--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I didn't ask him \"why did you bite?\"…" description: "\"“I didn't ask him \"why did you bite?\" since \"why\" was a word that shouldn't be used with foster kids. \"Why\" brought up a bucket-load of garbage from th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e9/kate-kae-myers-37192_foster-kid_i-didn-t-ask-him-why-did-you-bite-since_1029723.jpg" --- # I didn't ask him "why did you bite?" since "why" was a… ![“I didn't ask him "why did you bite?" since "why" was a word that shouldn't be used with foster kids. "Why" brought up a bucket-load of garbage from the past that most of them didn't want to share and the rest of us didn't want to hear. Simple commands were best. "Don't bite," I stressed again, my…” quote by Kate Kae Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e9/kate-kae-myers-37192_foster-kid_i-didn-t-ask-him-why-did-you-bite-since_1029723.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e9/kate-kae-myers-37192_foster-kid_i-didn-t-ask-him-why-did-you-bite-since_1029723.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e9/kate-kae-myers-37192_foster-kid_i-didn-t-ask-him-why-did-you-bite-since_1029723.jpg) > ““I didn't ask him "why did you bite?" since "why" was a word that shouldn't be used with foster kids. "Why" brought up a bucket-load of garbage from the past that most of them didn't want to share and the rest of us didn't want to hear. Simple commands were best. "Don't bite," I stressed again, my voice kinder this time.”” [Kate Kae Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-kae-myers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator avoids asking “why” to foster kids because it triggers painful memories, opting for simple, direct commands to manage behavior. **In simple terms:** Avoiding “why” prevents trauma, use simple commands. Key Takeaway Use clear, kind instructions with vulnerable individuals. Themes trauma communication boundaries Mood empathetic practical Type instructional reflective When to use this quote - working with foster kids - teaching - conflict resolution Key Concepts psychology behavior management empathy Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance clarity with emotional support? - When is it appropriate to explore deeper reasons? A Different Perspective Simple commands may not address underlying issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bite Stressed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bite-stressed-2344186/) [Bite Word](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bite-word-2344185/) [Did Bite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did-bite-1523864/) [Didn Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/didn-want/) [Foster kid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foster-kid/) [Shouldn Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shouldn-used-2344187/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [There is nothing that you shouldn't do. Everything can be used as a tool for liberation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/there-is-nothing-that-you-shouldn-t-do-everything-can-be-used-as-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“Why were you running?” Gordon looked confused. “I wasn’t going to hurt you.” Bite me,” I told him. He was so going to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rowen/why-were-you-running-gordon-looked-confused-i-wasn-t-going-to-hurt/) [Michelle Rowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rowen/) > [“I picked up a snake once. In Italy." "Why did you do that?" "For a bet." "Was it poisonous?" "We didn't know. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/i-picked-up-a-snake-once-in-italy-why-did-you-do-that-for-a-bet-was/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [The first question that comes out of everybody's mouth, 'Did you bite the head off a bat?' And I did, so, next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/the-first-question-that-comes-out-of-everybody-s-mouth-did-you-bite/) [Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/) > [Clouseau: Does yer dewg bite? Inn Keeper: No Clouseau: Nice Doggy (bends down to pet a dachshund - it snarls and bites him) I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sellers/clouseau-does-yer-dewg-bite-inn-keeper-no-clouseau-nice-doggy-bends/) [Peter Sellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sellers/) > [“Bird looked back at Pastor. \*Why did you bite Jeremy?\* \*Because I felt like it.\* \*Is it out of your system now? Feel better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-peterson/bird-looked-back-at-pastor-why-did-you-bite-jeremy-because-i-felt/) [Shelley Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-peterson/) > [“When Peter lets go, he looks down at my arm. The scratches aren't deep. "Did it bite you?" I shake my head and wipe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-m-ward/when-peter-lets-go-he-looks-down-at-my-arm-the-scratches-aren-t-deep/) [H.M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-m-ward/) > [Yes, I did bite the head off of a dove. Yes, I did bite the head off of a bat. It's a stupid thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/yes-i-did-bite-the-head-off-of-a-dove-yes-i-did-bite-the-head-off-of/) [Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/) > [The pageant was such a fluke. I mean, I was living in an orphanage, and my foster mother bet me $150 to go out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-ayanna/the-pageant-was-such-a-fluke-i-mean-i-was-living-in-an-orphanage-and/) [Charlotte Ayanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-ayanna/) > [“What makes a family is neither the absence of tragedy nor the ability to hide from misfortune, but the courage to overcome it and,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-pemberton/what-makes-a-family-is-neither-the-absence-of-tragedy-nor-the-ability/) [Steve Pemberton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-pemberton/) > [My father worked for IBM. My mother raised us kids. There were six of us, and a couple of extra foster kids at any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-coogan/my-father-worked-for-ibm-my-mother-raised-us-kids-there-were-six-of/) [Steve Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-coogan/) > [Something we learned from foster kids after sitting down with them to hear their stories is that so many of them are invested in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-paige/something-we-learned-from-foster-kids-after-sitting-down-with-them-to/) [Peter Paige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-paige/) > [I took in a foster kid that I wanted to adopt in the state where I live, and I pay taxes, said to me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-o-donnell/i-took-in-a-foster-kid-that-i-wanted-to-adopt-in-the-state-where-i/) [Rosie O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-o-donnell/) > [2 years being a foster kid and I havet spent a holiday or my birthday with my 5 younger sibling, I miss them and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hawes/2-years-being-a-foster-kid-and-i-havet-spent-a-holiday-or-my-birthday/) [Jon Hawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hawes/) > [“A perennial guest star is like being a foster kid who's passed around some really great foster homes. I would love for one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-stoller/a-perennial-guest-star-is-like-being-a-foster-kid-who-s-passed-around/) [Fred Stoller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-stoller/) ## More by Kate Kae Myers > [“Since then, everywhere I went the pain of losing him went with me. It wore me like a backpack, slapping a rhythm of heartache…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-kae-myers/since-then-everywhere-i-went-the-pain-of-losing-him-went-with-me-it/) [Kate Kae Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-kae-myers/) > [“I’m just as likely to slug him as hug him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-kae-myers/i-m-just-as-likely-to-slug-him-as-hug-him/) [Kate Kae Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-kae-myers/) > [“That's the problem with trying to fit into normal society, isn't it? After you've walked a crazy high-wire like the one we were on,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-kae-myers/that-s-the-problem-with-trying-to-fit-into-normal-society-isn-t-it/) [Kate Kae Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-kae-myers/) > [“Jocelyn: 'I've dated a few nice boys. Though if things got serious, I ended it. I didn't want to involve some poor guy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-kae-myers/jocelyn-i-ve-dated-a-few-nice-boys-though-if-things-got-serious-i/) [Kate Kae Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-kae-myers/) > [“Worry isn't productive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-kae-myers/worry-isn-t-productive/) [Kate Kae Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-kae-myers/) > [“Nothing can unite two people like early morning insomnia. It was a bond Jack and I had that you never did. You always slept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-kae-myers/nothing-can-unite-two-people-like-early-morning-insomnia-it-was-a/) [Kate Kae Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-kae-myers/) > [“I don't like being followed by you, Zach. In fact, I just don't like you. So stay out of my way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-kae-myers/i-don-t-like-being-followed-by-you-zach-in-fact-i-just-don-t-like-you/) [Kate Kae Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-kae-myers/) > [“Life is a series of shallow breaths. And in any breath, everything can change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-kae-myers/life-is-a-series-of-shallow-breaths-and-in-any-breath-everything-can/) [Kate Kae Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-kae-myers/) > [“Noah held out his hand and I took it, lettng his fingers slide between mine. He led me away from the lighthouse and back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-kae-myers/noah-held-out-his-hand-and-i-took-it-lettng-his-fingers-slide-between/) [Kate Kae Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-kae-myers/) > [“You said we should let go of the past, but I don't know if the past will let go of me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-kae-myers/you-said-we-should-let-go-of-the-past-but-i-don-t-know-if-the-past/) [Kate Kae Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-kae-myers/) > [“Everywhere I went the pain of losing him went with me. It wore me like a backpack, slapping a rhythm of heartache against my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-kae-myers/everywhere-i-went-the-pain-of-losing-him-went-with-me-it-wore-me-like/) [Kate Kae Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-kae-myers/) [Explore all 12 Kate Kae Myers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-kae-myers/) ## More Foster kid quotes > [“A perennial guest star is like being a foster kid who's passed around some really great foster homes. I would love for one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-stoller/a-perennial-guest-star-is-like-being-a-foster-kid-who-s-passed-around/) [Fred Stoller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-stoller/) > [2 years being a foster kid and I havet spent a holiday or my birthday with my 5 younger sibling, I miss them and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hawes/2-years-being-a-foster-kid-and-i-havet-spent-a-holiday-or-my-birthday/) [Jon Hawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hawes/) > [I took in a foster kid that I wanted to adopt in the state where I live, and I pay taxes, said to me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-o-donnell/i-took-in-a-foster-kid-that-i-wanted-to-adopt-in-the-state-where-i/) [Rosie O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-o-donnell/) > [Something we learned from foster kids after sitting down with them to hear their stories is that so many of them are invested in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-paige/something-we-learned-from-foster-kids-after-sitting-down-with-them-to/) [Peter Paige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-paige/) > [My father worked for IBM. My mother raised us kids. There were six of us, and a couple of extra foster kids at any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-coogan/my-father-worked-for-ibm-my-mother-raised-us-kids-there-were-six-of/) [Steve Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-coogan/) > [“What makes a family is neither the absence of tragedy nor the ability to hide from misfortune, but the courage to overcome it and,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-pemberton/what-makes-a-family-is-neither-the-absence-of-tragedy-nor-the-ability/) [Steve Pemberton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-pemberton/) > [The pageant was such a fluke. I mean, I was living in an orphanage, and my foster mother bet me $150 to go out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-ayanna/the-pageant-was-such-a-fluke-i-mean-i-was-living-in-an-orphanage-and/) [Charlotte Ayanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-ayanna/) > [Our house was a place where you were welcome to make an idiot out of yourself. Silliness was valued. My dad worked with foster…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ty-burrell/our-house-was-a-place-where-you-were-welcome-to-make-an-idiot-out-of/) [Ty Burrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ty-burrell/) > [ Purple Pills \[Chorus:\] I take a couple uppers I down a couple downers But nothing compares To these blue and yellow purple pills I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-nikki-marie-whitmore/purple-pills-chorus-i-take-a-couple-uppers-i-down-a-couple-downers/) [COREY NIKKI MARIE WHITMORE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-nikki-marie-whitmore/) > [I've come far from being a foster kid growing up in a council house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-katona/i-ve-come-far-from-being-a-foster-kid-growing-up-in-a-council-house/) [Kerry Katona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-katona/) > [I feel like a foster kid that's been in the system for a long time, and then at 16, somebody adopted them and said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-haddish/i-feel-like-a-foster-kid-that-s-been-in-the-system-for-a-long-time/) [Tiffany Haddish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-haddish/) > [“You know what?” I stood up. I’d had enough and he hadn’t even started. “Six foster kids a few months ago doesn’t make you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-d-reiss/you-know-what-i-stood-up-i-d-had-enough-and-he-hadn-t-even-started/) [C.D. Reiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-d-reiss/) > [“Raya knew this type of girl – they never liked her. Usually they’d make fun of her, behind her back, but loud enough for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-pascoe/raya-knew-this-type-of-girl-they-never-liked-her-usually-they-d-make/) [Sara Pascoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-pascoe/) > [Rock bottom has become the solid foundation on which I have found my self rebuilding my life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-bush/rock-bottom-has-become-the-solid-foundation-on-which-i-have-found-my/) [Marcus Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-bush/) > [“I got schooled this year. By everyone. By my little brother... by The Avett Brothers... by my mother, my best friend, my teacher, my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/i-got-schooled-this-year-by-everyone-by-my-little-brother-by-the/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) [Browse all 18 Foster kid quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foster-kid/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I didn't ask him \"why did you bite?\" since \"why\" was a word that shouldn't be used with foster kids. \"Why\" brought up a bucket-load of garbage from the past that most of them didn't want to share and the rest of us didn't want to hear. 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