Parenting
Ah, the joy of a little one realizing they have hands. “Wow! I’ve got hands! Look at these amazing things! I could watch them for hours. And guess what? They fit in my mouth!” It’s utterly adorable.
Then comes the moment when children become aware of their bodies and the differences between boys and girls. “Check out my penis! Look, it can get big!” Not quite as cute, but definitely entertaining.
My kids are having a revelation—not the literary kind, but a genuine awakening to their bodies. They’ve discovered their genitals, and my son is particularly fascinated with the concept of having a penis. He struts around like he owns the place, often sporting just a shirt, reminiscent of a carefree character from a classic film. He’s lost his underwear more times than I can count, or it’s somehow ended up on his head, or worn backwards!
His exuberance knows no bounds, whether he’s playfully showing off his undies or doing a silly dance to get the giggles from his peers. Bath time has turned into a show where he performs “penis tricks” or pretends it’s a sword. “Stop playing with your penis! It’s not a toy!” I say, but he just beams back at me as if to say, “Oh, this is just the beginning!”
Meanwhile, my daughter has come to understand that girls have breasts, or as she calls them, “breastees.” This revelation has made its way into her artwork, where every female figure is adorned with these features. I must admit, I felt pretty good seeing myself depicted in her drawings—definitely an upgrade from my usual training bra look. However, I do feel a twinge of jealousy when her artistic renditions of breasts are larger than mine!
Carly, my daughter, is already planning to dress as Wonder Woman for Halloween next year but is worried that no one will recognize her without breasts. To her credit, Lynda Carter’s iconic costume certainly left little to the imagination, sparking a wave of admiration among young boys. I assured her that she wouldn’t need to stuff her shirt with socks to make her costume work.
The other day, while we were at Target in the feminine product aisle, she eagerly picked up a box and announced to a nearby stranger that she would get to use those when she’s older—like maybe at eight. “The green ones are the best!” she exclaimed. Sweet Jesus… they’re not popsicles!
She’s also expressed a desire to shave and is concerned about “fur,” and she’s even suggested that we should pluck her brother’s eyebrows. And let’s not even get started on “Naked Time.” For my kids, any time is a good time to strip down—even if it’s freezing outside! They love to shed their clothes in front of anyone, including the mailman.
It’s hard not to chuckle at their innocent questions and comments about their bodies. While it’s all perfectly normal developmentally, teaching them about appropriate conversations can be a bit tricky. You don’t want to shatter their enthusiasm or make them feel ashamed for asking questions, but you also want to guide them away from sharing too much with strangers. My daughter sees breasts as simply a part of being a woman right now, but we have yet to dive into the deeper conversations that are soon to come.
Ultimately, they’re just trying to understand the world around them, and our job is to help navigate these social norms while maintaining our composure. After all, stripping at a church luncheon might not be the best idea. It’s a continuous learning experience for all of us—no matter how old we are.
If you’re interested in more insights into parenting and body awareness, you might find this article on pregnancy informative. For those exploring their own fertility journey, this resource is an excellent guide, and don’t hesitate to reach out through this link for further support.
Summary
This article captures the humorous and enlightening moments of children discovering their bodies, from the joy of recognizing hands to the curious exploration of anatomy. It highlights the balance between encouraging open dialogue about bodily awareness while setting appropriate boundaries and teaching social norms.