Be careful when choosing "how your body works" type books

[Kewcumber]

I decided a book for DS on how bodies work with a general and gentle intro to sex education would be just the ticket for his 9th birthday. Luckily decided to go and browse in local book shop rather than just order something well reviewed from Amazon.

Flicking through one promising looking book I came across a chapter on "how to prove you really belong to your family" (or similar) which turned out to be a chapter on DNA and genetics.

Now I'm all for discussing DNA and genetics but prefaced with a "you have to share DNA to be part of a family" type preamble would not have been at all helpful!

It was stressful enough even trying to consider what book and what degree of detail, the thought that I now have to vet this book for comments of this sort makes me want to go lie down in a darkened room.

[smallandimperfectlyformed]

Ah that's sad, obviously they're talking about science but the idea that you can only be part of a family if you share DNA is total rubbish. I'm sure you and your family are as much of one as me and mine xxx

[PheasantPlucker]

Thanks for this Kew

[Shallishanti]

written by someone more interested in science than children perhaps?
I'd review it on amazon if I were you

[ArcheryAnnie]

Thanks for the heads-up, Kew. Would you be willing to say which book it was? And yes, I second an amazon review!

[Hels20]

Thanks Kew. A few years off but would never have thought of this and would have just bought off Amazon!

[Kewcumber]

I go back next week and look at which book it was and review it on Amazon. I know it's not something the majority have to think of but the chapter could have stood as it was with a few rewrites of "How can I be sure that I am part of this family?" If its science they want thats fine but am pretty sure your DH/DW/DP is a part of your family without sharing DNA so it was pretty sloppily written.

[meoverhere]

Hi Kew

What's the name of the book please?

[Italiangreyhound]

Oh how crap. And what a stupid thing anyway!

[KristinaM]

Thanks for the heads up. I agree it's pretty sloppy writing .

As you say, most people are not genetically related to their spouse , who is in law their " next of kin" , their closest relative . It's Very excluding for step kids as well as adopted , it's hardly unusual to be no biological relative of your parent/s.

Family is so much more than biology for most families. How many people do you know who have never even met their cousins , or haven't seen them for 30 years ? But they see their best friend every week ?

Not well thought through at all

[FamiliesShareGerms]

How rubbish adds to list of things I hadn't thought about

[Kewcumber]

I will post the name of the book when I get around to going back to the bookshop.