Oh no. I've been hit with the Big Question. I knew it would come along at some point but I'd really hoped for another year or so of blissful ignorance.
Driving home from piano practice last night, a little voice in the back piped up out of the blue: "Mummy, what's s*x?"
I look in the rearview at Firstborn's sweet little face, which is currently wearing a most interested expression. There's a moment of frenzied internal panic. My mind churns, desperately seeking an escape route or, at the very least, a clear path through the pre-teen minefield. I am totally unprepared for this.
I struggle in a swamp of choice paralysis. Do I go for the blatant lie? Do I say it's something I'll tell her about when she's older? I could claim that s*x is something along the lines of 'snogging' - this could work, both girls find the very idea of sucking face with a ...urrgh.. boy absolutely revolting - leaving the way open for a super-quick change of subject. Or I could just be honest.
I take a deep breath. I steel myself... And find myself saying: "It's something to do with making babies. I'll buy you a book which we can read together to find out all about it. Is that OK?"
Firstborn nods happily. Crisis averted. For now.
Driving home from piano practice last night, a little voice in the back piped up out of the blue: "Mummy, what's s*x?"
I look in the rearview at Firstborn's sweet little face, which is currently wearing a most interested expression. There's a moment of frenzied internal panic. My mind churns, desperately seeking an escape route or, at the very least, a clear path through the pre-teen minefield. I am totally unprepared for this.
I struggle in a swamp of choice paralysis. Do I go for the blatant lie? Do I say it's something I'll tell her about when she's older? I could claim that s*x is something along the lines of 'snogging' - this could work, both girls find the very idea of sucking face with a ...urrgh.. boy absolutely revolting - leaving the way open for a super-quick change of subject. Or I could just be honest.
I take a deep breath. I steel myself... And find myself saying: "It's something to do with making babies. I'll buy you a book which we can read together to find out all about it. Is that OK?"
Firstborn nods happily. Crisis averted. For now.
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