February 22, 2008
Not So Private Parts
First and foremost, I want to thank you all for your comments and e-mails after my very bad day yesterday. I will be eternally grateful for all the good advice, cheerful support and good wishes. There are no words to describe the love that has filled my heart from each one of you. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I’ve discovered a few things about my unfortunate situation.
First, it’s not the end of the world. I truly believe that better things are in store for me, I just need to figure out what they are. Second, I’ve got a lot of free time now, and I have been able to focus on some tasks and projects I neglected because I was working full time. Lastly, I’m enjoying the amount of time I can spend with Dawson. In just twenty-four hours, I’ve learned that my son is a comical boy and he loves to make his mother laugh.
For instance, last evening I decided it was time to stop feeling depressed and take a freakin’ shower. I couldn’t wait to jump under the hot water and wash away my troubles. On my way to the bathroom, I announced to the hubs, “I’m going to shower, so please watch the Doodlebug.”
Dawson followed me and said, “Mumma, Dawson wants to take a shower, too, okay?” Those big blue eyes melt me every time. I couldn’t say no.
I’ve allowed Dawson to shower with me before. Frankly, it’s ten times easier than trying to squeeze him into his tiny tub (we don’t have an operating bathtub in our house, we had to postpone our bathroom remodeling plans due to finances).
I’ve never felt uncomfortable about Dawson seeing me naked because I don’t want him to have a negative image about the naked body. I believe that if I’m comfortable with it, then it’s okay. (However, my mother doesn’t agree with me. Her fear is that my son will grow up “different”. I’m not sure what “different” is code for, but I have a hunch.)
Anyway, Dawson and I got into the shower, I lathered him up and then let him play with his bucket and shovel while I finished washing my hair. When we were finished, I wrapped him in his towel and put on my bathrobe.
“Mummy, what’s that on your wegs?” Dawson asked.
“What sweetie?” I asked. “There’s nothing on my legs.”
“No, Mumma, right there,” he said, as he pointed to my nether regions.
“Honey, what do you think that is?” I asked.
“It’s itchies, Mummy. Dawson doesn’t have itchies. I gots a penis.” I was so proud that my little Bug knew the proper name for his anatomy.
“Yes, honey you have a penis, but Mommy has a vagina.”
“Mommy doesn’t have a penis?”
“No. Mommies don’t have penises. Only boys have penises.” I started to laugh. My mother would be horrified if she heard this conversation.
“Daddy have a penis, too, Mommy.”
“Yes. He does.”
Suddenly Dawson ran out of the bathroom and yelled to the hubs, “Daddy, you have a penis?”
“Last time I checked,” he replied.
“I’d like to see.” Dawson said, as though he just wanted to confirm that his father did, in fact, have a penis.
I’m still laughing about this today. (And I can’t help but wonder at what I should teach him about keeping his penis in the privacy of his underpants.)
RSS feed for comments on this post.
TrackBack URI
February 22nd, 2008 at 10:15 AM, yoshi Says:
That’s funny. He’ll probably have to learn to that it’s private parts eventually.
But I agree with you about the nakedness. No one should avert their eyes because of nakedness. It’s one of those things I’ve never had a problem with.
February 22nd, 2008 at 12:21 PM, mammacheryl Says:
Oh cute. It’ll be fun to see how Ben learns about things like that. When he gets curious.
February 22nd, 2008 at 8:25 PM, whymommy Says:
Just saw your post from yesterday … that really sucks, but you WILL recover from it and you will find something better to do. You will. You’re already finding the good in it, in the extra time you get to spend with your kid. And that, my friend, is priceless.
February 22nd, 2008 at 9:10 PM, mom2amara Says:
I used to be very OK with Amara showering with me. But when she turned four and started exhibiting her independence, for some reason, that made me uneasy. I felt like saying, “No honey, it’s not you. It’s me!” like a bad break up. I know. I’m sad.
February 22nd, 2008 at 9:53 PM, Ellie Says:
How funny! Max takes showers with me often, too. It’s just so much easier! And I think that in addition to teaching him that he needn’t be embarrassed about his body, you’re teaching him that YOU aren’t embarrassed about yours- I think it’s important that our kids have realistic views of the female body… and if they never see one naked except Barbie, how can they do that? (You may totally have a perfect Barby-like body… I don’t know… just something I think about with my own son!)
February 22nd, 2008 at 10:03 PM, Dana Says:
No…my body is far from Barbie’s.
I’m more like Plumpy. Hehehehe.