Amber turned 9 years old in June and, apparently, that is when the “interesting” conversations begin. I was mildly shocked when Amber asked me where babies came from last school year. Our birds and bee discussion occurred across the middle row of our Suburban while Evie was too young to know what we were talking about and Sam was engrossed in a movie. I felt it was better not to want until we got home, because by that time I would have forgotten and before Amber became a zombie who’s brain had been taken over by the Disney channel. So I seized the moment and gave her all the dirty details. Which at the end of my well, yet quickly, thought out lecture on sex Amber replied with a EWWWWWWWWWW!!! Let’s hope she has the same feelings at ages 13-25. I gave myself a quick little pat on the back and hope that was the last of any interesting conversations for awhile. Then Amber turned 9 years old and a whole new world opened up.
At Amber’s well check-up I filled out the questionnaire sheet and was shocked at one of the questions, “Have you talked to your child about drugs, smoking and drinking?”. Um, NO! I braced myself for the doctor to bring it up, but he didn’t. However, that question has been rattling around my brain. I figured the best was to answer the questions, but it never occurred to me to actually bring up the subject. I have mixed feelings about this approach. On the one hand, if I wait too long Amber could be left unprepared. Yet, if I bring it up will she get “ideas”? So I have been thinking about it. SoHubby and I don’t drink or do drugs. Life tends to be easier that way. SoHubby does smoke cigars, but the kids rarely sees him do it. Although, Amber went through a phrase in Kindergarten where she lectured us on the horrors of smoking. The school had someone come talk to the kids regarding smoking. I am at a lost of how to bring it up.
Add to it that I am at a lost for words, recently. Sam has recently come to the conclusion that he is a superhero and is out to protect any damsel in distress. Often times, he misunderstands the situation. We were at Chick Fil A where I look over to see Sam in a karate stance facing a teen boy. I grabbed out of the play area and asked him what was going on. Sam’s version is that “That boy was being mean to the little girl.” My simple explanation is that you are NOT superhero and can’t go around threatening people. Which ended with the agreement that when he is 80 yrs old he will save the world. How do you explain to a 5 yr old how to gauge a situation? Later, Amber would tell me that the teen boy was the little girl’s brother and he was just banging on the play structure to get her attention. This seems to be a running theme in my parenting. I am at a lost for words most times, because the questions have gone beyond, why is the sky blue. I can’t just tell them that is the way it is. They are catching on to that one.
