please help me lie to my toddler

[stroppyshopper]

Hi,

I've been on the boards for a couple of years now, but I rarely post... I need your help:

I'm all for giving straightforward answers to little kids, but it's been my experience that my ds will blurt out things I've told him to the very next person he sees. With this in mind, I need some help coming up with good answers in the following two situations:

When cuddling my ds at night, he has a habit of touching my chin, feeling my chin hairs (which are embarrassingly stiff - I have to keep up with it, but even still there's often a prickle , and asking me, over and over again, "What's this?" I am completely stuck for what to say!? I don't want him telling people that "Mommy has a hairy chin," or the like. I just get so embarrassed every time he asks. I can't seem to think of anything good (and plausible) to say that passes the "repeat" test.

Also, like most of you, I rarely get to go to the toilet on my own. My son is starting to notice when I have my period. He wants to know what tampons are, and what feminie pads are. What the heck do I tell him. (Again, searching for something that passes the "repeat" test.)

I know I can't be the only prickly chinned, menstruating mum out there... so I am countin on my fellow MNetters to trot out some tried and true comebacks. Please!

[Blondeshavemorefun]

your son must be at least 3 or so to notice and ask questions about periods

i would firmly say to him that mummy is going for a wee, and shut and lock the door

i wee on my own ( as a nanny) - dont understand why mums cant shut the door and say no/wait a minute etc

have you tried plucking your chin hairs,rather than shaving (assume thats where the prickle comes from )

[mollythetortoise]

my dad had a sort of bump on his nose and as kids we'd enquire as to what it was and he always said his "rubestick" - not sure of spelling but word sounded like that. Completely random word he made up I guess but we were happy with that explanation. Maybe make up a similarly silly word (non rude though)- might work

[scrooged]

I just told ds that they were things for girls.
As for chin hairs, tell him that you have an eyebrow hair that's growing in the wrong place. It's nothing to be embarrassed about. I get the odd one and pluck it. It grows back finer then before.

[mollythetortoise]

actually I have a sort of birthmark/ mole type thing on my tummy and I tell my dd if she asks that it's my whojamafit (again, have totally made up spelling as never written word before ). She laughs and that's the end of it. I don't even mention the tampons and she never enquires about them. They are high up in cupboard though

[stroppyshopper]

blonde: He's 2.5. He doesn't know about periods, he's asking about the tampons themselves. can't always pee alone (stores, etc), though you are right, I don't give him a hard time if he comes in while I'm in the toilet. and, yes, I pluck.

[scrooged]

Tell him they are tubes of cotton wool. The truth (or there abouts) is always the best way to go.

[Blondeshavemorefun]

then just say they are things that woman need

obv if out in a shop then my charges are with me n the toilet, or i stand out their door and GUARD

start at home and try and wee on your own - its great

sure he wont mention your hair on chin to other people, but if he does sure that no one will think anything of it