As I was changing last night Peppermint Patty came in. I am pretty open and find nudity really not that big of a deal (and I can tell you after pushing out two babies, babies don't find nudity that big of a deal either). I do try to be discreet with some things but if I am changing my clothes and putting on my PJ's and one of the girls comes in I don't really think it is that big of a deal. Anyways, PP comes in and the following conversation takes place.
Peppermint: Mom. (looking at me in a weird wondering way) Where do babies come from?
Me: (thinking I can go one of two ways, I simply ask) Where do you think babies come from?
Peppermint: Your poo poo part?
Me: Close, your pee pee parts.
Peppermint: Ouch! That would hurt. How big are babies? (using her hands to figure out how big a baby comes out of a pee pee part....me trying to show her) Ouch! I don't think I want to have babies. I think that would really hurt!
Me: Good. I am glad you don't want to have babies. (me thinking - YES! because for the past 6 or 8 months PP has been talking about nothing but having babies and becoming a mom...immediately....which I know isn't possible but I would like to hold it off for as long as possible...)
PP: OK Mom....(goes away happy I answered her question and no other concern has she.)
I bring this up to bring up a story. The other day a situation came up with someone else with a student talking about where babies come from and we started talking about if we could or could not give "the talk."
I personally don't think "the talk" really needs to be "a big talk" at all if you are open and honest from the beginning. I think if you always answer the questions that are asked as honest, open, and on a level a child can handle, a long surprising talk never needs to take place. I also think most parents need to be talking to their kids way before they do. I am not saying PP needs to know about periods and all the mechanics of sex right at this moment, but if something comes up, I am very open to answering her questions in a way that will be on her level that will make sense to her. I also personally believe (because I matured physically very early and had no clue what was going on) that kids have the right to know what is happening to their bodies and that if honesty and openness don't happen they will go somewhere else to find the information...and in this day and age I really don't want my girls, PP and PP, to go to the internet or somewhere else to figure things out. (Remember the talks with other girls on the playground about what was happening with your body? If you didn't have THOSE playground talks, find yourself blessed.) I also have this theory that if you have a period, vagina, penis, and sex you can talk about it with your kids.
So....we have started "the talk" that I hope will not be a talk at all but a very long discussion about life as it comes....sorry if this offends or if your kid learns something from my kids before you think they are ready....but maybe they are more ready than we all give them credit.
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