“When did you get a baby in your belly?” asked my three-year-old.
.jpg)
I thought for a minute. “Last spring,” I said, and started talking about the weather. My diversion tactic did not work.
“How will you get him out?” Noah persisted.
“Umm. Well. I don’t know. Let’s go play trains!”
I called my Grandma Aesop (otherwise known as Grams) for advice. She told me a fable….
“There once was a mother whose youngster asked her the same questions. ‘How was I born?’ her son asked. The mother decided to swallow her embarrassment and dive right into sex education. She explained all about sperm and eggs and how a baby comes out. After she was finished, she took a deep breath and asked her son if that answered his question. ‘Oh,’ he said. ‘Well, Tommy told me he was born at St. Catherine’s Hospital, and I was just wondering if that’s how I was born, too.’”
Moral: Maybe my toddler isn’t looking for a scientific explanation here.
So I crafted a few simple responses and waited for the next question. I didn’t have to wait long.
“Mom, how did you get the baby in your belly?” Noah asked me.
“Your daddy helped me,” I answered.
“Oh,” said Noah. “That was nice of him."
Photo courtesy of SXC.
Comments
Hysterical. As the lawyers say, "Answer only the question you are asked and don't elaborate!"
One of my most brilliant parenting moments happened when my son skateboarded over a used condom and asked, "What was THAT?" In frank (and yucky) detail, I told him what it was for. He looked at me like I had grown a third eye and said, "No, MOM. I meant, was that an ambulance or a firetruck siren?"
Karen, that one made me laugh!
My 3 year old asked me a question that ended with me telling her that when she was a little baby she was in my tummy. She looked at me skeptically and asked how she would have been able to get "mommy milk" (nurse) if she was inside my tummy? I was impressed with logic and completely stumped on what to say next!
This is darling. Thanks for sharing such a sweet story and a lovely reminder that toddlers generally let us know just how much they are ready to hear.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!