I wrote a post on my BabyCenter blog about having the sex talk with your kids in response to a video by Cut.com. The video featured parents talking with their kids about the birds and the bees. The analogies used to describe sex are hilarious or awkward depending on how you look at it. One parent illustrates how sperm travels to fertilize the egg, while others ask their children how humans are made. But, I never thought I’d be in their shoes this soon. Just the other day my four-year-old daughter asked me, “where do babies come from?”
Courtesy Viewpoint Photography
Well, she didn’t use those words exactly. But, I knew exactly what she was referring to. I’m usually pretty quick on my feet. I work in TV for goodness sake! I’ve had anchors throw all kinds of curve balls my way live on-air, and I’m usually able to hit them out of the park. But, this time I was stumped. The conversation became so awkward, I didn’t know what to do. So, I took out my cell phone and hit record.
If it were up to me, I’d keep it all the way real with her. But, I didn’t want to jump the gun without my hubby being on board. Instead, I tried my best to deal with the situation. Here’s how the conversation went.
“How did you and Daddy put our heads on our bodies?” she asked.
“Daddy and I made you with the help of God,” I answered.
I thought that was the end of the conversation. But, that answer didn’t do it for Princess.
“But, But, But. Can I tell you something? How did you put our heads to our bodies and bodies to our face and our legs to our feet?” She asked.
“Daddy and Mommy…..Umm….Umm…. You may be a little too young to have this conversation,” I responded.
“Huh?” she asked
“We’ll have this conversation later. I’ll have to talk to your Dad,” I answered.
I later played the recording for my hubby who wasn’t too pleased about the chat. In fact, he flat out said that he didn’t want to have the ‘sex talk’ with our four-year-old.
“But, what if we kept it simple and stick to science?” I asked.
He wasn’t going for that either. I went on to explain that ignoring her curiosity would do more harm than good. “If she doesn’t get the answer from us, she’ll just ask someone else,” I said. That’s what I did as a child.
As it turns out, she had asked her Dad prior to coming to me. When she didn’t get an answer, she came to me. Then she went to Grandma after our conversation. Clearly, Princess wasn’t going to give up until she got an answer. The last thing I want is for her to find out a little too much information prematurely. Ultimately, we agreed on how to approach the subject.
Fast forward a few weeks later and she brings up the “Where do babies come from” topic again. We were on our way to school when she jogged my memory. This time I was prepared.
I referenced a book that we read during story time to help with the explanation. “Know how hens lay eggs?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Well, Mommy has eggs too and that’s how Daddy and I made you and your brother,” I said.
“Daddy has eggs too?” she asked.
“Kind of. Only we call his sperm,” I answered.
“What’s sperm?” she asked.
“Like how Mommy makes eggs, Daddy makes sperm. When you put them together, a baby grows,” I responded.
That was the end of the discussion.
So, if someone were to ask me the best way to answer the question, “Where do babies come from,” I’d say keep it simple and age appropriate.
I’m sure there will be a more in depth conversation about the birds and the bees when Princess gets a little older. But for now, she’s satisfied with our recent chat.
How would you answer the question, “Where do babies come from?”