Nervous About "The Talk"

Mason just turned nine, and is about to have his well check.  The doctor's office thoughtfully sent us a pamphlet about what to expect at this age, and it strongly suggested that now is a great time to have the sex talk, before all the puberty stuff sneaks up on us.  I almost spit out my morning soda all over the pamphlet!

So Jodie and I have nervously been bouncing thoughts back and forth about whether or not this is something we should do right now and who should lead the discussion.  I firmly believe in honesty and being straightforward with my boys, which is why they are very aware of Asperger's and Becker Muscular Dystrophy being things that they will have to deal with during their lifetime.  When they ask me a question, I answer it.  The closest we've come to the sex talk is when Mason asked me how babies get out of their mom's stomachs.  I told him exactly how, and he thought it was really weird, but it was painless to answer the question and he never mentioned it again.  So why am I balking at teaching him about the birds and the bees?

Truthfully, I don't really know.  I think mainly because I remember that I learned about sex because I heard kids talking about it at school, and wanted to know what they were talking about.  It came up because I had questions.  I think a lot of kids learn because they hear something from other kids, and their parents feel that a proper explanation is necessary.  My problem is that Mason doesn't go to school with other kids, and when he's around other kids he hardly pays attention to them and usually doesn't really listen to what they're saying.  He's not likely to hear anything and have questions about it, which would make the topic come up and lead to a discussion.  Instead, we have to bring it up ourselves and discuss it with him.  For some reason that seems way more intimidating. 

In the end, I don't know if we'll decide that now is the time for "the talk," or if we should just wait a bit more.  Whatever we decide, I know one thing:  Jodie will be the one to lead the discussion.  If that makes me a chicken, then call me a chicken!

Anyone else have any thoughts on this?




Click once daily to vote for The Adventures Of JAMC!