Birds and the Bees

[JamieJL]

So a week or so ago my son, only 8 yrs old, comes and says "mom, how are babies made?".  By the crimson color of my face you'd have thought it was the first time he'd ever asked. Actually it was about the 5th time he'd asked and previously my answers went something like "son I'll tell you when you're older" or "we'll talk about it later".  But this time it started to occur to me that perhaps his persistent curiosity stemmed from the fact that he was hearing something from his peers or perhaps he'd seen something on his tv (unfortunately I recently found out the parental controls I'd set on it doesn't cover Family Guy)so I decided I'd rather he hear this from me than one of his twisted classmates. I sent him to the other room so I could collect myself and figure out the best way to explain this to him and eventually I found a very informative website for parents and children to talk about sex education.  I can only name about 2 other occassions when I was more embarassed than I was talking to him about the difference between boys and girls parts and how they "work together" to make babies.  The first 5 minutes was the most awkward and from there it was a little easier.  The website touched on safe sex, pregnancy, STD's, who shouldn't be touching him, who to tell if he felt like someone hurt him or violated him and even masterbation and abortion (I thought those last 2 were a bit uneccessary so I left it out in our talk).  It was very straight forward although I used terminology he used and/or related to like he calls his parts his "peanuts" and females had a "donut".  We talked about everything we read and saw and I allowed him to ask whatever questions he had no matter how silly he thought they were. Throughout it all I kept stressing the fact that none of this was for children just the same with Drugs and Alcohol but the more I kept saying it it started to sound a little contradictory.  It ranked up there with my mom telling me as a kid "do as I say not as I do". But I pressed on and when it was all said and done I was just thinking this is ridiculous, I didn't ask these questions until I was damn near 13!!!  I remember going through my first sex education class in the 7th grade and even then I didn't pay attention to any of it because i was too busy makin paper airplanes.  My sister went through her first sex ed class in the 4th grade making her what....9 or 10?!  What's next, sex ed in Kindergarten?  One down, one to go.

[momsbreak5654]

Oct. 1, 2009 at 4:59 AM

My children knew where babies came from, between the ages of 5 and 8, depending on the which child it was.  I gave them age appropriate information,

By the age of 11 or 12, was when we had the "real" talk, which included sex, std's, pregnacy, and relationships.

I think it all depends on the child.

[MSugarKane]

Oct. 1, 2009 at 6:16 AM

When they ask is when its time, age appropriately.   The more you inform them, the less they will ask their friends and get mis =information.

The child does not and will not find it embarrasing.  They look at it like a history lesson.  

So just answer as best you can.

Good luck!

[sunmoonstars071]

Oct. 1, 2009 at 10:42 AM

I answer questions as my kids ask them.  All of my kid's began asking questions between 5y-7y.