Anatomy Lesson

  Let me first say that last year, I  heard a speaker stress the importance of always using correct terminology when talking about private parts with children.  Middle C is a very curious and precocious child.  Needless to say, she has become very interested in naming parts.  Every morning we drive past several horses, we are usually in traffic so there is time to observe them.  A few weeks ago C piped up, “that is a boy horse because it has a penis and it is huge!”  I acknowledged her statement without giggling.  The next morning, it dawned on her that all animals must have a penis or vagina, hence leading to several weeks of checking out any animal she sees and informing us as to the sex of the animal.  After hearing penis and vagina being screamed from the back seat in the car a few more times, I told her that observation is fine, but it isn’t necessary to inform everyone about what you see, that is rude.   That was the end to the naming of parts phase. The other day, I had all three girls and I needed to run an errand.  Baby A had a Ziploc baggie with goldfish; the other two girls are behaving nicely.  We walk up to checkout; there is a line about two people deep.  Baby A decides that she is all out of good and starts swinging her open baggie of goldfish around showering the floor with fish.   I bend down to attempt to pick up the renegade fish when I hear Middle C screech,” The only way to tell, is to ask to see his vagina or penis and we can’t do that, it’s rude!”  I popped up, knocking my head on the shopping cart handle just in time to make eye contact with the customer in front of us.  The transvestite glared at me as he grabbed his purchases and sashayed out the door.  You can imagine the discussion in the car on the way home.  Isn't parenting fun?