That little piece of the male anatomy that us ladies have enjoyed so many times, but that turns us as parents into blubbering idiots. So badly so we can't even say the word! We call it a winky, peepee, weiner, weiny, willy, doodle, privates, potty-parts, tinkler, etc. Anything to avoid saying the word penis....but I don't really know why? Is it because as adults, knowing that the penis is not only for going the bathroom, but is also for adult only activities, that we feel dirty saying it to our children? Is it because we feel it is inappropriate for a child to know that word because, heaven forbid, he repeat it in public and it's not really a public topic? Is it that our thoughts go immediately to having "the talk" which is all around uncomfortable for everyone?
Either way, N has found his. I noticed yesterday in the bathtub that he had his hand on it for a minute and was looking at me smiling but he didn't leave his hand there or grab at it, he just started splashing again and that was that. Then again tonight I noticed it except this time he was pulling on it and trying to look at it. My first reaction was to move his hand then I realized that I don't move his hand when he's pulling on his toes, and while this is a more private area, he needs to explore it and be aware of it all the same. My next reaction was to say, "Is that your peepee?" Then of course, I rethought that as well because it got me thinking about why I don't just say the word penis. What is so uncomfortable about it? I don't make up a funny cutsie name for his fingers, or cheeks or feet. So I looked at him smiling at me and pulling on his penis and I said "that's your penis!" and he smiled from ear to ear and then started splashing again. Even after saying, I still felt weird about it for some reason. It's like it's ingrained in me that calling it anything other than penis, is less inappropriate than calling it by it's actual name.
However uncomfortable it is for me I plan on continuing to use the proper names. Who knows, may when N gets to kindergarten he'll be like that kid in Kindergarten Cop who constantly tells people "Boys had a penis, girls have a vagina!" but I see no reason why I should teach my kid something wrong from the start.
And if anyone has any insight in to why we do this, why it's so uncomfortable, please! Comment away! I'd love to know why....
1 comment:
I have no idea why we do this either, probably to avoid embarrassment in public when your kid says "Mommy, my penis/vagina itches". I however, plan on taking the low road because I am a wimp, and will probably have some ridiculous name for it.
I'm sure T is loving this post and is going to email you with how proud she is ;)
And, I must comment on how you have a tag for PENIS. AWESOMENESS.
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