So, my husband kind of covered this story in this post, but I'm writing it up anyway, because, I think, it begs more conversation. Maybe. Sorry if you read both our blogs. Clearly our lives are not all that exciting, that we both feel the burning need to write posts with the word "nipple" in it---there's number one, if you're counting.
I don't agree with the idea of giving body parts incorrect, dumbed-down, kid names. I even cringe at "ducky" or "horsy". And, I may, or may not have even been known to cross out those words in books to replace them with "duck" and "horse".
I was a biology major, if I do nothing else that that degree, I will teach my children the correct anatomical body parts, so help me!
So, when the girls were still nursing, they used to play with my collar bone and would thump my chest, so I had little one-year-olds that could (and still can) point out their clavicle and their sternum. That lesson was fairly painless.
Awhile back, Megan wrote this post about using some trickier anatomical parts with her girls, and it got me thinking about the time when I'd have to do the same with Brynne and Hadley. Certainly not something I was looking forward to, but one of those things you just have to get through, like pulling off a band-aid, or something.
Anyway, so last night as we're giving the girls a bath, Brynne sticks her finger on Brad's nipple (he was shirtless), and asks what it is.
Taking a deep breath to strengthen my resolve to use proper anatomical terms, dusting off that biology degree, I tell her that it's "Papa's nipple."
Then, she says, "Brynne no nipples." Well, I couldn't have her believing inaccuracies. So, of course I inform her that Brynne has nipples, and point them out for her. I tell her that everyone has nipples.
With this new nugget of information under her belt, she proceeds to name off everyone she's ever met just to make sure that they do, indeed, have nipples.
Mama, nipples? Masi, nipples? Grandpa, nipples?Etcetera. You get the idea.
At one point Brad informs her that the dogs have nipples.
You should all be really proud of us, though. First of all, because we are stellar parents (insert laughter here). But secondly, we did all of this, even the whole "dogs have nipples" thing, without laughing. I mean, really, this whole "correct anatomical terminology" thing is serious business.
In retrospect, I could have gone with pectoralis major, and avoided the whole "nipple talk". Apparently my biology degree needs a bit more dusting.
Oiy! Glad we saved vaginas and penises for another day.
Posts
