S/o more kids

Mysterious_wife

Allie asked Santa for a baby sister. H and I are debating on the birds and bees talk. I really don't know how to handle this.

ClaireHuxtable

How old is Allie?

Mysterious_wife

6. A very mature 6. (I am not saying that, because she's mine either) we would cover basics.

ClaireHuxtable

I think that asking for a baby sister is different than asking "where do babies come from?"  Personally, although (I do believe you) Allie is very mature, she not that mature, right? I really applaud you for the open lines of communication, but I'd probably hold out for a couple of years or so. 

But, if the conversation is something like, "Women produce an egg every month and if the egg the woman produces is fertilized, then a baby grows."  I think that's fine. But then that leads to, "Well, how is the egg fertilized?  Eggs like a chicken?" haha 

Can you offer a brief explanation on what you're thinking about telling her?

Mysterious_wife

We don't know. We are going to have the conversation tonight on how to handle this. She has been very curious on babies lately. I think a schoolmate's mother is expecting.

Thanks for your insight. Parenting is hard!

ClaireHuxtable

Good luck, seriously though, I applaud you!

Mysterious_wife

When she was 3, she asked to go to Target. I asked why. That's when she told me to buy a baby brother. :-/ if it were that easy, is buy babies for everyone.

sschwege

I think I would probably say something like, "Only mommies and daddies can decide to have a baby, it's not up to Santa to decide."  If she were to ask for more details I would give them, just letting her questions be my guide as to how in depth I would go.  

I don't know I knew what sex was by the time I was 5, my mom was always very open and honest with us, if we asked a question we got an answer.  

Mysterious_wife

That is what we said over dinner.

Thanks for you point of view.

DebateThis

https://www.parenting.com/article/talking-to-kids-about-sex-21335549 Maybe this will help?

Mysterious_wife

Great article! Thank you

gogadgetgo

Good luck! I don't envy you on this one.

bugandbibs

We have taught J the basics from an early age, we started around four. We explain more as she gets older with the hopes she will understand how her body works and avoid believing mis-information (especially from peers). American Girl has some great books geared towards younger readers about puberty. In this case, I would ask A what life would be like with a younger sister and see why she is asking for one. I'd also be frank that another pregnancy isn't an option for you, and that there are other options to growing your family if you decide you want to.

NerdyLucy

I think it's great that you're going to have a talk with her. 

My parents never did have this talk with me. I'd ask where babies came from, and my mom would snap at me, "You're too young to know!"  Dad was semi-willingly to engage in an age-appropriate discussion, but Mom would shut it down very quickly.  I barely even got a menstruation talk, and it mostly focused on using pads/tamping, not what was happening to my body. 

I was just lucky that I was such a bookworm and was able to access books perfectly for this topic because, like I said, I was never told by adult. Even at a young age, it was frustrating because I clearly felt I was being patronized.