Thursday, March 11, 2010

It's a Penis Not the Plague...

These are the words that often run through my mind. Vance is in the stage of the free spirit. The age when diapers are cumbersome and air flowing in the nether regions is preferred. I've been here before, it's seems like a million times now and I still don't know how to address the subject. When Ryleigh and Keely were here I tried to take the "It's no big deal" approach (Naked in Rain boots), but now Vance is bearing his yankee doodle and the girls are either too curious for my taste or completely disgusted.  

I admit that I probably do not stress modesty enough, but there are few things more adorable than a newborn moon, or a toddler one for that matter, and for this reason I am not quick to react when little ones become unclad.  The girls however, are expeditious to point and scream "Ewwww" as they run from the room.  Vance is quite impressed by his newly discovered power that his appendage yields.  It's at this point that I intercede and grab a giggling boy and rescue two screeching girls.  I try to be matter-of-fact regarding the situation, and for the most part I believed my approach was working well for everyone, that I was presenting a healthy view of the body parts God has gifted us.  That was until a few weeks ago.  As I wrestled a diaper on to the little man, I tried again to tell the girls that it's not funny or gross, but it's they way God made boys, that it is his body, his private area, his penis.  Vance stopped squirming and stared at me.  I pointed and repeated, "your penis."  To which Vance struggled to lift his over-sized head off the couch to look down and replied, "Ewwww."  I surely hope Brian and I can afford therapy for all the kids one day. 

(Originally written in Jan. 2010)

6 comments:

Tonya said...

As I read this, I have a naked toddler laying on the couch next to me, touching herself and singing. I so get the naked toddler thing!!!

Karin @ 6ByHisDesign said...

hey girlie! I've caught up --- Sadie's a cutie! Spring's coming, so homeschooling will get easier, cuz with Spring, everything gets easier, doesn't it? Doesn't it?! (hyperventilating into paper bag...)

Take it easy on yourself girlie! You're an amazing mom, or no one would say it. (And I just said it, so that means you ARE!)

Anonymous said...

I think that your girls have nailed it. They are running away from a naked boy. I would see this as innocence at its best and it should be saying something to you.
They see something they should not see. That is why they call it "private".
This should be something taken seriously, even at a young age. Modesty and purity are being thrown by the wayside in our society. It is up to us parents to show how pure and how beautiful our bodies and even 'sacred' in a sense. I can understand as a Mom that it is precious to see a bare bum, but I would suggest you leave it at that-as you are the only 'girl' that can see (that's how I approach it).
GOd bless you! Happy Easter!!!

lifebythehandful said...

I'm not sure who you are Anonymous or if I completely agree with you, but I am always looking for ways to promote modesty yet balancing that with not making the kids feel dirty or bad about their bodies. I would love to hear how you deal with children when they get to the age where they want to bare all and self-explore.

Anonymous said...

There is a great book out about modesty for young children. It is called The Swimsuit Lesson-basically whatever is covered by a bathing suit is what is private and no one should see (besides Mommy and Daddy or whomever you tell is ok). We do not allow any of our children to bare all, and that has allowed our children to know that our bodies are precious and we can talk with them privately, Mommy or Daddy with the child about covering up etc. Hope that helps.
God bless you!

Riahli said...

Oh my goodness I don't really understand or agree with were 'anonymous' is coming from. I think at home with family at the toddler stage it prefectly okay to get some fresh air. How silly. Of course we wouldn't want big kids running around naked but come on there is a time and a place for everything and we teach our children things at age appropriate stages.

This post made me giggle and that's all I was going to say until I read the comments. My kids all get their 'nakie time' at home (not to mention it also helps with potty training and all of my children were potty trained by 20 months) and at the same time we teach them about their bodies and how special they are and slowly transition into a less clothing optional mode.