The Birds and the Bees for Preschoolers
For quite a while, Lydia’s perception of time has been divided into two halves: when she was in my belly and after she came out of my belly. Things that happened before she was born happened when she was in my belly. Works for me.
A few weeks ago, however, Keith made reference to something that happened several years ago, and he said, “That was before you were even in Mommy’s belly.”
Her response: “Where was I?”
I love the age of innocence. I don’t want it to end.
But it will. Yesterday I had my first taste of “questions kids ask that you would rather not answer.”
“Mommy, who got Luke out of your belly?”
(Easy.) “The doctor.”
“Was it a boy doctor or a girl doctor?”
“My doctor was a boy doctor.”
“Why.” (This word is always spoken like a statement, although an answer is expected.)
“Someone said he was a good doctor, so we decided to make him my doctor.”
“How did, how did, um how did…” She stuttered over her words while beginning her next question. I knew it was coming.
“How did the doctor get Luke out?”
(Okay, how vauge can I be and still satisfy her?) “Well, he knows just how to do it.”
“But how?”
“The doctor knows all about getting babies out.”
“But how?”
(For the first time, I was very thankful Luke was born via C-section. I pointed to where my scar is.) “Well, he just opened up my belly right here and got Luke out.”
She nodded like a grown-up. She understood, for now.
Mom says:
Well, in one sense, it was God who made each baby start growing inside of you. God created the process, anyway. So maybe that answer can be helpful some time.