least more patient, but I still love it.

This Spring has been a rough season for our area. We've had floods, and now it's flooding again. A town (Joplin) nearby just experienced the worst tornado to hit the USA is over 50 years. And Austin has taken it all in. These are the questions that are harder to answer...

"Mama! Why did it flood?"

"Mama! Is it flooded again?"

"Mama! Why did we go to the basement?"

" Mama! Where did the 'toenado' go?"

" Mama! Why did the 'toenado' come?"

I just don't know the answers to these questions. So we talk, and we pray, and we donate, and we help. It's all I know to do.

Austin has a plan though. In his words...

"When I grow up, I'm gonna drive a monster truck and push the toenado away!"

I just love this boy.