M. has become quite interested lately about how girls are different from boys. To put it bluntly, she wonders why she doesn't have that fascinating appendage G. has. We have been preparing for this for some time. Our attitude has been that we are both children of the 70's, that we read Where Did I Come From? with our parents and did not die of shame. [Okay, time for the truth. My mother would have NEVER been able to buy or borrow a book with cartoonish illustrations of fat naked people (!!), no matter how many other mothers were doing it. And read it to us? Are you kidding? She let our Montessori school do it for her.] Anyway, we both look upon this as a phase that will pass.
We have tried to remain natural about the topic, we have consulted books, and we have gamely answered her questions in public restrooms. The books tell you not to get embarrassed or stern and to do your best not to laugh. We have had trouble with the straight face portion of this advice--especially when she composed a song on the subject that featured the words "spiky" and "prickly."
M. also insists on using the French pronunciation of the word. Because of years of Catholic schooling, I have trouble saying the word no matter what the language. Notice how I have refrained thus far from typing it, just in case someone in my family might read this. I have never even considered how it should be pronounced in French because I truly fail to see when I would be talking about this subject with any of F.'s relatives.
Our relaxed, natural plan backfired recently on the escalator at Nordstrom. She was chattering happily away about her brother's anatomy when I pointed out that perhaps this was not the best time to talk about penises. She instantly corrected me in a voice just a few decibels shy of a DC-10: "Mama, it's pronounced PEN-is, not PEEN-is!"
I stand corrected.
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