Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Pressing the Panic Button

"Mommy, how do babies get inside mommies' bellies?"
Dang. Thought I'd been prepared for this. But of course, come crunch time, all I'd carefully researched and rehearsed about explaining the birds and the bees in a manner calculated to satisfy the most exacting little kid seemed to have evaporated leaving a big blank in its place.
"Umm," I murmured, desperately playing for time, while racking the grey cells for something. Anything that didn't include the hardware that acts in the reproduction process.
"When mommies and daddies love each other, they make babies," I said, sounding lame even to me.
"How?" asked my scientifically minded 4-year-old.
"Well, when they get married..." I said, digging a deeper hole for myself.
"But HOW?"
Finally I muttered something about thinking about it and getting back to her.
HELP!
I turn to you, my friends. I know some of you have blogged about this in the past. If so, could you please send me the link? Anyone struck with inspiration can advise. Just don't tell me to tell her like it is. I believe in being as matter-of-fact as possible with Raina, except where human reproduction is concerned. I think she's too small to know what goes where and what actually happens.
There's got to be books about explaining this.

12 comments:

Terri the terrific said...

What about the standard "When mommies and daddies love each other very much, daddy plants a seed in mommy's tummy" explanation propounded by baby books?

I bet she'll want to know "How?" while thinking of a seed, shovel and watering can.

When in doubt, I bring in God, as in: "When people and animals die, they go to God's house." "You were in God's house before you were born," etc.

If all else fails, send Raina to her father and watch him squirm.

crazymumma said...

Tell her the truth.
They are smart our little people, and they can handle it.

Thinking Cramps said...

:) so has she tackled you again on it? I used to actively believe that when you get married, God gets to know and sends you a baby. But that worked in the early '80s in India, don't think it will in this time and age, especially in the US. Good luck!

Mamma mia! Me a mamma? said...

Oh boy! It's kind of semi-come up in my household. I've just used the 'mommies and daddies love each other special and then daddies help put a baby in the tummy' answer for now. Don't know how long that's going to last though.

Like you, I squirm about telling them about which parts go where and how. I don't think they need the details just yet. All too soon, i'll come. There's a time and age for everything.

BTW, please do visit my blog...there's an award there with your name on it!

Mira's mom said...

LOL! Hey Muser, sorry can't be of much help - my daughter is yet to turn 2! In fact, pls do send over the link to me when you've found an unscientific yet a convincing reply for the curious child ;-)

Unknown said...

Stumped again , huh ? Three cheers for lil Raina !
Well maybe God can bail you out on that one like Terri and TC suggest !

A Muser said...

Terri, Anamika, EL, don't want to bring God in the picture. He doesn't exist, remember? If I pass it on to dad, he'll kill me. I'll probably end up begging the librarian for a good, semi-scientific book.

CrazyMumma, I hope I'm not being patronising to her, but I think she's too small. Had she been even 8, I would've happily told her the truth. OK, I'd probably still have been squeamish, but I'd have probably overcome it. But 4?

Mamma mia, an award for me? I'll be checking you out next!

Mira's mom, will do! I'm sure that question is coming your way soon!

Anonymous said...

amuser:

being a dad, i can tell you that i am in no way qualified to help you answer raina's question ;-). but but but but ...

... if you locate the parents of this little kid, i'm sure they will help you. they are so been-asked-and-answered-that!

- s.b.

dipali said...

We had the god angle! It worked for a while. Then the littlest saw dogs mating and I think made the logical deduction:) All the best!

A Muser said...

Dipali, that god angle works well I'm sure! I would've tried it on Raina if I hadn't already told her that the only god that exists is within us. Heaven forbid I contradict myself! :) Dogs mating, eh? Maybe I should get Pikey a mate.
s.b., my husband feels the same way! Will check out the link you sent and comment back...

A Muser said...

s.b., my goodness, i do need to find those parents! i think they'd have all the answers to raina's questions.

the mad momma said...

the stork worked for me when i was a kid. i plan to use it until i think they can handle it. fortunately no such questions have happened yet. and oh - they know that the doctor cut them out of my tummy and the brat often sits and touches my csec scar in awe...