Boy/Girl Anatomy - Ack! They are asking!!!

For all of you out there, especially with b/g twins, or b/g children period
I guess... here goes. I knew this dreaded day would come.

Charlie has known for over a year now that he pees from him penis. Around
that same time, also asked what Jenna had. So, we've just always kept it
simple by saying that "Boys have penises, and girls don't." He was always
satisfied with that answer. Then she started asking too, and we told her
the same thing. Pretty satisfied. Then it was "Do you have a penis,
Mommy?" "No, Mommy is a girl, so no penis." Satisfied.

Recently, Jenna has become frustrated with that answer and wants more
specifics. She'll say "No, Mommy... what is it (pointing to herself)
*called*?"

We decided early on that we weren't going to use baby talk (pee pee, winkie,
etc.) and decided to tell them both the correct term for their anatomical
parts. Penis was easy. I have a real problem with telling her that *her's*
is a vagina. We are absolutely *not* talking about her vagina, we are
talking about where her urine comes from, right?

So, I decided to tell her that it is her urethra. DH pointed out "Well, men
have urethras too." So I thought maybe "urethral *opening*? How's that
for a mouthful... especially for a 4 year old! Now she's been pointing to
it saying "This is my Aretha!"

What are some of the solutions you have used? Any advice? As flustered as
I probably sound in this post, I actually remain quite calm and usually
answer very matter of factly and divert their attention... "Yes, Charlie has
a penis and you have a urethra... You have a nose and so does Charlie!
What else do you have that Charlie has?" Oh... and she's been asking about
breasts. Up until now, I've just called it her chest. When she asks about
why mine is different, I just explain that girls chests grow as they get
older.

I'm obviously *not* ready for all this! LOL Someone help me!

Lynn (Mommy to Charlie and Jenna 8/30/00)

Not sure about all those terms for 'down there' but as for the chest part
we've always called them breasts or (I hate to admit) boobies. Boys and
girls both have them. I often ask Evan where his boobies are. I guess
nipples would really apply but hey. Girl's breasts are bigger because they
store and use them for milk eventually when they have babies. I haven't
gotten into the what if they don't have babies etc but I guess the
description is still the same except they never fill up with milk.

I am looking forward to posts for more anatomy terms as my girls haven't
really ever asked yet.

--
Erin
Morgan and Megan 2/15/97
Evan 5/14/00


"looneybird" wrote in message
...
For all of you out there, especially with b/g twins, or b/g children
period
I guess... here goes. I knew this dreaded day would come.

Charlie has known for over a year now that he pees from him penis. Around
that same time, also asked what Jenna had. So, we've just always kept
it
simple by saying that "Boys have penises, and girls don't." He was always
satisfied with that answer. Then she started asking too, and we told her
the same thing. Pretty satisfied. Then it was "Do you have a penis,
Mommy?" "No, Mommy is a girl, so no penis." Satisfied.

Recently, Jenna has become frustrated with that answer and wants more
specifics. She'll say "No, Mommy... what is it (pointing to herself)
*called*?"

We decided early on that we weren't going to use baby talk (pee pee,
winkie,
etc.) and decided to tell them both the correct term for their anatomical
parts. Penis was easy. I have a real problem with telling her that
*her's*
is a vagina. We are absolutely *not* talking about her vagina, we are
talking about where her urine comes from, right?

So, I decided to tell her that it is her urethra. DH pointed out "Well,
men
have urethras too." So I thought maybe "urethral *opening*? How's that
for a mouthful... especially for a 4 year old! Now she's been pointing to
it saying "This is my Aretha!"

What are some of the solutions you have used? Any advice? As flustered
as
I probably sound in this post, I actually remain quite calm and usually
answer very matter of factly and divert their attention... "Yes, Charlie
has
a penis and you have a urethra... You have a nose and so does Charlie!
What else do you have that Charlie has?" Oh... and she's been asking
about
breasts. Up until now, I've just called it her chest. When she asks
about
why mine is different, I just explain that girls chests grow as they get
older.

I'm obviously *not* ready for all this! LOL Someone help me!

Lynn (Mommy to Charlie and Jenna 8/30/00)

"Kender" wrote in message
news:5JnCc.165390$Ly.13342@attbi_s01...

I am looking forward to posts for more anatomy terms as my girls haven't
really ever asked yet.

--
Erin
Morgan and Megan 2/15/97
Evan 5/14/00

Wow! Your girls haven't asked yet? You are lucky! LOL

I guess I am lucky. They've just never needed an exact word. I can't even
think about what I've said relating to it all. Evan seems more curious then
both of them!
Erin

"looneybird" wrote in message
...
"Kender" wrote in message
news:5JnCc.165390$Ly.13342@attbi_s01...

I am looking forward to posts for more anatomy terms as my girls haven't
really ever asked yet.

--
Erin
Morgan and Megan 2/15/97
Evan 5/14/00

Wow! Your girls haven't asked yet? You are lucky! LOL

Well, at least you can say "penis", LOL, I'm even uncomfortable with
that! My guys are stilla little young, but I admit to being a horrible
mother and refer to both areas on my b/g twins a "pee pee". Sorry! I'm
anxious to hear what other posters say.

Megan~
Mommy to
Aidan & Alexis born 9/28/02
Twin Angels..
baby boy 6/20/01 (18 weeks)
baby girl 7/1/01 (20 weeks)

www.babiesonline.com/babies/a/aidannalexis

"Megan Byrne" wrote in message
...
Well, at least you can say "penis", LOL, I'm even uncomfortable with
that! My guys are stilla little young, but I admit to being a horrible
mother and refer to both areas on my b/g twins a "pee pee". Sorry! I'm
anxious to hear what other posters say.

I don't *think* I conveyed the opinion that I think others are bad parents
for using words like "pee pee", etc. And, I don't think you are saying that
either, Megan... just wanted to say it just in case! I guess it's just a
personal preference of ours to use "real words". I do wish I had the
foresight to just call them "privates" or something else ambiguous at this
age. I just think kids are given more information than they really need at
such young ages. And, I've gone and made a bed that I'm not ready to lie in
LOL.

"Megan Byrne" wrote in message
...
Well, at least you can say "penis", LOL, I'm even uncomfortable with
that! My guys are stilla little young, but I admit to being a horrible
mother and refer to both areas on my b/g twins a "pee pee". Sorry! I'm
anxious to hear what other posters say.

I don't *think* I conveyed the opinion that I think others are bad parents
for using words like "pee pee", etc. And, I don't think you are saying that
either, Megan... just wanted to say it just in case! I guess it's just a
personal preference of ours to use "real words". I do wish I had the
foresight to just call them "privates" or something else ambiguous at this
age. I just think kids are given more information than they really need at
such young ages. And, I've gone and made a bed that I'm not ready to lie in
LOL.

"Megan Byrne" wrote in message
...
Well, at least you can say "penis", LOL, I'm even uncomfortable with
that! My guys are stilla little young, but I admit to being a horrible
mother and refer to both areas on my b/g twins a "pee pee". Sorry! I'm
anxious to hear what other posters say.

I don't *think* I conveyed the opinion that I think others are bad parents
for using words like "pee pee", etc. And, I don't think you are saying that
either, Megan... just wanted to say it just in case! I guess it's just a
personal preference of ours to use "real words". I do wish I had the
foresight to just call them "privates" or something else ambiguous at this
age. I just think kids are given more information than they really need at
such young ages. And, I've gone and made a bed that I'm not ready to lie in
LOL.

Well, at least you can say "penis", LOL, I'm even uncomfortable with
that! My guys are stilla little young, but I admit to being a horrible
mother and refer to both areas on my b/g twins a "pee pee". Sorry! I'm
anxious to hear what other posters say.

Megan~
Mommy to
Aidan & Alexis born 9/28/02
Twin Angels..
baby boy 6/20/01 (18 weeks)
baby girl 7/1/01 (20 weeks)

www.babiesonline.com/babies/a/aidannalexis

Well, at least you can say "penis", LOL, I'm even uncomfortable with
that! My guys are stilla little young, but I admit to being a horrible
mother and refer to both areas on my b/g twins a "pee pee". Sorry! I'm
anxious to hear what other posters say.

Megan~
Mommy to
Aidan & Alexis born 9/28/02
Twin Angels..
baby boy 6/20/01 (18 weeks)
baby girl 7/1/01 (20 weeks)

www.babiesonline.com/babies/a/aidannalexis