Emily has a short week of school this week. Consequently there is no Show and Tell. This is probably a good thing.
Yesterday afternoon I put my feet in the stirrups at the midwive’s office to get my new IUD. I had planned to have Emily watch Lucy for me but it was late in the afternoon and Lucy was hungry and wanting her mama. Lucy ended up in my lap which meant Emily was free.
She was standing by my feet. “Can I … see what she is doing?”
“Sure, just don’t bump in to my leg, please, and stay out of Rachel’s way.” My seven-year-old disappeared behind the sheet covering my knees.
“Is that blood? Is it period blood or blood blood? Why is betadine orange? Does it hurt? Why are you squeezing your toes? Are you making that noise to make Lucy laugh or because it hurts? Is that where Lucy was? How did she fit in there? When you were having a baby you kept saying “I can’t do it” and you were crying. That’s the part that is scary. So, what exactly is your vagina? Where is that?”
On our way to the car I said “I don’t think very many seven-year-olds have seen their mother’s cervix. Was that neat? Or kind of weird?”
“Well, I thought I would just have to sit there and watch Lucy and that it would be… Lame. That was not lame.”
When I got up this morning this is what I saw at the kitchen table. I don’t think her cervix sighting has irrevocably changed her. Although she has a certain “I am Woman, Hear Me Roar” flair, no?
In other news I snapped a picture of Lucy after she finished nursing just now. She doesn’t look like a kid who has a mother with low milk supply to me. I am ever vigilant, but so far so good. 
Excitement on the side 
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I wish I had a midwife I could go to for this. Well, at least I have a pretty decent gyno man. I take it you got the low-dose hormonal IUD? I’m leaning that way and I AM TERRIFIED.
I think it’s awesome your kiddos came and, well….participated? So empowering for the little girls to know what the heck their own bodies do/are/look like. Word.
Exactly. I think it blew her little mind in just the right way.
Kelly,
Lucha Libre Em, proof that she has gonads of adamantium. This was the best joke I could make around cervix… And I do know my biology before you start correcting me, Ms. Queen Gonads.
Le Clown
Totally not lame. Oh, the stories she’s going to tell her friends. And, yikes to those teeth. I nursed Piper until she was two and I remember a few nibbles.
Good for you! My daughter has always been offered the opportunity to see or learn about as much as she is curious about, but she’s very private. She’s been saying some very funny stuff about maturing (she’s 10) and maybe I have the courage to blog about it….maybe. You’ve inspired me.
hmmmmm I’m torn on this one…..so
Part 1 says- It’s great you’re so open with your daughter I really wish My mum had been willing to explain things to me when I was a kid. I’ve never seen a cervix in real life I’m a little jealous!
Part 2 says- :shock: you let her….and she…..oh my.
^ that. exactly. I wasn’t even totally comfortable with my husband being in the same room as me when I had my first pregnancy appointment and I had to get a pap. Good on you!
I struggled with it – but I could not bring myself to tell her she had to leave.
Ha. I was amazed that she seemed almost stunned.