Among some of the more interesting questions I was asked this weekend by DD: "Why do we have blood?" Then, after explaining, "Does furniture have blood?" "Why does my butt have a hole in it?"
@kfren DS could answer DD's last question. He now tells me that when he eats food, the food goes to his stomach and then goes to his bum to make poop. And that the poop comes out of his bum.
@kfren I honestly have no idea how DS figured it out. He just told me one day that his food turned into poop. My H didn't tell him and was as surprised as I was. The things they learn at daycare.
@marcus7676 It really is remarkable the things they pick up. DD told me about something one day, I don't remember what it was, but I remember being surprised and asked how she knew it and she said, "Oh, I just knowed it."
I bought my kids two body books from Usborne- general anatomy stuff, not like "your changing body" lol. They love them. DS (2.5yo) now tells us our food is going to come from our butt all the time, lol. He was not amused to learn he has blood inside him, though. DD (5yo) is intent on becoming a Dr and wants to know all aspects of the human body, so I'm trying to encourage that as much as I can.
My almost 5 year old keeps asking me what I have since I don't have a penis. I told him yesterday that I have a place where pee comes out, a place where poop comes out and a place where the baby will come out. He wanted to see and I said no, everything that is covered by underwear is a private area. I'm still waiting on him to ask how the baby got in there...
He's also very into how bodies work and at 2 was also telling us the difference between an esophagus and trachea. I don't want to lie to him, but I also don't know how much to actually share at this age (he does not keep information to himself).
First Son - born 2013
Second Son - born 2014 - Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) and Double Outlet Right Ventricle (DORV). First open heart surgery at 5 days old. He's had 3 open heart surgeries and several other procedures and is currently doing amazing. Third Son - due June 9, 2018
You know what's fun? My memory goes really far back, so I have really distinct memories of when my parents taught me how to wipe my own butt, and then discussions I had with my friends about if they had learned to wipe their own butts yet (they had not/did not want to). I have a lot of memories of watching my friends get their butts wiped.
Maybe I'm the odd parent, but I never wipe my kids butts after they're potty trained. I just let my daughter do her own wiping, and never had problems. The less I have to do, the better lol.
@May14th2011 the thought of DD wiping her own butt after pooping makes me cringe. She would get poop all over her hands and it definitely wouldn't be done to my standards lol.
I worked at a daycare in high school and we weren’t allowed to wipe for anyone potty trained unless 1. There parents gave us permission and 2. The child asked for help. A lot of kids used it as an excuse to stay in the bathroom longer. Kids love bathrooms. Privacy and access to water. Smh
We're working on getting both DS1 (almost 5) and DS2 (3.5) to wipe their own butts. I don't know if it's harder with boys since that's the only thing they wipe, but they both suck at it. I know daycare/preschool doesn't do it since they're potty trained, but that just means they refuse to wipe at all and come home with nasty underwear. Yuck.
First Son - born 2013
Second Son - born 2014 - Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) and Double Outlet Right Ventricle (DORV). First open heart surgery at 5 days old. He's had 3 open heart surgeries and several other procedures and is currently doing amazing. Third Son - due June 9, 2018
@kfren good questions kiddo! How did you guys answer? Reminds me of a video my MIL tagged my H and I in about Neil Degrasse Tyson reminding parents that kids are natural born scientist {to which my H is 100% on board with encouraging, and I'm 100% on board of him cleaning the inevitable mess lol}
@doxiemoxie212 I don't remember that, but my bff has younger sisters that were being taught, so I've seen it also lol
Does any of you ladies know of good sinus-allergy meds I can ask OB if they're okay? Allergy season is coming and I need specifically sinus and I'm already pissy I can't taken my tried-and-true reactin
@MissKittyDanger I explained to her that blood is what helps our bodies to do everything and that all living people and animals have it. As for the whole hole topic, I explained to her that it is for poop to come out so that her body can make room for more food to keep it going. I was able to tie the two together while still fresh in her mind, so I think it made a little more sense than it might have otherwise.
@MissKittyDanger I explained to her that blood is what helps our bodies to do everything and that all living people and animals have it. As for the whole hole topic, I explained to her that it is for poop to come out so that her body can make room for more food to keep it going. I was able to tie the two together while still fresh in her mind, so I think it made a little more sense than it might have otherwise.
Another body function/anatomy question. I plan on trying to breastfeed or pump. DD will be 3 a month after baby is born. So far I have been answering questions regarding that area by just saying “it’s your chest.” I’d like to tell her about breasts and breastfeeding when the time comes. I also know she will hear the word boob more than once during this process. However, my mom became really upset about DD repeating the word boobs one other time and it left me wondering if that’s really an inappropriate word for her to hear or if my mom was over reacting (which would be pretty classic for her).
@2589 I'm probably not the best person to provide advice on this since I am pro learn-all-the-things, say-all-the-things. I feel like if kids use "bad words" correctly and not at someone (ie, it's not okay to say fuck you, but it is okay to say oh fuck) then I'm happy. I'm sure this will make for some lively debates with other parents and teachers down the road...
That said, it would not have even occurred to me that "boob" is a bad word.
@MissKittyDanger DD is almost 4. She seemed to get it for the most part, but I'm sure more questions will surface. @2589 My advice to you is to refer to them as something you would not mind having shouted in a public place. I don't find boobs inappropriate, but I sure as hell don't want it advertised in Target that the baby wants boobies. I have always referred to them as milkies. DD knows what nipples are and we have gone through the process of what they do and how they work, but I still haven't taught her another word for them because I'm not sure what substitute I prefer.
@2589 my DD will also be 3 the month after this baby is born! And she says boobs, I don't really see anything wrong with it because that's what I call them. Maybe breasts is better?
@2589 my H taught DS the word "breast." He's super into body parts and we try to use the correct terminology (penis, not pee-pee). DS will touch my boobs very gently and say "these your breasts." He's done it to other women too, so we are now working on the fact that some parts of our body are private. I don't think boob is inappropriate and if that is what you call it, then use it. I think part of the conversation is that these are private parts of our body (even though our boobs are going to be out for the world to see).
My mom gets upset over anything we call them. How dare we ever mention certain body parts?? We use breasts, because it's anatomically correct. We also use the word nipple, if needed (which is like never lol). We don't use cutesie names for anything, I don't want them thinking anatomical names are bad. I do explain, quite often, that we don't need to talk about them in public places. "It is okay to talk about it, but it's not a polite subject to talk about at the grocery store. Can we talk about this in the car?" We also don't talk about poop, boogers, or blood at the store, lol. I'm trying to show them that bodily functions in general aren't appropriate for loud public discussions.
Thanks ladies! You all have really good points. @marcus7676 I agree it will be really important to tell her about breasts/boobs being something private and about maybe not talking about them (like @kfren said) in public places.
@lrichhx05 And the more I think about it, the type of people who will side eye a toddler saying boobs (aka my mother) will probably not be overly impressed with breasts either, but I have to teach her to call them something, right?
@doxiemoxie212 so much yes about the context of the “bad” words. I obviously try not to let her hear me say them often, but I realize she’s going to hear them pretty much everywhere anyways, and so I think there will come a day when she will have to learn that they’re not meant for general conversation and not towards people, but not a total taboo thing like many people would have you believe.
And tits or titties, will probably remain out of our conversations in the near future
We are team “teach kids the anatomically correct names for body parts” and not hiding any of it from the beginning. (It is the first step in having open and honest, age appropriate conversations with them about their bodies and sex later in life).
DS will be 3 next month and knows that he and daddy have a penis, but momma has a vagina. He knows that I have breasts and everyone has nipples. He knows that the baby will be fed with my breasts, just as he was when he was a baby.
He knows that his baby sister is in my uterus (he still very cutely calls it a nuterus) not in my belly. And he knows she comes out of my vagina (because he was convinced she came out of my belly button).
We also have discussions about body parts being private and how there are appropriate places to discuss them and how other places aren’t so appropriate. Just like later on we will have discussions about how exploring your body is ok, but it needs to happen in private (in your room or in the bathroom, not in the living room). Etc.
We also don’t mind being naked in front of him. He showers with both of us, depending on the night and so will his sister. We don’t walk around naked, but we aren’t trying to constantly be always clothed around him either. Kids learning about bodies and learning that they aren’t a shameful thing and that they are in charge of their own bodies is helpful as they grow up and start to have sex talks and it helps them have self confidence about their bodies.
@2589 something about the word titties is so much worse to me than tits. AND LAWD HEAR MY PRAYERS, pls don't let my daughter ever refer to her vagina as her pussy. Ugh, even just typing that, I hate that word. Pussy is my least favorite word of all time. ::shudders::
@BurlapandLace@doxiemoxie212 I also really struggle with c*nt. Like I don’t even want to type it. The slang terms for female genitals are so much worse IMO than for male genitals.
@2589 ah see the problem is I actually love calling people cunts, but I do not like vaginas being called cunts, so that really doesn’t follow my own bad word rule. Sigh. But there’s nothing like saying, “ugh that guy is such a cunt!” @BurlapandLace Twat feels weak to me as an insult. It’s a useless swear word. Don’t want to call a vagina one but also no interest in calling a human one. I think twat is the blandest imo if I think about it.
+1 to everyone who uses proper anatomy words. That seems important.
I think I will have a hard time cutting back on using swear words. I have a legit potty mouth. But growing up, my parents cussed in front of me frequently. I also knew those were words for grown ups and I wasn't allowed to say them. I have a vivid memory of the first time my mom got frustrated with my brother and I and told us, "I don't give a flying f*ck!" It cracked me up - like I couldn't stop laughing. I repeated it once when my dad got home and promptly got popped for using it. Thus reinforcing that, no matter how funny, those are grown up words.
@LaceyBee522 My mum didn't realize she swore until I said it at preschool. It's her fave story. I stubbed my toe, said "ah shit" and my teachers had to say something at the end of the day. They explained that while it's not allowed to swear, even though I used it properly lmao
Since then she's said "ah sh-ugar" and "holy snapping butterflies"
@doxiemoxie212 - My FIL taught my oldest the words "titties" and "tallywacker". I could have killed him, especially since he didn't seem to find anything wrong with it and thought it was funny. DS1 has forgotten tallywacker, but still says titties every now and again.
I'd like to say we teach appropriate words, but I haven't really given DS1 and DS2 a word for vagina yet. They know penis and testicles and know that since I'm a girl I don't have those parts, but I haven't gotten into detail on what I do have. They know I have boobs (and that's what I call them) and that the baby will drink "Mommy milk" from them just like they did. I don't know what my own hang up is about vagina when penis is a daily word in our house.
First Son - born 2013
Second Son - born 2014 - Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) and Double Outlet Right Ventricle (DORV). First open heart surgery at 5 days old. He's had 3 open heart surgeries and several other procedures and is currently doing amazing. Third Son - due June 9, 2018
@mytinc my poor (future?) sons will know more details of the vagina than they do about their own parts, I swear. It is my mission in this life to demystify the vagina for those in my own family lol.
I think my hang up on what to teach them is more about the fact that right now they know they use a penis to pee. They know I have a place (hole) where the baby will come from and a different place where pee comes out of. I don't want them to mistakenly think I pee from my vagina and I'm just not ready to get into why I have a vagina when not used for pee/poop (although, the baby is a good a reason to talk about it as any). I'll bite the bullet the next time it comes up. It's just hard when they're both in the "why?" stage and answering any question always leads to 100 more.
First Son - born 2013
Second Son - born 2014 - Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) and Double Outlet Right Ventricle (DORV). First open heart surgery at 5 days old. He's had 3 open heart surgeries and several other procedures and is currently doing amazing. Third Son - due June 9, 2018
Re: Questions?? w/o 3/26
"Why do we have blood?" Then, after explaining, "Does furniture have blood?"
"Why does my butt have a hole in it?"
He was not amused to learn he has blood inside him, though.
DD (5yo) is intent on becoming a Dr and wants to know all aspects of the human body, so I'm trying to encourage that as much as I can.
He's also very into how bodies work and at 2 was also telling us the difference between an esophagus and trachea. I don't want to lie to him, but I also don't know how much to actually share at this age (he does not keep information to himself).
First Son - born 2013
Third Son - due June 9, 2018
These are memories I could live without.
DS: 6/1/18 (Pre-E; IUGR; seizures; NICU)
TTC #2: 12/2019
Sept 2020: HSG possible blocked right tube
Nov 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFN
Dec 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFP!!! EDD 9/18
TTC: 08/2017 EDD: 6/11/2018 FTM
First Son - born 2013
Third Son - due June 9, 2018
@doxiemoxie212 I don't remember that, but my bff has younger sisters that were being taught, so I've seen it also lol
Did she get it? Btw how old is your DD?
That said, it would not have even occurred to me that "boob" is a bad word.
@2589 My advice to you is to refer to them as something you would not mind having shouted in a public place. I don't find boobs inappropriate, but I sure as hell don't want it advertised in Target that the baby wants boobies. I have always referred to them as milkies. DD knows what nipples are and we have gone through the process of what they do and how they work, but I still haven't taught her another word for them because I'm not sure what substitute I prefer.
We use breasts, because it's anatomically correct. We also use the word nipple, if needed (which is like never lol).
We don't use cutesie names for anything, I don't want them thinking anatomical names are bad. I do explain, quite often, that we don't need to talk about them in public places. "It is okay to talk about it, but it's not a polite subject to talk about at the grocery store. Can we talk about this in the car?"
We also don't talk about poop, boogers, or blood at the store, lol. I'm trying to show them that bodily functions in general aren't appropriate for loud public discussions.
@lrichhx05 And the more I think about it, the type of people who will side eye a toddler saying boobs (aka my mother) will probably not be overly impressed with breasts either, but I have to teach her to call them something, right?
@doxiemoxie212 so much yes about the context of the “bad” words. I obviously try not to let her hear me say them often, but I realize she’s going to hear them pretty much everywhere anyways, and so I think there will come a day when she will have to learn that they’re not meant for general conversation and not towards people, but not a total taboo thing like many people would have you believe.
And tits or titties, will probably remain out of our conversations in the near future
DS will be 3 next month and knows that he and daddy have a penis, but momma has a vagina. He knows that I have breasts and everyone has nipples. He knows that the baby will be fed with my breasts, just as he was when he was a baby.
He knows that his baby sister is in my uterus (he still very cutely calls it a nuterus) not in my belly. And he knows she comes out of my vagina (because he was convinced she came out of my belly button).
We also have discussions about body parts being private and how there are appropriate places to discuss them and how other places aren’t so appropriate. Just like later on we will have discussions about how exploring your body is ok, but it needs to happen in private (in your room or in the bathroom, not in the living room). Etc.
We also don’t mind being naked in front of him. He showers with both of us, depending on the night and so will his sister. We don’t walk around naked, but we aren’t trying to constantly be always clothed around him either. Kids learning about bodies and learning that they aren’t a shameful thing and that they are in charge of their own bodies is helpful as they grow up and start to have sex talks and it helps them have self confidence about their bodies.
I think I will have a hard time cutting back on using swear words. I have a legit potty mouth. But growing up, my parents cussed in front of me frequently. I also knew those were words for grown ups and I wasn't allowed to say them. I have a vivid memory of the first time my mom got frustrated with my brother and I and told us, "I don't give a flying f*ck!" It cracked me up - like I couldn't stop laughing. I repeated it once when my dad got home and promptly got popped for using it. Thus reinforcing that, no matter how funny, those are grown up words.
I stubbed my toe, said "ah shit" and my teachers had to say something at the end of the day.
They explained that while it's not allowed to swear, even though I used it properly lmao
Since then she's said "ah sh-ugar" and "holy snapping butterflies"
I'd like to say we teach appropriate words, but I haven't really given DS1 and DS2 a word for vagina yet. They know penis and testicles and know that since I'm a girl I don't have those parts, but I haven't gotten into detail on what I do have. They know I have boobs (and that's what I call them) and that the baby will drink "Mommy milk" from them just like they did. I don't know what my own hang up is about vagina when penis is a daily word in our house.
First Son - born 2013
Third Son - due June 9, 2018
First Son - born 2013
Third Son - due June 9, 2018