I recently had a conversation with my 7 year old son about pregnancy. It went a little something like this:
7yo: “Mommy how did you feel when you were pregnant?”
Me: “Pretty good. Mostly. I really loved being pregnant.”
7yo: “Did it hurt?”
Me: “No, being pregnant didn’t hurt. Except for the time when I had Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction and I couldn’t walk for a few weeks.”How did I come out? Did I really come out of your vagina?”
Me: “Yes. You totally came out of my vagina. And they even had to use forceps to help you come out.”
7yo: “Ewwwwww!”
He then gave me a kiss on the cheek and he left.
I love the simplicity of kids. I love the honesty of his questions and I thoroughly enjoy answering them as honest as possible even if I think he won’t fully understand what I’m saying… like this first time he asked me where babies come from.
My kids have both asked me how babies come out of their mommy’s bellies, but they have yet to ask how they get in. I’m biting my nails a little about that one, but when the question comes, I will do my best to answer it honestly and age appropriately. I don’t want to lie but I don’t want to give them too much information. We’re on a need to know basis at my house.
Have your kids asked you where babies come from? If they’re too young, have you thought about how you will answer their questions? Will you tell them about Santa’s pet, the stork, or will you be honest?
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My almost 4 year old was satisfied with “when a mommy and daddy love each other they can make a baby.” phew.
Yup, I think the key is to answer what they asked – not what you THINK they asked. My daughters were always happy with “the dad puts a seed in the mom’s egg” until one day (age 7) they said, “but how does the dad get the seed INTO the mom.” So I told them. Just the facts. The reaction? “EEEEWWWWWW!!! Gross!” LOL. My work here is done 😉
I have had partial discussions with my nine year old, letting him drive the extent of the discussion. He understands the science part, the actual act of procreation, but not the emotional or the pleasure factor. He actually said: “That is half interesting and half disgusting.” Which, for a nine year old is a pretty apt response. He left at that and I told him I would answer any future question he asked.
Months later he asked what a blow job was, to which I pointed and responded, “Hey look a squirrel eating an iguana!!” and ran out of the room.
I am far from perfect.
J.
I’m all about answering the question they asked. My son is nine, but doesn’t seem curious yet… I think I might push it along a little bit – he has had NO questions. But I’m going to start dropping bombs on him. Only because he’s NINE, and I reckon it’s time. Science is one thing – the part about feelings and sexuality is entirely another thing…. for later. 😉