Well yesterday Rosie Posie asked me the question. We were looking at different subjects in science when she declared "I do not want to learn anymore about plants, bugs and birds. I want to learn more about the human body because I have no idea where babies come from."
Posco said "they come from Mommy's belly. God puts them there."
"No, I want to know exactly how God puts them there."
Oh, just when I thought parenting could get no worse than spills, poopy diapers and vomiting. What am I going to do?
So Rosie Posie is at a weird age. On the one hand she answers a great deal of trivia questions, is well read and quite intelligent for a child her age. Then she gets up and walks into a wall that has been there since we have lived here and says "Ow,I didn't know that was there." Is this normal? I don't remember.
No, no, it is quite unnatural. If I were you, I'd have Rosie Posey committed to a good hospital and have them run those tests where they have people run on treadmills with monitors attached to them. Actually, if there is one thing I know about Adrianna, it's that she gets embarrassed quickly if she does something like walks into a wall, and then covers it up with a really weak lie like "how long has that been there?" I wonder what those tests are supposed to prove anyway?
I would say tell her. Did you say she was going back to public school or have I unfortunately mixed you up with someone else? If so, tell her before someone else does!
Um, of course I respect your parental decisions in this matter about a child I don't even know :) I just took "What am I going to do?" as a request for input. Possibly incorrectly.
No, she is not going to public school. Of course I will tell her, but my "what am I going?" to do was more about expressing my intrepidation than really what do to. But if anyone knows a good Catholic book besdides Mother's Little Helper...
As mom to an almost 10-year-old girl who is rapidly approaching "weird age"...I can say that if it *isn't* normal for an intelligent girl of those 'tween years to walk into a wall that she *should* know was there, then at least you're not alone! :-)
On the trepidation front, I'm there with you, woman. It is so, so, so hard to see our little girls growing quickly into young women and part of the reason for that trepidation is that we know what's in store for them...all the joys and sorrows of becoming a woman. ::sigh::
My local NFP teacher does a 'mother/daughter tea' for young ladies in that age group. You could contact her for resources -
Kathy Rivet BS[KRivet@sjh-nh.org]
Fertility Care Services
St. Joseph Healthcare
172 Kinsley St.
Nashua, NH 03061-2013
(603) 595-3947
FAX (603) 578-5028
My kids (male and female) never asked me that directly - but I think that they probably picked up a lot by osmosis and also sneaked peaks into my medical books!
I wouldn't be surprised about the medical books, Alicia. My husband remembers browsing Gray's Anatomy at 4 years old. His mother was is nursing school and he was quite precoscious.
I want to give really smart advice but it's too obviously I don't have any experience. Darn.
I am going to hold off with the details for a bit. Even though she did ask, I do not think she is ready for the info. I really think she will be "I'm sorry I asked. She said this was something she wanted to learn in science class, so I think she thinks it's more of a scientific answer than an emotional one.
Anyway, she won't let us talk to her about training bras, so I think I will wait. If she were going to school, I would tell her.
(Sandy from Trad Cath Moms, here)
Pansy, so nice to see you back!! I have been a very pregnant travelling fool for the past month. Shortly before our life became so transient (good...holiday time!!), my 9 yr old came in and asked me, "Exactly how does the egg get fertilized by the sperm." OY!!
I borrowed a set of books from my next door neighbor. They are not Catholic, but they are Christian. I didn't see anything in them contrary to Church teaching and knew enough about the teachings to add them in where they were missing. These books made it really easy and great and wonderful. We had a terrific conversation, with his 7 yr old brother present, too. They had both been told by the neighbor kids, who have all been, ahem, fortunate enough to have had Puberty Class in school.
I will get the book title from my neighbor. My boys know exactly how that sperm gets inside and I am still alive.
You should also know that our friend in Alaska has had her baby...a little girl. I got the info from her teen son and it was like pulling teeth!!! With our time difference, I always have a devil of a time reaching her, so I really don't have all the details just yet.