Eclectic Parent

We talk to the kids about practically anything. From explaining the lyrics to Pink’s U & Ur Hand to watching YouTube videos of tongue piercings gone wrong. I have this small fear about being approaching at playgrounds by parents saying my kids told their child Santa doesn’t exist, exactly how babies are made, or exactly where bacon comes from. I mean, really, the potential is almost endless. I’m hoping that this will carry into their teenage years - this willingness to ask us anything and our inclination to discuss it with them. I hope that, by not making some subjects taboo, they will come to us with everything.

While they are young, having opening can get strange, embarassing or hilarious. They think little of discussing Darth Vadar in one breath and the existence of nipple piercing the next. At dinner the other night D asked us if we thought C’s adrenal response would be fight or flight. I don’t remember what we were even discussings weeks ago that led to explaining the concept. I asked C what he thought and told him the basic idea; he wasn’t sure. So I said, “If Voldemot apperated into our house would you run away or try to fight him?” Well that opened all sorts of avenues for disccussion. After settling back into the discussion, Daddy though C would freeze and hope no one noticed him. C said he’d run away; well, actually didn’t answer at all - he demonstrated his response running from the dinner table.

B said she’d scream, “Mom there’s a stranger in the house!” Then she’d run into her bedroom to hide. I asked if that’s why she kept it so messy, so that she could hide amongst dress up clothes and stuffed animals on the floor. She thought she could burrow down amid everything and no one would find her. D shout’s out, “It’s crapouflage! When you have so much crap it can hide you - crapouglage!”

I’m expecting that visit asking what we teach our kids every day. Until then I’m going to keep laughing.