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Original poster

What word do your children use for female genitals?

386 replies

frannyf · 09/09/2005 19:40

Apologies if this has been asked before, but this is becoming an urgent issue in our household. Ds is 2.5 and has just started asking "Where is your willy, Mummy?" I told him women and girls don't have willies...and then froze.

I don't want him to think that girls just have an empty area where a willy should be, I want him to realise we have our own special bits, but I cannot settle on a word I feel comfortable with.

"Vagina" is so medical. "Flower" and all those sort of words seem too cutesie. I feel "fanny" is the right equivalent to "willy", and did try it, but I just cringed saying it to ds and felt even worse when he repeated it. I obviously did not sound convincing anyway as he has reverted to calling it a bottom. Help! Sorry if I have rejected your family's choice of name by the way, I don't think any of them are wrong or anything, just don't feel right saying them myself. Am I hopelessly uptight?

OP posts:
aloha · 09/09/2005 22:16

I never think of fanny as a sexual word at all.

Original poster
frannyf · 09/09/2005 22:16

I say as in labour too...

OP posts:
puffywuffybum · 09/09/2005 22:17

Haven't crossed this bridge yet..........

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Lonelymumsicle · 09/09/2005 22:17

And whilst we are about it, does anyone use the c word?

Original poster
frannyf · 09/09/2005 22:17

My dp uses it sexually. Is that what's causing my problem do you think?

OP posts:
gingerbear · 09/09/2005 22:17

noonie noonie noonie noonie
how many times do i heva to tell you?

Original poster
frannyf · 09/09/2005 22:17

Oops, meant he uses fanny, not the c word. Oh lord I keep cross posting and it's all getting too personal!

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moondog · 09/09/2005 22:19

'Vagina' (albeit through gritted teeth.) I hate euphemisms too,but have come to think that 'fanny' is the best bet out of a dubious collection of epithets.

Original poster
frannyf · 09/09/2005 22:19

Not sure about noonie. Never heard it before so I am not sure people would generally understand it. I think it may fall under the "too cute" heading.

Did other people agonise over this or is it just me?

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MrsSpoon · 09/09/2005 22:21

A bit anxious about clicking on zippitippitoes link ...

MrsSpoon · 09/09/2005 22:23

Should add I don't think of fanny as a sexual word, it was just always a bit coarse where I was brought up.

puffywuffybum · 09/09/2005 22:23

I thought it was the long aaaaaaaaaa as in labour (this is how one of my gp's pronounced it anyway).

Cadmum · 09/09/2005 22:23

frannyf: I am in NO way making light of your situation. I just don't understand why as women we can't call a vulva a vulva. I should add that I have been using the correct terms with my DS since he was a baby and I did find it harder to say vulva, labia and vagina than I did to say penis, scrotum or tesicles. (Willy just isn't a word used in Canada so although we lived in the UK it didn't make sense to introuce this word in our home until DS started school and virtually all of the boys in his class called theirs willies.)

aloha · 09/09/2005 22:23

Don't - it's just a spoof/comedy site. Minge is a word that is very camp indeed.

zippitippitoes · 09/09/2005 22:25

For Mrs Spoon, the link is abook

and it is described as

A well fettled minge should be just that. No more, no less. Professor Quimme provides here the definitive work on the subject, covering every type of minge known to mankind - including the much celebrated "well raddled minges" of Derbyshire. Minge fettling elevated to an art form.

Caligula · 09/09/2005 22:27

DD has girlie bits. Mummy has laydee bits.

Original poster
frannyf · 09/09/2005 22:29

Cadmum - you are so right, I agree, in my head. But in real life can't bring myself to say the 'dirty' words and then hear them come out of my 'little angel's' mouth. I probably need years of therapy or something.

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Original poster
frannyf · 09/09/2005 22:29

Cadmum, did it get easier? Or do you still wince a bit to say vulva etc.?

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Original poster
frannyf · 09/09/2005 22:31

I am not sure I even know exactly which bit is the vulva. Oh god, I used to be a clued-up feminist, honest.

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aloha · 09/09/2005 22:32

Um, it's not a real book. It's just a comedy/spoof site.

starlover · 09/09/2005 22:33

the vulva refers to all the external genitalia... the bits you can see

Amai · 09/09/2005 22:33

I remember asking this on another thread and stopped it dead! My mum called mine a 'weewee' which was cute but very ambiguous.

MrsSpoon · 09/09/2005 22:35

OK, phew, thought it was a dodgy site, LOL!

Cadmum · 09/09/2005 22:36

It did get easier! But it has been 6 1/2 years since DD was born and I find that I have used the words more often since then. (DS1 is 8)

I think that I need years of therapy as well but I hope that my children can avoid some of the misery and angst where their bodies are concerned. My parents NEVER had a name for my 'parts' but oddly enough they did call a penis a penis.

My best-friend's mother refered to her vulva as her stinky bits so I think that had a lasting impact for me and stenghthened my resolve to use the correct terminology.

Original poster
frannyf · 09/09/2005 22:36

I'm off to bed now but will check back with interest in the morning. Thanks all for helpful ideas.

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