If you are feeling nerded-out by all this tax talk, here is a little antidote:
The Birds and Bees Talk Too Soon? I told my 5-year-old how babies are made, an essay of mine that Babble published last week.
Being featured by my favorite parenting web magazine has been one of my dreams, so pardon me if I scream. Ahhhh!
And perhaps an even greater compliment was this spin-off essay from one of Babble’s Strollerderby bloggers, John Cave Osborne: When and How to Discuss the Birds and the Bees? (Remember the book, Where Did I Come From? That’s how I was educated by brave old Dad, but Osborne quotes a passage in his piece that I must have blocked out. Yikes.)
Recently I wrote about how I wanted to make blogging pay off by getting writing assignments, and how I hoped that going for what I loved would bring success.
So with this article in Babble, an upcoming piece in Family Times magazine, and a few other exciting projects in the pipeline, I’m definitely moving in the right direction.
Even though I’m not sure if my checks will cover a cart of groceries, maybe there is some truth to that point in Pretty Neat: Get Organized and Let Go of Perfection: people who regularly write down their goals earn nine times as much over their lifetimes as people who don’t.
What do you think? Or more importantly, how did you learn about the birds and the bees?
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Naima March 2, 2011 at 12:17 pm
I learned about the B & Bs from my mother who got out the anatomical posters from a massage school or something and told me about the parts. She discussed it like it was all very mechanical and matter of fact. She said it was ok to masturbate. She never mentioned love. I was 8. I am grateful to her because she was so specific and gave me so much info. And, through the years she was MORE than outspoken about sex, and encouraged me and my friends to use condoms, and offered to get them for us. It was pretty embarrassing at the time, but really, I thank her now, because I have two boys that I need to be real with and not mince words with.
Amy March 5, 2011 at 9:29 pm
Hi Naima,
Wow, what a courageous mom! I like how she was matter of fact, and even discussed masturbation. I wonder why not love, though? Having that kind of education must make it easier to talk to you own kids.
Good luck though — I’m sure it’s not a piece of cake!
Thanks for writing in,
Amy
Samantha February 24, 2011 at 1:42 pm
Loved this article and shared it with hubby, who very helpfully replied “I’ll get right on that pot scrubbing”.
Samantha´s last post ..Going Beyond Groupon
Amy March 5, 2011 at 9:31 pm
Another shy husband? Babble once ran an article about the fact that it always seems to be the women who have to have The Talk.
Mim Owen February 24, 2011 at 2:53 am
My folks went down the Where Did I Come From book route too. They still have it, and I recently re-read it… I think I blocked out parts of it too!
Amy February 24, 2011 at 6:24 am
Hi Mim,
Wow, I can’t believe they still have it. I’d love to see it again too!
Thanks for writing in,
Amy
john cave osborne February 23, 2011 at 9:58 pm
you know what i think? i think you ROCK! i loved that piece you wrote for Babble and i certainly wasn’t alone.
and, um, sorry about the Where Did I Come From passage. it was, well, gross. and kinda funny. in a really gross way, of course. can you believe that was in that book? i’d go w/ your approach a thousand times over!
keep up the great work!
john cave osborne´s last post ..10 Signs Your Wife Might Be Pregnant
Amy February 24, 2011 at 6:28 am
Thanks for the huge vote of confidence, John! It means a lot coming from another writer. –Amy
rachel February 23, 2011 at 8:15 pm
Amy I LOVE this! I have to tell you, one of my most hilarious moments as a mother was when I caught my then 10- and eight-year-olds snickering together, after the 10-year-old had attended a fifth grade sex ed class. I asked them what they were laughing about and he blurted out, “You and Daddy had sex THREE times!!!”
We have three kids.
;-)
rachel´s last post ..You Want My Baby To Swallow What
Amy February 24, 2011 at 6:30 am
Hi Rachel,
That IS hilarious! I love how they were all giggling, as if they had really discovered a can of worms. So cute.
Amy
Sarah February 23, 2011 at 12:10 pm
Congratulations! I read this piece of yours the other day and didn’t connect the dots! I’m glad you are on your way to achieving such a monumental, satisfying goal! Mine is now to work on being more observant…
Sarah´s last post ..Gold Stars and Gratification
Amy February 24, 2011 at 6:30 am
Yeah, it was the biggest honor to be featured on Daily Babble. Thank you for the encouragement, Sarah!
Amy