Because is not an answer

Over the past year, Beau got in the habit of answering “why” questions with one word:

“Because.”

It drove me a little crazy.

I’d stop him and say, “Hey—‘because’ isn’t an answer. You’ve got to explain why. Use your words.”

I wasn’t trying to be strict about it. I just want him to think a little deeper and be able to explain himself.

After enough times, it started to stick.

Then, like most things, it came back around.

Beau would ask me a “why” question, and every once in a while I’d give the lazy answer:

“Just because.”

And almost immediately, he’d respond:

“‘because’ isn't an answer.”

He’s said it to me multiple times now.

It makes me laugh every time—but he’s right.

I’m doing the exact thing I’ve been correcting him on.

It’s also a good reminder that he’s he’s paying attention.