Kate & I had an "interesting" conversation the other day.
{Don't you love her outfit? It's her ladybug costume & her snow hat. She is getting ready to go to Tahoe}
The conversation went a little something like this:
Kate: Mommy, how did I get in your tummy? Did you eat me?
Me: No, I didn't eat you. Mommy & Daddy loved each other very much & decided it was time for a baby.
Kate: But how did I get IN your tummy?
Me (starting to feel awkward): Well, we prayed for a baby and God put you in my tummy.
Kate: But, how did God put me in your tummy? A hole?
Me (muttering under my breath): Ummmm....yeah, kinda though a hole.
Kate: Well, if God put me in your tummy, then how did I get out of your tummy?
Me: Well, the Doctor said it was time for you to come out.
Kate: Did he look in your tummy & say, "There's a baby girl in there! She needs to come out?"
Me: Yep. That is exactly what happened. The doctor knew we were ready to meet you.
(which was true....I was induced both times.)
Kate: Oh. Can I have some cereal?
Kate is not even 3.5 yet.
Isn't this early for her to start asking me these kinds of things?!?
(Although, last year she did have THIS conversation with Kevin.)
I was TOTALLY not prepared her questions (obviously, based on my lame responses)
Does anyone have any tips on what to say if this conversation comes up again?
Any books I should read? How much info does she really need to know at this age? What is appropriate?
{Don't you love her outfit? It's her ladybug costume & her snow hat. She is getting ready to go to Tahoe}The conversation went a little something like this:
Kate: Mommy, how did I get in your tummy? Did you eat me?
Me: No, I didn't eat you. Mommy & Daddy loved each other very much & decided it was time for a baby.
Kate: But how did I get IN your tummy?
Me (starting to feel awkward): Well, we prayed for a baby and God put you in my tummy.
Kate: But, how did God put me in your tummy? A hole?
Me (muttering under my breath): Ummmm....yeah, kinda though a hole.
Kate: Well, if God put me in your tummy, then how did I get out of your tummy?
Me: Well, the Doctor said it was time for you to come out.
Kate: Did he look in your tummy & say, "There's a baby girl in there! She needs to come out?"
Me: Yep. That is exactly what happened. The doctor knew we were ready to meet you.
(which was true....I was induced both times.)
Kate: Oh. Can I have some cereal?
Kate is not even 3.5 yet.Isn't this early for her to start asking me these kinds of things?!?
(Although, last year she did have THIS conversation with Kevin.)
I was TOTALLY not prepared her questions (obviously, based on my lame responses)Does anyone have any tips on what to say if this conversation comes up again?
Any books I should read? How much info does she really need to know at this age? What is appropriate?
Help! I can't take another awkward conversation with my 3 year old! ahhhh!!!***Edited on June 3oth:
Click HERE to read part 2
That is the cutest thing!
ReplyDeleteI think you handled it very well. Those questions make me squirm too.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness! So funny! You should ask Heather, she's had to explain the "baby in the belly" thing more than once. :) I'm definitely going to check back on this post to see the responses! (P.S. So glad I have another friend who is doing this parenting thing ahead of me. :)
ReplyDeleteAre you going to Tahoe for the 4th? If so, have fun!
i wish i had some tips, but i am getting the same questions for the girls, if that makes you feel better.
ReplyDeleteand i think you did a great job. kaylin thinks she walked right out of my belly and that was it...too funny!
enjoy your weekend!
i agree...i think you did great! i say you just give it to her small, concise bits with just enough mystery to keep her innocent and happy.
ReplyDeleteWe told Hunter and Hailey that God put Owen in my tummy. When they ask how I say because he is magical, remember how he made the Earth?
ReplyDeleteHailey thinks that Owen will "poof out of my belly button like an airplane" when hes done. haha
HUnter knows It hurts and women scream and then the baby comes out, he didn't ask where exactly the baby comes out of yet LOL.
I have no suggestions because I just do the same thing that you did. When I was pregnant with Easton, EmmyKate kept trying to figure out how he was going to get out and 1 night she told me that the doctor was going to take it out through my forehead! I just let her go with it because how do you explain childbirth to a 4 year old!
ReplyDeleteOh boy! I am actually suprised that Hannah hasn't had that conversation with me yet. Too funny. I think you handled it well too. I read once that when kids ask questions like that, you give them just enough information to satisfy their question, but do not go into detail unless they continue asking. I don't know, it's a tough subject to deal with!
ReplyDeleteI have found when they ask, they don't really want to know the gory details. Just that God put them there and the doctor took them out always satisfied mine (now 8 and 4).
ReplyDeleteFrom a "Talking to kids about sex" seminar I went to at our preschool....many years ago:
ReplyDelete#1 rule....when they ask a question, ask it right back to them. ie "How do you think you got in there?" Ask them what THEY think the answer is, what they think they already know. Always, always, do this step before you start showering the little ones with info-they might be satisfied just sharing and you find out what they are thinking.
#2 rule.....always call body parts by the real name...
#3 rule.... the more you share when they're little....giving bits of info as they develop...then it sure is easier when they are older and "put it all together'.
I had THE talk with my boys last summer, and it was honestly no big deal. I always use God's perspective too...and bring in family values. When my 10 year old had "family life" last spring, he was fully prepped and it wasn't a shameful/embarassing thing. One thing we did also was deeply express to the boys that these are private issues and we don't talk about them at school or with friends. The last thing anyone needs is another kid at daycare telling Johnny all about the penis, right? Can you say PRIVATE?
LOL!! i don't know what I'll do when Kenzie asks that.
ReplyDeleteI have no advice.
however Kenzie did enjoy looking at the pictures of Kate in this post.
I'm been dancing around the subject with Camden, but did you read what Chloe asked me today?! She went to my check-up with me. You'll have to check it out :)
ReplyDeleteI think you did a perfect job. Sierra started asking similar questions at about that age. I think answering each question as they come, without being graphic (obviously) is enough. Kids are so easily distracted. I don't think they want to necessarily get into it. They just want an answer that's good enough and then they want to move on to other things. That is so darn funny though. :)
ReplyDeleteOh I just had one of those with lydia the other day. "So they cut you open and take the baby out?"
ReplyDelete"Yesish." I didn't have a c-section though.
Oh please make it stop.
I think that you did a perfect job! I always go w/ my instict that they will ask as much as they want to know. I think that there are some books though that can help. I would check the Christian book store, maybe??
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute post. I remember having conversations like this when my girls were little.
ReplyDeleteHere is a link to some books I used with my girls:
http://www.queenhomeschool.com/productpages/godsplanforgrowingup.html
They are beautiful, godly books. The one about the Baby is great, though I didn't read it with mine till they were maybe 11 or 12, so it may not be time for that yet.
They approach it from a godly perspective and I held onto mine so my daughters could use them for their children.
Absolutely precious! I am so glad I stumbled across your blog. Can't wait to read more! Hope you are enjoying a beautiful weekend!
ReplyDeleteIs it mean that I am laughing?
ReplyDeleteIt is mean.
But I just can't help it!! ;):)
You've got to be kidding me! I just read this to Ryan and could hardly even get through it all because I was laughing so hard. And the link to last year's conversation was just as funny. Seriously, I know I'm going to be laughing about this for the next couple of days. Loved the muttering under your breath comment. Well written my friend. Well written.
ReplyDeleteI think you did fantastic, we also have had similar converstaions and I say the same things, she's quite persistant though!!!! I think you did great!
ReplyDeleteWe've taken the honesty route with our boys and it is actually less awkward. When we tried to dance around it, they kept asking more and more questions, making me feel more awkward! But by being honest, they stop with an answer that sounds "good enough" to them.
ReplyDeleteStill funny!
(LOVE that first picture!!)
Well, we haven't been faced with those questions yet, but for what it's worth, I think you handled the questions remarkably well!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, love her wardrobe selection...gotta love their independent streaks!
You handled it like a champ. I am so not ready for that. But, my oldest is 8 and is a thinker. Not yet, please!
ReplyDeleteNo tips, but I had a lot of questions when I was pregnant with Gianna, and very similar answers to yours.
ReplyDeleteThat is hilarious! 3.5 - really? My son just turned 3 and I am by no means ready to answer such questions. He has already started with the thought-provoking questions so I guess I should get ready!
ReplyDeleteI'm new to your blog, by the way and look forward to reading more.