Strange call from school about dd's reaction to biology lesson (reproductive system) - in tears, worried

[underanassumedname]

Have changed my name.

Just had call from school - dd in Y7 got quite upset in biology lesson when they were drawing the human reproductive system. Refused to look at it, didn't want to label it and got tearful ?!?!

Its just such an odd reaction, so naturally my mind is working over time. I've just googled symptoms of sexual abuse in children (although I have no reason to suspect this - just nonplussed about what went on in biology today) and she demonstrates not one of the behavioural signs indicated. She seems happy and well adjusted and not anxious about anything.....

I shall talk to her later after school. Should I be worried?

Sorry - strange call from 'school' etc

Typo in the title!

What did they say though? Maybe she was just hideously embarassed. Is she emotional?

Yes just ask her. Maybe she found it all too mortifying in front if her peers.
My dd is yr 7 and is literally embarrassed by everything.
I did the period talk and she was almost angry with me and snatched the sanitary products out of my hand before storming off!

That's all they said to me.

She isn't normally emotional but she can be a bit irrational when tired - she is rather tired this week, lots of after school commitments etc

Ok hopefully that is all it is and I am massively overreacting myself (see where she gets it from )

Any thoughts from anyone else?

Probably just age related embarrassment?

perhaps her peers know more than she does, and you need to have a conversation?

You need to talk to her, my DS finds this mortifying and he actually fainted in the first lesson, so now every time he knows they are working on it at school he becomes nervous. He doesn't know why he faints he just 'doesn't like it'.

Thanks, I am reassured that this isn't such a 'way out there' reaction as I had thought. Also feeling a bit guilty because dd had to read the pages in her biology textbook on this subject over the weekend as homework, and told me that she found it embarrassing...I was, I am afraid, distracted and a bit dismissive along the lines of 'don't be so silly'. I'll talk to her with a bit more sensitivity this evening

Didn't she cover human reproduction in Y6?

I do agree it's more likely to be embarrassment than any more sinister reason.

If they did cover it in Y6 it must have been quite superficial I guess. Thanks, I am reassured that this isn't such a way out there reaction as I first thought - will talk over it with her with as much sensitivity and understanding as I can muster after school. Feeling a bit guilty because she did point it out in her biology textbook last weekend and said that she wasn't looking forward to covering it in the lessons. I didn't take much notice at the time

Oh God and now I am repeating myself. Had an internet glitch and thought that my first post hadn't posted (doh)

Don't feel too bad - it's just one of those parental 'Oops should have paid more attention to her' moments - it can't possibly be your first (and if it is, well done you!!) and it certainly wont be your last! If you are both too tired tonight, you have all weekend, you don't have to talk tonight!

I guess she is just very embarrassed. Children's reactions are quite varied and not in ways you can predict.

Thank you chipping...and everyone

This is mn at its best - good sensible reassurance

Friend's ds passed out during the reproduction lesson, even though he'd been told all about it before. Good of school to call you about it, friend only found out about her son via other parents...

Wow - it really is an issue for some children. I guess I have a learning curve over the puberty / teenage years! You never quite believe it when more experienced parents tell you that the teenage years (and just before in my dd's case) are a challenge

Does she know about the mechanics of sex? Are you fairly open about discussing the facts of life at home?

If this is a taboo subject at home or even one where she just picks up the signals that you are uncomfortable about it, her teenage over-sensitivity may have just triggered a kind of avoidance behaviour rather than being in the highly uncomfortable position of discussing it in front of other people, especially boys.

It's not really come up much at home. However, I have answered previous questions about how babies are conceived etc. with a pretty level headed matter of fact approach, or at least I thought I had!! When her younger brother has exclaimed and said things like 'ewww that is disgusting' I've corrected him by telling him that it is perfectly natural among consenting adults....

Maybe I am sending unconscious signals though of being uncomfortable about discussing it ?!? (it's not my top favourite subject)

It may be that she's not ready to face growing up yet? When we talk about that sort of thing (DDs are 7, 6 and 4), if it comes up, DD2 always says 'but Mum, you know I'm not going to get married or have babies. Ever '

She may change her mind later, but right now just talking about it stirs fear and discomfort in her.