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Is there such thing as TMI when dealing with kids?
  • ZidashaZidasha
    Posts: 830Member
    So I have this very curious 7 y.o. that likes to ask a bunch of questions.  I answer them to the best of my ability or answer them the best way I can think of that a 7  y.o. can understand.  In fact, the ONLY question that has ever left me speachless was when he asked how the baby comes out of the tummy.  I never prepared for that one. Here are some of his previous questions:

    In the baby section a few weeks ago he pointed to the breast pumps and asked what they were.  I of course told him how they work and what their purpose was.  He gladly took that info and went on his way.

    At the pet store last week I happen to see to Crayfish mating.  I honestly didn't see the second one till Dh pointed it out.  After Dh informed me my son asked what mating ment.  I told him it means making babies.  No biggie.

    Than you have tonight.  We were cuddled on the chair watching a movie and he started rubbing my tummy.  He made the comment, "What if boys had babies?  That would be funny and strange."  I could have shrugged it off and said, "yea, that would be." BUT NOOOO, not this mamma. I automatically told him some men do have babies and proceeded to explain how that happens.  After telling him he did what any 7 y.o. would do, he simply shrugged it off and started talking about something else but I can so see the teacher sending a note home or requesting a parent/teacher conference because of this in the future.

    So I was wondering, how much info is too much info when dealing with kids and how open are ya'll when your child starts asking those hard questions?
    "I have a theory that placenta is brain matter I push out, so with each child I get dumber and dumber." ~ Unknown

  • MistyStacy_2010MistyStacy_2010
    Posts: 487Member
    We are the same way. I would rather them get the info from me or my husband rather than from the kids on the bus ride home. I know that they are going to ask difficult questions but I am their mom and its my job to answer them. I think you are doing the right thing momma!!
    You are not my thong, so get out of my ass!!
  • AnonUser28
    Posts: 2,083Guest
    I agree with you too @zidasha! Children should be told as much truth as they can understand, and should not be told stories about things that end up doing more harm than good. No storks, or God putting babies in through Mommy's bellybutton in this house! Of course my DD can't understand me well enough to answer when I ask her what she wants for lunch, but I'm sure she will some day.
  • sunnymommasunnymomma
    Posts: 2,258Member
    I think as long as the answer is age appropriate then answer away!! There can be TMI if its not the truth, or an opinion. In order to raise kind hearted children everything should be explained to them on some level until they are old enough for more description. Then they can make their own opinions on the matter. We never had stork stories here, but when DD15 was 4 her aunt had a baby, she proclaimed that the Dr put it in there and he would take it out, we corrected her but that was unacceptable to her at the time!! lol i guess she didnt want to face reality. when she was 6 the same aunt had another baby and we revisted that subject. this time she took the truth and ran with it. Came home from school with a very interesting picture and a note from the teacher!!! it was easily explained and her teacher was happy we didnt pussy foot around her questions! 
    I am me, and I am loved
  • [Deleted User]
    Posts: 7,022
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    well behaved women seldom make history
  • [Deleted User]
    Posts: 7,022
    The user and all related content has been deleted.
    well behaved women seldom make history
  • shadylaneshadylane
    Posts: 3,037Member
    lol probably that was beyond his understanding but no harm done, he might be a little confused but he will be anyway if he sees it on tv or something, best to hear it from u
    ~slim shady~
  • FoulMouthedSailorFoulMouthedSailor
    Posts: 1,934Member
    Dw likes to use analogies, like tadpoles and eggs for conception, so Sunshine was convinced she was having a frog for a sister. And it was horrible when we found out it was twins, so I went clinical with it and used aged appropriate terminology, so she  understands the whole baby making thing and possibility of multiple babies. But she retains things word for word, and I think it freaked out our neighbors when she repeated what we told her.
    You show the lights that stop me turn to stone, You shine it when I'm alone. And so I tell myself that I'll be strong
    And dreaming when they're gone.
  • Thefinder
    Posts: 1,664Member
    Lol @FoulMouthedSailor.  You over the initial shock yet?
  • FoulMouthedSailorFoulMouthedSailor
    Posts: 1,934Member
    @Thefinder I don't think thrilled, overjoyed or over the moon and back does justice to how I feel. I about killed one of my HM's last night because I was feeling them kicking, got a phone call from this dickface to go bail him out of jail for wrecking his car and not having insurance.5 hours of bailing him out and getting a statement some unkind words were said before I dropped him back off at the bricks for taking my time away from the family.
    You show the lights that stop me turn to stone, You shine it when I'm alone. And so I tell myself that I'll be strong
    And dreaming when they're gone.
  • Thefinder
    Posts: 1,664Member
    @FoulMouthedSailor Glad to hear you are that happy and that you get to feel 2 kicking, I am jealous of that part.  I think unkind words were going lightly on your part, I would have not stopped the car and just opened the door when they got to their place... :-w
  • Monkeynmoo
    Posts: 1,420Guest
    Ok, maybe I am over thinking this but how do men have babies?! I feel like a 7 year old now, lol.
  • OtakuHimeOtakuHime
    Posts: 357Member
    The only case I know of is the women that had a surgery to turn into a man, and found out he/she was pregnant, so carried the baby to term after having the surgery for the sex change.
  • Charlotte_SometimesCharlotte_Sometimes
    Posts: 1,756Member
    Keep answering in an age appropriate way and you will have a smart kid!  Seriously.  My son (DS14) drove me up a freakin wall with his questions questions questions but like you, I always answered and gave him as much info as possible without overwhelming him or getting into stuff not appropriate for his age.  And he is one smart kid!  I was often complimented by others (other parents, teachers, etc) on how great it was that I always explained stuff to my kids vs just keeping it to "yes" or "no" and avoiding conversations.   I've always valued talking with the kids at every stage, and now at 14 and 20 I really do LOVE talking with them about all kinds of things. :)

    SO I say good job, Mama!
    "But a lesson must be lived in order to be learned" Ani DiFranco, Manhole
    "Screw you guys! I'm going home." Eric Cartman
  • ZidashaZidasha
    Posts: 830Member
    @monkey&moo, Just like @otakuhime said.  Pretty much a woman turned into a man thanks to hormones and such but still having the female parts.  legally states usually don't knowledge the sex change until the person has a complete sex change meaning the surgery and such  but IMO if the person feels they are what ever sex than that's good enough.
    "I have a theory that placenta is brain matter I push out, so with each child I get dumber and dumber." ~ Unknown

  • ZidashaZidasha
    Posts: 830Member
    And that is why I love this place so much. 
     @mamateeroll, I have run into a few parents that freak out about things and try to keep their kids sheltered.  I just think back to when I was growing up.  My mom was very uncomfortable talking about this kind of stuff so I learned everything via friends, T.V, and music.  LOL.. Yea, I had a lot of misconceptions when I got older. I've also explained that it's not good to talk about that stuff at school, but he tends to blurt out things.

    @charlotte_sometimes, That is my hopes when the boys get older.  I'm hoping that by being open and honest with them now when they get older they'll feel comfortable talking to me about anything and not feel uncomfortable about it.

    @foulmouthedsailor, I just have to say that I am a tad bit jealous.  I have always wanted twins just to feel two babies kicking...I know strange but I love when one baby moves I can only imagine how two would feel.  


    "I have a theory that placenta is brain matter I push out, so with each child I get dumber and dumber." ~ Unknown

  • FoulMouthedSailorFoulMouthedSailor
    Posts: 1,934Member
    @Thefinder I spent the last 45 minutes driving around the barracks area telling him how I would kill him and get away with it if he fucks up my family time again, and if I didn't kill him the 1st sergeant, all of the chiefs, and staff sergeant would.

    @Zidasha our six year old is a bank of knowledge just because we take the time to explain things to her where most parents seem to just let it slip. So I hope she grows up with as much understanding and decision making skills as possible, hopefully she won't turn out like her mom or I, we did alot of stupid shit growing up.

    And the twins like to take turns, so thu are all over the place with kicks, it's probably the best feeling in the world for me, next to my six year old and wife snuggled up on the couch.
    You show the lights that stop me turn to stone, You shine it when I'm alone. And so I tell myself that I'll be strong
    And dreaming when they're gone.
  • MsAsdy
    Posts: 242Member
    In my opinion...it can be TMI...if it's not your child :) If it's your child and you're comfortable with the topic at hand...hell, even if you're not...you're the mom. You answer with what you would want your kiddo to know and what you feel comfortable with your child knowing. I think that's the best thing a mommy could do. Your child will grow up well informed and feel comfortable knowing what they know.
  • GritsGrits
    Posts: 3,863Member
    I ended up having to explain more than I had hoped when I was pregnant with DS. DD8 was only 4 when her sister was born, so she didn't really notice, or care. But this time around it was different. She asked me how the baby got out (she already knew that sex=babies). I tried the "Knocked Up" cop-out of "how do you think it gets out?" but that went over like a lead balloon. So I told her the truth. She found it fascinating and totally gross at the same time! I don't think I'll have to worry about teen pregnancy with that one...
    =))
    "I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day, and I believe in miracles." ~Audrey Hepburn
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