family-member run-around

refers to the common but totally unproductive/destructive practice of a young child’s parents and/or two or more older family members successively “delegating” or “p-ssing the buck” from one family member to another when the youngster asks a difficult/uncomfortable question, rather than the initially-queried adult’s simply saying, “i don’t know” or, “that is not something you need to know just yet — wait till you’re a few years older to ask about that.”
small girl: daddy, how was i born? where did i come from?
father (glancing up from his evening paper): go ask your mother that question.
small girl (toddling over to her mother, who is knitting by the fire): mommy, how was i born? where did i come from?
mother (looking up from her knitting, surprised): you know — that’s a really excellent question… why don’t you ask your father about that.
small girl: well, i already did — daddy told me to ask you.
mother (exasperated): oh — well, then, i think maybe your uncle john could help you answer that.
small girl (going outside where her uncle is lounging on the porch swing): uncle john, how was i born? where did i come from?
uncle john: hummmm… lemme guess — didja ask your parents about that, and they sent you to me?
small girl: yes, uncle john — mommy said you’d be just the person to ask.
uncle john: ahhhh… givin’ ya da ol’ family-member run-around, are they?