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RiffRandell

(5,909 posts)
Fri Mar 9, 2012, 01:21 PM Mar 2012

My son, who is in 5th grade, got the "puberty" talk at school yesterday.

Last edited Fri Mar 9, 2012, 09:15 PM - Edit history (1)

Separation from boys and girls, nothing about sex, just how your body changes.

His best friend's Mom (whom I love and is really cool) called me last night to say her son was traumitized by it. WTF?

It totally was not about sex---I was asking my son gently, like, well did they talk about girls? He said no.

BTW---so sorry for spamming the lounge today. Bored---but I really love you guys (most anyway) so please take it as a compliment!

12 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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My son, who is in 5th grade, got the "puberty" talk at school yesterday. (Original Post) RiffRandell Mar 2012 OP
Was she or her son the one that was really traumatized? ScreamingMeemie Mar 2012 #1
He was. RiffRandell Mar 2012 #3
Also, it wasn't my mother in law's job. ScreamingMeemie Mar 2012 #4
I don't blame you! RiffRandell Mar 2012 #5
And still, there are other kids RedCloud Mar 2012 #2
As a single mom, I got to explain "nocturnal emissions" to my 10-year old son. kaiden Mar 2012 #6
Well good for you explaining it to him. RiffRandell Mar 2012 #7
I heard a Storycorps story that was thought provoking marzipanni Mar 2012 #8
My parents never gave me "the talk" Bruce Wayne Mar 2012 #9
For a lot of kids ... surrealAmerican Mar 2012 #10
Puberty happens. HopeHoops Mar 2012 #11
I think we were 5th or 6th grade, which was pretty progressive for a Catholic school in the 60's. MiddleFingerMom Mar 2012 #12

ScreamingMeemie

(68,918 posts)
1. Was she or her son the one that was really traumatized?
Fri Mar 9, 2012, 01:23 PM
Mar 2012


I will never forget when my mother in law took it upon herself to "teach" our 3 year old daughter the facts of life. Exactly the kind of thing you want your three year old sharing with the nursery school set.

RedCloud

(9,230 posts)
2. And still, there are other kids
Fri Mar 9, 2012, 02:37 PM
Mar 2012

Who think they know it all.
Once I was watching a little girl for her mom as a favor. And the little girl to act like an adult and said, "I know where babies come from!" I must've turned several shades of red. Until she said the babies grow in their mothers' bellies and come out- pop goes the weasel.

kaiden

(1,314 posts)
6. As a single mom, I got to explain "nocturnal emissions" to my 10-year old son.
Fri Mar 9, 2012, 03:22 PM
Mar 2012

When I was through with my talk, he replied enthusiastically: "That's good to know. I thought I was peeing the bed!"

marzipanni

(6,011 posts)
8. I heard a Storycorps story that was thought provoking
Fri Mar 9, 2012, 06:28 PM
Mar 2012

"Amanda was 7 at this point, and I explained to her where this was going," Les says. "And she burst into tears and threw herself onto my lap. And she says, 'Oh, please, don't change into a man. If you have to change into anything, couldn't it be a cat?' "

http://www.npr.org/2012/03/09/148178236/a-mom-becomes-a-man-and-a-family-sticks-together

This could have been traumatic, but the family was flexible and accepting.

surrealAmerican

(11,364 posts)
10. For a lot of kids ...
Fri Mar 9, 2012, 08:57 PM
Mar 2012

... the idea that their body is changing in not entirely predictable ways is frightening. It doesn't mean they did a bad job of the puberty education.

MiddleFingerMom

(25,163 posts)
12. I think we were 5th or 6th grade, which was pretty progressive for a Catholic school in the 60's.
Sat Mar 10, 2012, 04:22 PM
Mar 2012

.
.
.
We were "taught" by a medical doctor who was brought in for the talk (also pretty progressive).
I don't remember whether it was good or interesting... EXCEPT for the final question in the open
Q&A period after the talk (VERY progressive).
.
One of the kids asked how far into the pregnancy could a couple still engage in sex. The doctor
said, "Well, as long as the attendants and/or driver is OK with it -- they can still engage in the
ambulance or taxi ride to the delivery room."
.
We, needless to say... howled -- and even the nuns chuckled. THAT part was definitely memorable.
.
.
.

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