After 8 or so calls from the library, I decided it was time to return our overdue library books. Every Wednesday the book mobile comes to the Sonic near our house. I let the girls choose their own 4 books and we are on our way. Rarely do I double check their book selections, it's their time to choose whatever they want. Sure, we have arrived home just to realize that we have three book about snakes, no big deal. At least twice I have had to read that damn book, "Goodnight, Moon." But its the children's section, for crying out loud, how bad can the books be? Not that bad, I thought.
I was wrong.
After our last visit, during bedtime, Addison pulls this little gem from her bag:
I'm very open with my children about parts of their body. I have always used the proper anatomical term and vowed to answer any questions as they came up. So the book, (with supervision) is a great tool to use and is written in a very appropriate way. I can see this book being very helpful for parents to start a dialogue about body parts with their children. But be prepared to read words like "scrotum" without cringing.
Addison absorbed much of the information and asked only a few basic questions. Not much was new information to her, based on our conversations and openness. I placed the book back in her book bag. In her room. Never thought about it again.
Until nap time today. I was sorely unprepared for the curveball she was about to throw me.
Addi: Mom! Look at this!
Mom: it's quiet time Addison, go lay down
Addi: no really, Mom! You need to look at this, pleeeeeeeease!
(turns head towards the stairs, and DEAR GOD! She has the book and is frantic for me to see something)
Me: OK! What is it?
Addi: (points to the picture with the male dog...... All the parts are labeled) What is this?
I begin to sweat.....then give myself an internal pep talk, " it's fine, lets just keep calm and answer her questions in a very basic and age appropriate way, you got this."
Me: that is a boy dog and those are his testicles.
Addi: oooooooooooh, it's his testicles. That's right!
Me: Yep, now give me this book, and go back and lay down for quiet time.
Addi: why does he have testicles?
Me: because he is a boy dog, now please go lay down........is it getting hot in here?
Addi: Does Gage have testicles?
Me: yes, he is a boy dog........ Oh wait, no he doesn't have testicles.............But seriously please go lay down, Mommy needs a drink of water
Addi: why doesn't Gage have testicles?
Me: oh, I don't know.... It's really.... Um..... Kinda...... Aren't you sleepy, you look sleepy, and hot......
Addi: you said Gage is a boy and boys have testicles, where are his testicles?!?!?!?!
Me: um....right, well..... some boy dogs have surgery............ And they don't need babies...... So the doctor cuts the testicles off.......
Addi: (looks with horror) THEY CUT THEM OFF?
Me: ok.......what I meant was.... For their health..... They have, um.....a surgery...... And they take out the testicles...... So the dog can be healthy..... Oh my goodness, it's so hot in here.......
Addi: what do they take them out of? Their body? Do they cut them out of their body? Did they cut them out if Gagers body? Why did they do that?
Me: ok, listen to me........ (Pull it together, Mager!) Gage had a surgery before we got him...... To keep him healthy...... And it's called, um..... It's called...... Why can't I think of what it's called? .... Anyway, he is fine...... He didn't need his testicles so he had a surgery....... And now he doesn't have testicles, but he is very happy and healthy....... And when Daddy gets back you can ask him lots of questions ok?
Addi: but what about..........
Me: nope..... Mommy can't answer anymore questions.... GO LAY DOWN!
