Saturday, January 19, 2013

Let's talk about sex...or not!


So now that I got your attention...let's do it, let's talk about sex.

Austin is turning 10 in a few weeks and I've noticed some changes in him. Aside from growing like a weed, his voice is changing and he has *outbursts* that can only be described as testosterone fueled explosions. Don't accuse him of something he didn't do, it will lead to a world class melt down.

I know what's happening, he is starting puberty. I really expected to not have this conversation until he was 12 or so but, it happened! We were in the car, just him and I (He was home sick and had to go with me to pick up Grif). He said "Mom, what does Explicit mean when it comes before a movie? Like "Explicit Behavior"? "Or Crude, what does Crude behavior mean?". I said it could mean a variety of things but in the instance he was questioning it meant words that are sexual in nature or have sexual meaning. Then...it HAPPENED! "Austin, do you know what SEX is?"...I don't know what I was thinking, it just flew out of my mouth. Then it was there, just hanging in the air. I had no choice to explain when a little embarrassed voice squealed from the back seat..."MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM"..."Well, do you?"...."No not really.".

I began by asking if he knew where babies came from. He said "Your belly.". "OK, but how do the babies get in there?". "God?"..."Good answer but not exactly."...I explained gently and using accurate words how a man and a woman procreate. Since I wasn't looking directly at him I'm not exactly sure what his reaction was but I was met with silence. I went on and on for about 10 minutes describing in what I thought was an age appropriate manner about how babies are made, still...silence.

I was feeling quite proud of myself by the time I had finished. It went better than I had thought. He sat and quietly listened to me as I went on and on. I had his full and undivided attention. When we reached Griffin's school I turned to him and said "Now do you have any questions?"...Then I saw it...his face was red as a beet but flushed at the same time. I thought for sure he was going to puke all over the car. I said "Austin, are you ok?". He said..."Mom, can we NOT talk about this anymore?"..."Uhhhhh, OK.".

Well, I guess I layed the foundation and David will have to do the explaining down the road. I can't wait to hear how that goes!