The birds and the bees

[Squigglybear]

At what age do you explain these things to your children. My 2 DS (5and6) found an unused tampon and soon found out how great they are at soaking up water. They asked what they are for but I haven't really explained. Now our dog has been in season they have questioned her bleeding as they were worried about her. So I was wondering how best to explain this to them or are they too young?

DS is 3 and knows that mummies have an egg and daddies have seeds and when they have special cuddles the seeds and the egg make a baby and also knows he came out of my vagina. He asked me whilst we were on the bus a few months ago. Hopefully the other passengers were as entertained as I was by his insistence on knowing how?

Same sort of thing happened to me when d.d was 6. I was in the bathroom changing my sanitry towel when d.d came into the bathroom and saw the blood. Mummy what's all that blood, so I said well a lady is born with lots of eggs in her tummy but her eggs don't start working till they get older, anyway sometimes the eggs turn into a baby and sometimes they don't so it's mummy's egg that hasn't turned into a baby. She was fine with itSo for years later she refered to my period as "My egg".
I had to tell her didn't I she was scared of the blood as any child would be. and if I'd have shouted her she would have been terrified to come to me again.

I never asked my parents about that sort of thing and I can't remember them telling me. I knew what I knew from books and the playground.

About the age of 10 I heard a dirty joke and the punchline line was something about a blow job - guy goes to Dr with red ring around Dick, lipstick remover or something... Anyway, I decide to tell my Dad this joke but fearing he won't get it and isn't down with the kids I ask him first 'Dad, you do know what a blow job is don't you?'

He said 'yes... go on...', looking a bit startled, bless.

DD1 aged 9.5 know everything now but only has found out about the finer points in last few months. We have the girls 'What's Happening to Me?' book which we read through over a week or so.

Today she asked me if my SIL wanted to have a baby (she is a lone parent and father has never met the child) it was hard to explain about unplanned pregnancy but still reinforcing that her cousin is loved by her mother.

She knows about birth control pills and condoms to prevent pregnancy. But we have not spoken much about emotional side of sex in relationships. That's the bit I struggle with, explaining the biological/mechanics is easy.

DD2 aged 7.5 hears bits and bobs but has not shown much interest in the info so far.

DS1 (nearly 10) knows all there is to know for a child. He knows about sex etc but this year he's doing sex ed at school. He told DD1 (7) everything he knows, she asked me if it was true and I said yes, she then proceeded to shrug her shoulders and remark "well that makes more sense than what Mrs Welles (her teacher) told us". DTs (4) haven't asked anything yet so that's good.

I have told ds (10 next month) the basics over the years.
I got him a very basic book too when he was about 7, with some pics in (drawings of the body type) which he liked to have in his room.

I have noticed in the last 6m that ds is filling out, his hair is getting greasy and he is starting to smell feral

I chatted to him about hygiene and gave him the 'What's happening to Me?' book. Sadly, he read a bit about 'wet dreams' and is now traumatised

My eldest has become slightly feral too!

We have had books such as "Our Bodies" and "Where did I Come From?" strategically included in the playroom bookcase since all the children were small and they have just picked things up from these and from chatting with us and each other and are very matter of fact about it all.

I do wonder at what point I should perhaps try to persuade them to wear clothes. They are very keen on wandering or lolling around half dressed, especially in the summer.