Talking about sex is not how I envision starting my morning. Well, talking about sex with my 10-year old son is not how I envision the start of the day, anyway. And yet…
It was an idyllic morning. The coffee was particularly strong and delicious, the sleep the night before had been adequately restful. I was sitting at the dining room table and my darling husband Dave was going to the trouble of making me a yummy cheese omelet for breakfast.
Parker, our 10-year old son, came into the dining room and said good morning, giving us both big hugs and actually smiling. It couldn’t have been a more Leave-It-To-Beaver moment.
He sat down at the table across from me and said, “Mommy, what’s an orgasm?”
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[Insert sounds of idyllic morning screeching to a halt here!]
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This was not just a how do you make babies question. This was a, “How do I tiptoe around this” question if ever there was one. I looked across the dining room and into the kitchen to Dave for help, only to discover he was trying seriously not to laugh while focusing diligently on beating eggs.
“Well, Parker…” I start hesitantly, wondering first, why he wants to know this and second, how I failed as a parent so badly that at 10 he cares already.
“It has to do with sex,” I begin.
“I know all about sex, Mom. I just don’t know what the word orgasm means,” replies Parker, totally confident in his knowledge.
Well now I am just wondering how much he knows, who told him, and where I can go to get the gag order.
I settle on what I hope is an acceptable answer that will not scar him too badly. “It’s the part of sex that makes people want to do it. It means that it feels good.”
I cram in before I lose his attention, “But sex isn’t something you should be thinking about until you are much older and in love and emotionally capable of – ”
“Mom! It’s ok. I’m not doing THAT. I just heard the word, that’s all,” Parker says as he tries to keep me from going Brady Bunch on him and turning a simple question into a moment.
Moment over. Parker heads on his merry way, singing and drumming as he goes. With hand trembling, I take a sip of my coffee. Dave comes over with the omelet and a look of amusement I’m tempted to wipe off his face with my freshly buttered piece of toast.
Ten years old!! My baby boy is 10 years old and wants to know about stuff like that!
But – he asked me. He talked to me. He was comfortable bringing home what he was hearing at school and finding out what he needed to know. And no matter how uncomfortable it makes me, I’ll keep answering his questions and keep fostering that open communication and keep letting him know that home is where you come when you need to know what it’s all about.
For now, though, I’m just relieved to have survived the discussion, even though I know it won’t be the last.
Oh – and no 10 year olds were harmed in the creation of this blog post. I got Parker’s permission to share the incident. If you’re having trouble talking to your kids about sex, think about this: if you don’t, you might be a grandparent earlier than you expected!
This is very funny! We’ve all been there or will be. Our most memorable sex question and answer session so far started with a slang term in a movie. The boys, ages 10 and 12, heard something, looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders. Jim and I looked at each other as if to see who was going to say something first. We laughed and started what turned out to be ten minutes of defining slang terms they had heard and equate each to the more appropriate clinical terms. I was amazed at the things they had heard and said at school and then the embarrassment on their faces as they realized they had no understanding of what they were saying. But they know now! So now I ask, “do you know what you just said?” usually followed by, “No Mom.” “Well, then I can either tell you so you know what you are saying or don’t say it.” Sometimes they want to know and sometimes they don’t. I try to follow their lead and answer there questions at their pace. It is all difficult as there just seems to be no “right” way to go about talking to your kids about sex and all that comes with it.
Jennifer,
I completely agree with you about following their lead when it comes to giving information! I love your approach with giving them the choice between not using the word and getting to know its real meaning…fabulous!
wow 10 years old and they already know about sex! At least he was comfortable enought to come to you with his questions, that is a good relationship. I recently ran across this article: where middle schoolers are having things called “Rainbow Parties” The kids lied to their paretns about where and what they were doing. I wll spare you the details as you can read the article for youself, but these are reasons why we need to communicate with your children at a younger and younger age. Be prepared!