Before I had kids, I was determined to be a progressive parent, one who would not shy away from being open and honest with my kids about all matters of life. I wanted my kids to have a healthy understanding of their bodies and feel comfortable discussing their concerns with me. However, I’m sad to admit that when the subject came up, I tucked my tail between my legs and ran. Speaking of tails, this is how the morning began:
Davin: Rowan has a tail!
Me: Really? Let me see! (I picked up Rowan and pulled back his diaper slightly to see his back side.) Nope, no tail here. Do you have a tail Davin?
Davin: Noooo. I have a fladder.
Me: A fladder? (I pause for a moment trying to deduce this one.) Oh, you mean a bladder.
Davin: I have a bladder. Rowan has one too.
All of the sudden I realized what Davin thought his “bladder” was and the significance that he recognized that Rowan had one too. Here was my teaching moment! A chance to set things right, to talk about “bladders” and what that all means, at least at a three year old level.
Me: Oh yeah, a bladder… right…ah hem, who wants breakfast?
This isn’t the first time that I’ve shied away from teaching moments and correcting vocabulary. While I was breastfeeding Rowan, Davin became aware of my breasts, recognizing that they were different from Daddy, etc. Davin called them “belly buttons” and I am yet to correct him on this point. Considering how much he talks about poop lately, I’m secretly afraid that he’ll make his primary teachers blush or point out these features on a random stranger. Any suggestions on approaching this topic with a three year old?
Davin: Rowan has a tail!
Me: Really? Let me see! (I picked up Rowan and pulled back his diaper slightly to see his back side.) Nope, no tail here. Do you have a tail Davin?
Davin: Noooo. I have a fladder.
Me: A fladder? (I pause for a moment trying to deduce this one.) Oh, you mean a bladder.
Davin: I have a bladder. Rowan has one too.
All of the sudden I realized what Davin thought his “bladder” was and the significance that he recognized that Rowan had one too. Here was my teaching moment! A chance to set things right, to talk about “bladders” and what that all means, at least at a three year old level.
Me: Oh yeah, a bladder… right…ah hem, who wants breakfast?
This isn’t the first time that I’ve shied away from teaching moments and correcting vocabulary. While I was breastfeeding Rowan, Davin became aware of my breasts, recognizing that they were different from Daddy, etc. Davin called them “belly buttons” and I am yet to correct him on this point. Considering how much he talks about poop lately, I’m secretly afraid that he’ll make his primary teachers blush or point out these features on a random stranger. Any suggestions on approaching this topic with a three year old?
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