But we
live in a colorful world and speak a colorful language. So I wasn’t entirely surprised when my
7-year-old asked me one morning, “Daddy, what does c**t mean?”
This is
the lad who – as a first-grader – was advised
by a second-grader to Google-search
images of “boys having sex with girls”! So this is not the first time we’ve had
to navigate these waters…
But I
must admit, I had one of those “How
do I field this one?” moments.
When in
doubt, I’ve tried to make it a policy to be affirming and answer the question
as simply as possible, while adding my own message. Sometimes, I’ve gotten it
horribly wrong, sounding like a cross between Ned Flanders and Principal
Skinner. This time, it went a little something like this:
Me:
“Where’d you hear that? …
Him: "I dunno."
Me: "Ok, well, first, it’s probably the rudest word there
is and us Aldins don’t say
that. Second, you asked me what does the word mean. Well, do you know what a vagina is? No? (Quick
matter-of-fact anatomy lesson follows...) So this word is a rude word for that like d**k
(I knew he knew that word) is for penis,
but worse. Does that answer your question? … Ok. Mate, I’m really glad you
asked me ’cause if you’d asked your teacher or Grandma … (then I ham up a horrified-old-woman-reaction
– sorry Grandma – it gets some laughs) – You can always ask me anything, buddy.”
Him: “Ok,
Dad and I won’t say that word. Ever.”
And five years later, he never has...
...to my knowledge...