Conservative-ish family needs to tell 9 year old about birds and bees

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does conservative have to do with it? It’s science.

NP but I browsed my local library for a kid-friendly book like this and every single one had been published post-2020 and included some stuff about choosing your gender. I am not interested in teaching my kid anything like this, I want to keep it strictly scientific. So maybe she is looking for a book recommendation that doesn’t include that commentary.

I just meant conservative, not in the political sense, as a PP said above. But no I don’t want to even introduce the whole changing gender idea during elementary years. I don’t want to normalize it or present it as an option, is that political now?? I would never advocate for intolerance but I don’t want to talk about it with children.

Political? IDK. But your desire not to discuss this topic means that trans kids will be the ones who explain it to your kid. If you’re good with that, by all means.

[Anonymous]

I just let our public schools deal with the issue in their informative family health and development sessions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just let our public schools deal with the issue in their informative family health and development sessions.

Yes they have health class, but they have not covered this yet, just talked about strong muscles, and lungs, diet, and stuff like that.

[Anonymous]

OP if you have a boy, your kid is already liking having erections...and has been for a year or two.

What have you discussed?

[Anonymous]

We used the “how babies are made” book to explain.

https://a.co/d/01voA8LA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We used the “how babies are made” book to explain.

https://a.co/d/01voA8LA

i have an original printing of this one!

[Anonymous]

I don’t understand why ignorance is a good thing.

[Anonymous]

Conflating ignorance and innocence and using shame to control people are primary reasons that religious institutions become havens for predators.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does conservative have to do with it? It’s science.

NP but I browsed my local library for a kid-friendly book like this and every single one had been published post-2020 and included some stuff about choosing your gender. I am not interested in teaching my kid anything like this, I want to keep it strictly scientific. So maybe she is looking for a book recommendation that doesn’t include that commentary.

I just meant conservative, not in the political sense, as a PP said above. But no I don’t want to even introduce the whole changing gender idea during elementary years. I don’t want to normalize it or present it as an option, is that political now?? I would never advocate for intolerance but I don’t want to talk about it with children.

If your kid goes to public school, they will be hearing about changing genders, and probably have classmates that have made some sort of transition. My kids K teacher read a book to class about gender is up to you to decide and you can switch any time.

[Anonymous]

If you are a bit uncomfortable and unsure, you are not the first parent to feel that way. Good for you for seeking out resources!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does conservative have to do with it? It’s science.

NP but I browsed my local library for a kid-friendly book like this and every single one had been published post-2020 and included some stuff about choosing your gender. I am not interested in teaching my kid anything like this, I want to keep it strictly scientific. So maybe she is looking for a book recommendation that doesn’t include that commentary.

I just meant conservative, not in the political sense, as a PP said above. But no I don’t want to even introduce the whole changing gender idea during elementary years. I don’t want to normalize it or present it as an option, is that political now?? I would never advocate for intolerance but I don’t want to talk about it with children.

Political? IDK. But your desire not to discuss this topic means that trans kids will be the ones who explain it to your kid. If you’re good with that, by all means.

Of course it's political now. Is OP oblivious to the many federal policy changes intended to make it difficult to be trans?

PP is right, OP. Your kids can hear it from you or they can hear it from someone else. Make your choice while you still have time.

[Anonymous]

I pulled up a picture on WebMD of the male anatomy and show them all parts.

I did the same with the female anatomy. I discussed all the parts. Be sure he didn’t think babies are pooped out.

I explained women’s cycle and periods.

I discussed emotions and embarrassment around periods, and that people shouldn’t be embarrassed, but they are and that we should never make fun of it or make anybody feel uncomfortable about it. I showed him a pad and a tampon I told her this is what I used there’s other things that can be used.

I discussed the emotions around being intimate with somebody and that it’s a huge responsibility that could result in a baby. I discussed that you can pass diseases and infections on each other just like you could if you kiss while you have the flu.

Then the obvious, how does the baby get into a uterus? I already had told him about the women’s cycle and ovaries. I had already discussed semen versus urine. I discussed intimacy but not the act.

I said that the men’s semen needs to fertilize the women’s ovaries.

Then I say, the man puts his penis in the woman’s vagina and that’s how it happens.

Really? Yes really? Hmm. 🤔

I told home more to come later.

At a later date 6 th grade we did discuss masturbation and even though we are conservative Catholics, we told him it was normal and healthy. Porn not so much. We discussed that sinew friends with phones access it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does conservative have to do with it? It’s science.

NP but I browsed my local library for a kid-friendly book like this and every single one had been published post-2020 and included some stuff about choosing your gender. I am not interested in teaching my kid anything like this, I want to keep it strictly scientific. So maybe she is looking for a book recommendation that doesn’t include that commentary.

I just meant conservative, not in the political sense, as a PP said above. But no I don’t want to even introduce the whole changing gender idea during elementary years. I don’t want to normalize it or present it as an option, is that political now?? I would never advocate for intolerance but I don’t want to talk about it with children.

It’s only political because you discuss it as an “option” instead of discussing the science. So your viewpoint is political not science based.

Saying that it’s not what I discussed pre middle school. Though lesbian did come up so I said sometime men marry men and women marry women.

Plain and simple, it’s not complicated.

[Anonymous]

There's a great book called "From Diapers to Dating" that is a guide to these discussions. The book is unique because it recognizes that there is a range of attitudes toward sex and so there are nuances in how different families will want to have these conversations. (There are "values exercises" that are done non-judgmentally but as a way for you personally to figure out your approach on various topics.) I found it very helpful.

[Anonymous]

Just state the facts and use anatomically correct language. This is what these parts do, this is what happens when these parts meet, etc.