Yesterday in the car, it was raining and Bennett (he's 4) asked, "mama, do frogs hide when it rains?"
Before I could even answer, Merritt (she's 6) jumped in:
"That's a dumb question, Benny! Frogs like water because they're born in it!" And just like that, I saw my sweet middle kid's face fall. He wasn't trying to be silly, he was genuinely curious. But in one sharp moment, his desire to learn was replaced with shame. And my mama heart cracked watching it when I saw the tears coming to surface.
We used it as a teaching moment about tone, kindness, and how questions are how we learn.
But all I could think about after was how we still do this as adults - I have been guilty of it.
Sometimes unintentionally, but sometimes very intentionally... we jump in to correct, to one-up, to look like we know more. Especially online.
I've seen it happen so often in this low-tox space: Someone asks a question and they're met with: "You need to research more." "Educate yourself." "Wow, how do you not know that?"
And just like that, the chance to connect, to educate, to plant a seed, it's gone. Shame shuts it all down. It's hard enough to ask questions, especially when you're trying to change your lifestyle, learn new things, or walk a different path.
I really want to cultivate the kind of community of people who keep curiosity safe. Who assume the best. Who answer gently. Who never forget that we were once the ones asking
Because frogs might not hide when it rains. But people? They do when curiosity is met with shame.
