to think that the term 'making love' for a 3 year old is ridiculous

[ginplease8383]

DD3 was looking out of the window today and 2 pigeons on our garden fence started mating. DD piped up and asked what they were doing and I replied that they were play fighting (not thinking that this sort of discussion is appropriate for a 3 year old). DH pipes up that the pigeons are 'making love'. I shot him a look and later told him that he wasn't to say that again or anything like it again until she was much older. He disagreed that it was inappropriate to which I said Id give nursery his number to tell him its not when she starts repeating it at nursery.

AIBU and a bit sensitive or not?

Yes you're being really weird.

I'd be a bit at "making love" I don't think birds have that level of cognition but a convo about birds and bees about actual birds seems reasonable.

I think he should have said "they're having a cheeky shag"

Pigeons have no concept of love. They're bastards.

Other than that I think what your husband said is fine. You're being a slight loon about this. Sorry.

I’d find it really weird if someone described that as ‘making love’ to a 3yo! I might say ‘mating’ though.

YABU

Making babies would have been better.

The term 'making love' is utterly hideous in my opinion and is particularly ridiculous when describing animals mating. I've always thought that you should give an honest answer to any reasonable question children ask though, so at 3 I would explain to a child that they were mating to create a new baby pigeon.

You're both being really weird.

"They are mating" would have been an appropriate response.

Making love is the worst phrase ever!

So no, YANBI!

As long as DH is happy to explain what 'making love' means when the DC3 asks.

“Making love” makes me cringe at the best of times. To describe a couple of pigeons shagging it’s absolutely hilarious. It’s also completely uninformative.

Tell the truth? Why do we lie about reproduction to our kids. Weird

Yes, “making babies” would have made more sense. His terminology made no sense, although you were even worse.

You and your DH are both unreasonable. What was wrong with "they're making baby pigeons"?

Mating would have been the best one.

And when my 3 year old did start repeating that, I was congratulated by the teacher for giving my child true and age appropriate facts.

God love him he tried... but just missed the mark with ‘making love’...

Mating would have been fine.

Be glad they weren't ducks. That's something you don't want to have to explain.

What a pair you are!

You are both being a bit odd really. I would have said they were mating. Nothing wrong with telling the truth. If they were indulging in sensuous massage, Barry White and flickering candles then DH was right. Equally you were wrong too.

Making baby pigeons would be better than either of you're responses. Or mating.

I really don’t like that phrase, it makes me feel a bit bleugghh and Phyllis Nelson-like. So YABU.

fucking is the correct term for pigeons in every way.

Agree that your DH saying the pigeons 'making love' is awful but only because it sounds ridiculous and twee.

The pigeons were mating in order, as pp said, to make more baby pigeons. Something that's acceptable to explain to a 3 year old I think.

I always used to answer my DCs' questions truthfully in an age appropriate way. Why wouldn't you?

Of course you could always go down the 'when a mummy pigeon loves and daddy pigeon' route. But I'd be inclined to keep it simple at this age.