We call peni "peepees."

GladToBeMrs.SRS

And I don't feel bad about it.  Honestly, I really don't get the big push for correct genital anatomical terminology at an early age. 

I don't talk about the distal phalanx of his fingertips, or proclaim that his epidermis is injured, so why the hype about the penis? Eventually, he'll learn the proper term, and I doubt it'll scar him for life that we call his penis a peepee. 

Anyone want to educate me? 

Brosis

I thought it was called, "The Little Soldier".  

Soyager

I don't get it, either. It's the same as saying, "Look at that feral feline" versus "Horny pus-say!" The latter is just easier for the kid.

papagena

I may be wrong, but for whatever reason, I find it more annoying when people cutsy up the female anatomy.  If not for the bump and my aversion to calling a vagina anything other than a vagina (it is not a va-jay-jay nor is it named Sally), we'd probably opt for pee pee, too.  I kind of go back and forth as it is.

papagena

Soyager:

I don't get it, either. It's the same as saying, "Look at that feral feline" versus "Horny pus-say!" The latter is just easier for the kid.

*scratches head*  I'm not sure if you're employing some sarcasm, or if I'm missing something...  If my child uttered the words 'horny pus-say' I'd slap him upside the head.  

On a not-really-related note, my aunt drives me crazy every time she corrects my 80+ year old Grannie (who is English) when she calls her cat her puss or pus-say cat.  With age comes its privilege, and IMO, that should be one of them.

Poonico

We too say pee-pee

I don't think saying penis and/or vagina is polite in most daily conversations.  Though I wouldn't talk about it at all in most conversations.

I also don't like when people are always talking about it, like when Oprah went on that vajayjay thing... OMG, seriously?  When is appropriate to talk about your vagina that much

mrs.a.butler

papagena:

I may be wrong, but for whatever reason, I find it more annoying when people cutsy up the female anatomy.  If not for the bump and my aversion to calling a vagina anything other than a vagina (it is not a va-jay-jay nor is it named Sally), we'd probably opt for pee pee, too.  I kind of go back and forth as it is.

this.

we call ds's penis a peepee.  And if we had a girl we called it a peepee too.  lol.  I think that's what we did with my nieces.  But, if I didn't I would call it a vagina

Dobie_Mama

S says "phalanges" instead of "fingers" or "toes".  Honestly.  I don't really make a habit of teaching her osteological terms but for some reason those stuck.

She does say "vagina".  I don't really care what other kids say, or think it's wrong either way.  I say vagina, so she says vagina. 

felt_tip_pen

Eh, I don't mind the nicknames. We call it a "peepee" too.

I think a lot of what people are reacting to is the shame that makes adults unable to say the correct words without serious embarrassment. I've known actual adult women incapable of saying the word vagina, which is beyond ridiculous.

j.h.mommy

papagena:

Soyager:

I don't get it, either. It's the same as saying, "Look at that feral feline" versus "Horny pus-say!" The latter is just easier for the kid.

*scratches head*  I'm not sure if you're employing some sarcasm, or if I'm missing something...  If my child uttered the words 'horny pus-say' I'd slap him upside the head.  

Me too.

GladToBeMrs.SRS

Dobie_Mama:

S says "phalanges" instead of "fingers" or "toes".  Honestly.  I don't really make a habit of teaching her osteological terms but for some reason those stuck.

She does say "vagina".  I don't really care what other kids say, or think it's wrong either way.  I say vagina, so she says vagina. 

Well, who *doesn't* like saying "phalanges"?  It's a fun word.  As is "oocyte". And I love writing "fasciitis."  There's just something about the double "i". 

Joes_love

speaking as a child that was molested and didn't know the correct terms to be able to tell where i was touched, we teach ds the appropriate terms.

i have no problem with whatever you want to call it. 

crackerjackprinter

felt_tip_pen:

Eh, I don't mind the nicknames. We call it a "peepee" too.

I think a lot of what people are reacting to is the shame that makes adults unable to say the correct words without serious embarrassment. I've known actual adult women incapable of saying the word vagina, which is beyond ridiculous.

This.  That's why my dad and stepmom took the "anatomical" approach with their kids.  I don't see any harm in it but you have to expect it to be said in public a few times and not be embarrassed.  We'll probably take the same approach simply because I feel even more weird using nicknames.  I don't fault anyone using them though, it's just a personal preference. 

GladToBeMrs.SRS

Joes_love:

speaking as a child that was molested and didn't know the correct terms to be able to tell where i was touched, we teach ds the appropriate terms.

i have no problem with whatever you want to call it. 

This is logical.  I'm sorry you had to deal with that, Joes.  

 

((hugs))

felt_tip_pen

GladToBeMrs.SRS:

Joes_love:

speaking as a child that was molested and didn't know the correct terms to be able to tell where i was touched, we teach ds the appropriate terms.

i have no problem with whatever you want to call it. 

This is logical.  I'm sorry you had to deal with that, Joes.  

 

((hugs))

This

andrealynn0707

Joes_love:

speaking as a child that was molested and didn't know the correct terms to be able to tell where i was touched, we teach ds the appropriate terms.

i have no problem with whatever you want to call it. 

I think this is the main argument for anatomical naming. 

I am so sorry that you had to go through that, Joes. 

Hippinski

I don't have a problem with people using cutesy names as long as the kids have a general understanding about the real names.  For me it's very important because I am a survivor of childhood sexual abuse.  It's important to me that God forbid anything happen to my kids that they are able to communicate with me about what is happening.  I get that it isn't important to everyone, but it is to me.

I will say that I think it's creepy if a kid calls her vulva her vajayjay or something equally as vulgar.  I get pee-pee or wee-wee...but vajayjay?  Hellz no.

mzovoce

felt_tip_pen:

Eh, I don't mind the nicknames. We call it a "peepee" too.

I think a lot of what people are reacting to is the shame that makes adults unable to say the correct words without serious embarrassment. I've known actual adult women incapable of saying the word vagina, which is beyond ridiculous.

this is an excellent point. My niece is 10 and has staretd menstrating, she refers to everything as "her parts". It's very confusing when she has an issue as to exactly what is her issue.  

purplepuggles

Joes_love:

speaking as a child that was molested and didn't know the correct terms to be able to tell where i was touched, we teach ds the appropriate terms.

i have no problem with whatever you want to call it. 

i saw a lot of kids in this situation when i was working for DSS. that is part of why we use the anatomical terms as well.

the other reason is that DH and i both would feel stupid telling DS he has a peepee or whatever other word you might use. we tell him a penis is for going peepee. and we will tell DD she has a vagina (although i am aware that according to diehards i should say vulva, that just sounds weird to me since i refer to it as my vagina). i will teach her the word labia though.

thejennigirl

We say weewee.  Xavian named it, and we've stuck with it.  Of course, the day he noticed Korra's was different, he thought her weewee had broken off, and that took some explaining about the difference between boys and girls.

 

renee143

felt_tip_pen:

.

I think a lot of what people are reacting to is the shame that makes adults unable to say the correct words without serious embarrassment. I've known actual adult women incapable of saying the word vagina, which is beyond ridiculous.

ditto

ElloPoppet

Max will be taught the correct anatomical terms for everything, but I have no issue with silly names for parts, as well. I usually refer to his "doodle", and I refer to my "girl parts" or Hubby's "man parts". We also say penor, which is sort of an internet slang term.

Vajayjay is inappropriate to me - I'd rather just have someone call it her vag.

kdello

I ran into some concern when my cousin (I took care of several) wasn't capable of explaining the difference between where something was causing her pain. I couldn't tell if she was telling me her bottom hurt or her actual vagina hurt. Turns out it was the latter, a urinary tract problem. She'd been saying her "bottom" hurt and we kept thinking she was just constipated.

I don't mind a silly name, as long as the kiddo knows that "peepee" and "penis" are interchangable. I'm having a girl, so we'll probably go with "vulva" or "girl parts".

smurfetteinred

GladToBeMrs.SRS:

I don't talk about the distal phalanx of his fingertips, or proclaim that his epidermis is injured,

Ahh but see I don't refer to my fingertips as distal phalanx's in every day conversation or use other medical terms for my body parts. I call it a penis if discussing them and I refer to vaginas not any other term as well so it only seems logical to say the same to my children. But unlike my mil, I don't make up kid words for everything I say to my children. (I have a list if you're interested ) I will admit to sometimes using the term peen and vag online because I find the terms amusing lol.

That said - it doesn't bother me if others want to call it a peepee. I think it bothers a lot of people because generally it's the only body part that we alter for our children and it seems to relate back to this countries squeamishness about sex and sexuality. Just my two cents.

smurfetteinred

felt_tip_pen:

I think a lot of what people are reacting to is the shame that makes adults unable to say the correct words without serious embarrassment. I've known actual adult women incapable of saying the word vagina, which is beyond ridiculous.

This. You said it better than me.

smurfetteinred

And one more: (((((((((hugs))))))))))))) to Joes and Hippy. I am sorry that you had to go through that.

papagena

smurfetteinred:

 I think it bothers a lot of people because generally it's the only body part that we alter for our children and it seems to relate back to this countries squeamishness about sex and sexuality.

I think you said it quite well.   Better than I.

*speedracer*

i don't think it will scar him, but i also don't think that phalanges and epidermis are comparable examples.

ET calls it a penis, without any push to be "proper."  it is what it is.  ::shrug::

HappyHearts

DH wants use to use "peepee". I feel the need to use "vagina".We are undecided but we need to come to an agreement.

I'm curious (genuinely, honestly because I wouldn't know how to answer this if we followed DH's preference) -

How can you teach the difference between the two genders if they are both called peepees?

How is vagina more embarrassing than peepee when yelled in public? Either way, we know what they are referring to, right?

GladToBeMrs.SRS

Here's another question/quandary/whatever I have about using "proper" anatomical terminology -- technically, in many cases, parents are incorrectly referring to the urethra as the vagina. Most little girls (or at least mine) is more concerned where urine comes from than than the reproductive parts. 

And if you call it vulva, how does that make it any more descriptive than "peepee" or "front of your bottom/back of your bottom"?  

 

I'm not in any way being snarky or judgy...just curious.  And chatty.  

ErinMSB

purplepuggles:

the other reason is that DH and i both would feel stupid telling DS he has a peepee or whatever other word you might use. we tell him a penis is for going peepee. and we will tell DD she has a vagina (although i am aware that according to diehards i should say vulva, that just sounds weird to me since i refer to it as my vagina). i will teach her the word labia though.

This is the reason I still don't know what to call it.  (So far, we just refer to it as her "girl parts.")  I think that if we're going to use correct terms for DD's parts, then we should really use the correct terms.  Her vagina is different than her labia.  But how do you explain to a 14 month old the difference between her labia and her vagina and everything else?  Maybe we'll just stick with "girl parts" and if we have a boy call them his "boy parts."  I don't know... 

papagena

GladToBeMrs.SRS:

Here's another question/quandary/whatever I have about using "proper" anatomical terminology -- technically, in many cases, parents are incorrectly referring to the urethra as the vagina. Most little girls (or at least mine) is more concerned where urine comes from than than the reproductive parts. 

And if you call it vulva, how does that make it any more descriptive than "peepee" or "front of your bottom/back of your bottom"?  

 

I'm not in any way being snarky or judgy...just curious.  And chatty.  

My parents taught me correctly, at least at the point where I was a young girl but old enough to have memories.  I guess for me, at that young age, the 'fa-china' (vagina was a bit hard as a word, but I still knew it - and china, the delicate stuff that we only took out on special occasions seemed a bit more doable and oddly appropriate) was the entire area, while one did pee from where you peed from (perhaps I called it pee pee, I don't think my parents tried the word urethra, which is a bit of a tongue twister).

For the record, I remember that concept coming along with the "if anyone touches you" talk.  I can't say what was talked about earlier.  Unlike boys, I imagine that girls have less of a fascination since there isn't something quite as handy to hold onto. 

Hippinski

We use the correct terms.  Like when Kate is playing with her vulva I ask her if she is playing with her vulva and when she tried to put a crayon up her vagina (I know...gross) I told her that crayons are only for coloring.  Urine comes out of the urethra/pee pee hole..but we honestly haven't had to deal with that yet.

For Monkey it's both foreskin and penis. But then again you (Glad) also knows the story from this weekend and how he knows he's getting to be a big boy. LOL

Laroogirl

Caleb is starting to potty learn so there is lot of talk of penises, peepees and poop in our house right now.  He generally refers to his penis as a peepee, but also calls it a penis.  He knows poop comes from one place and pee another.

My neice calls her girl parts vulva or vagina.  She's 3.5 years old and has used those terms since she was 2 or so.

aspade

I read recently that children who know the correct anatomical terms are less likely to be molested.  Take teaching those to DD and add in my super sensitive "perv meter," and hopefully nothing will ever happen to her like what I had to go through.

smurfetteinred

Ditto the pp's (heehee) I refer to the whole system as a vagina (incorrectly, I know) so it would be vagina that I would teach to my children. I learned vagina as a child before I fully understood that there was more going on down there than meets the eye and then as I got older, I learned the more specific names. That was my plan with my children but I suppose I should say vulva since that's really the correct general name but I don't know anyone who refers to it as a vulva rather than as a vagina. I suppose teaching things incorrectly because everyone does it incorrectly isn't the best solution so I might need to think about that now.

Geez. Thanks a lot Glad! 

blissfully_caffeinated

I don't see the point in pushing the use of the words vagina or penis. When you say peepee it's obvious what you're referring to. I just don't like weird made up names like my sprinkle or glitter (yes, I've actually heard a little girl refer to her vagina as her sprinkle - instructed by mom).