Yes, the reunion is always lovely! Have a lovely work trip, Brandi. Could you do a sand bucket, spade and beachball maybe? Or a pull-along phone. or some lego?
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Yes, the reunion is always lovely! Have a lovely work trip, Brandi. Could you do a sand bucket, spade and beachball maybe? Or a pull-along phone. or some lego?
My mom didn't share too much of anything with me. She came from an era where sex was tabu, ladies never talked about such things.
The one thing that sticks out in my mind is when I had my first period. I think I was something like 10 years and had absolutely no idea what had happened. I was scared beyond what anyone should be - I couldn't even bring myself to tell my mom what was going on. I kept thinking to myself what have I done to cause this (I was such a worry wart). I waited an entire day before telling my mom. All my mother did was go into her lingerie drawer, pulled out this sanitary belt, along with a few napkins and handed them to me. I don't even think Tampax was an option at the time. The next words were "now you can have babies." I was so dumbfounded by this I didn't know what to think. :o
All I can say is thank goodness for libraries. I spent all my free time in the library learning about what the menstural cycle was. I also learned about puberty and everything else a teenager experiences. I can't say our health classes focused on any of this -- I think the school was more concerned about telling us about syphyllis, herpes, etc., and how contracting any of these STDs would ruin your life.
Girl Scouts saved me. Was on a group camping trip, although we were "camping" inside some sort of buildling. There was my troop (Cadettes) and some older girls (Senior Scouts), and one of them recognized what I hadn't yet noticed. She took me to the bathroom had me change out my panties, loaned me some pads, and wash my PJ bottoms. Then kept me stocked the rest of the weekend. I knew what a period was, just didn't know the signs that it was about to happen.
Seems years later when I worked at a GS camp, we always had a couple of girls having their first period, at camp. Some were clueless, which was loads of fun. But at least this was in the pre-PC / overprotective parent days, so we could explain 1/2 of the birds and the bees to the girl and not have the parents all over us for up-surping their parental prerogative.
Brandi: I just looked at your website...that's..soo..coooool!!! The ideas you have remind me of the movie Toy Story. How about some chattering teeth like the ones they sell in Cracker Barrel? Can you share a picture when it's done? I'm amazed that that is what you do :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Brandi
It's hard for me to imagine a parent not telling a daughter about menstruation! I mean, I am almost 60 years old and as I said before, my parents were super open.
Both of my kids asked the questions when they were 5 or 6. I went to the library and got a book that came with an accompanying video. It was hysterical, showing a cartoon version of the parents in the bed, with the bed moving. Not graphic, but to the point. After reading the book with the kids and watching the video (DH watched the video with us, too), they pretty much knew everything. When my oldest was 7, he asked me about abortion. Not to get into a controversial subject, but I was not sure how to explain this. Mind you, he was reading middle school books at this point and was very socially precocious. So, again, I went to the library, got a book that was for middle schoolers, and read a small part of it with him. He asked questions, and I gave short, factual answers. He never asked me again, but I knew he understood.
The next hard question I got asked was "how old should you be to have sex?" I think he was about 15. As I was thinking of what kind of realistic and not hypocritical answer I should give, he said, "Like when you go to college?" This was pretty much what I was going to say, so I was glad I held my tongue. My job was done!
Sex ed - my mother handed me a book written by Ann Landers about sex. Didn't know that holding hands was a "gateway action" to intercourse, did you?:D
All of that TOUCHING ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Dogmama
I will share photo's when we are done I promise.Quote:
Originally Posted by SUPlove
Sorry but I am cracking up right now!Quote:
Originally Posted by Catrin
Then my job is done :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Brandi
My mom was pretty open with me and was pretty independent for her time. I think Dad liked that about her. Of course my grandma (maternal) never understood her. But the funniest thing about sex ed I remember is my grandmother asking the ladies (my mom, aunt, female first cousins and I) what oral sex was. When we explained it, she said it must be a mortal sin and she hoped none of us had done that! :eek: Of course everyone started looking at each other and giggling....Grandma was certainly perplexed at that! :D