We had just eaten dinner and my mom was washing dishes in front of our garden window. My brothers had left the room to play Nintendo and I knew I had a good window to speak with her alone.
Anxiety filled my stomach with butterflies as I climbed the chair to sit on our oak dining table. I had immense guilt for knowing what sex was…the kids at school had whispered and told me about it and the jig was up – I knew, for the most part, how I became a baby in my mother’s belly.
I was 7 years old. I took a deep breath and decided to come clean; after all, I knew I wanted to avoid the future awkward conversation.
“Mom, I know what sex is,” I blurted out. “So we don’t have to have the talk. Like, ever.”
I’m pretty sure I caught her off-guard. She put down the dish she was scrubbing and turned to me, resting the towel on her shoulder.
“Oh yeah? Well, what is it then?” she asked.
I took a deep breath before imparting my incredible knowledge. “When a man and a woman love each other they get naked and hump. Then, 9 months later, a baby is born.”
“Well, that’s right for the most part,” she said. “I’m glad you know. You’re too little to know anything more, so we’ll revisit this a few years down the road,” she said.
That response seemed to appease me. I felt so embarrassed as it is to know what I knew.
A few weeks later, my mom came home with some books from the library showing illustrations of where babies came from and the reproductive parts that go with the process.
I was horrified, but relieved at the same time, to finally see the truth. I thumbed through the pages, and it slowly clicked.
My mom left me alone with the books. But after awhile, she stopped by the couch where I was looking at the books and said one thing: “Sex only should happen when you’re married to a man you love.”
We never discussed sex again….that is, until college…
This was written for Mama Kat‘s Writing Workshop. I chose prompt 4 asking to describe your sex education experience.
Wow – I didn’t have a clue at 7!! Guess we were a little later at my school! My mom had my sister give me “the talk”. And that may have been easier. My sister was 15 years old than me, so I guess it was easier for us to talk.
I’m sure you floored your Mom!!
It probably helped that I had older bros, too!
That was straight forward but excrutiating for a 7 year old. My cousin told me about it and I didn’t believe her. Visiting from Mama kat’s.
That’s hilarious. It is pretty mind-blowing when you really think about it.
I was around 7 too, but had no clue on my own, but I was getting another sibling, and my 4 year old sister had questions! I dread talking about it with my girls, but sounds like your mom did a good job!
When in doubt, give them books to look at 😉
Oh wow. I was much older before I figured it all out. And I don’t even remember how because nobody ever gave me the talk!
Well, since you have kids, it sounds like you figured it out eventually 😉
WOW! I had that talk 7 years LATER than you and I don’t even remember it, my Mom says that all I could tell her was that THAT was NEVER happening to ME. Guess who lost her virginity the following summer? I shudder at the thought of how the talk is going down for my own children.
Ugh. I know. It’s weird how it sounds so disgusting and then all of the sudden it doesn’t seem so bad!
I would have been mortified. Seriously. I had no clue at the age of 7 what sex was but when the topic came up many years later I was pretty embarrassed. You’re lucky that your mom was awesome to get you books and sit you down. all my parents said was pretty much what you knew…man and woman hump then 9 months later wha la.
Well, might as well not over-complicate what it is!
Eeeeeek! My daughter is turning 7 next month.
Don’t worry! I was young…my mom just didn’t have a choice in telling me!
I am hoping JDaniel waits for a long time to ask.
Hopefully he will. Boys are different though. Might be interesting. Best of luck!
Your talk with your mom was much like the talk my mom gave me. She too used a book. I remember feeling like I was so grown up because I knew this ‘secret’ and I also felt like I needed to keep my legs crosses at all time. 🙂
Visiting from Mama Kat’s
Ha, that’s awesome. Yes, it’s such a crazy secret. Wish more kids were naive about it for longer!
I can’t remember the age I finally asked my grandmother about having a period. I wish she’d have handled it a little closer to the way your mother did….would’ve saved alot of confusion for me down the line..lol
hi from mamak’s
Yeah, that was another weird convo. It still amazes me how the female body works! Although I am scared to discuss with my daughter one day!
Wow, at only age 7?? I was clueless then. But once we did have the talk, it was barely addressed. Definitely a no-no topic in our house. That’s one thing I know I’ll do differently with my kids. But at age 7? I think I want them still innocent. 😉
Yes, I think openess is key!
Wow! My daughter is 7 and I’m not sure I could handle this conversation with her right now. I think I would have grandma come over and take care of it. 😉
Too funny. Grandma probably knows exactly how to handle it if your daughter is anything like you 😉
7??? I knew nothing of the sort at that age! And I’m pretty sure that I couldn’t have that conversation with my 7 year old.
I agree with Jessica…. let grandma do it!
Haha, I know, I was young, but what can you do? At least I saved my mom from the future embarrassment 😉
Oh you poor thing. The embarrassment of the talk. I shudder just thinking about it. Glad it went so easily for you though!
Yes, I also shudder…Cheers to our future “talks”!
I’m giggling b/c my oldest said she knows what it is too (she’s 10) and it’s: you know how that man lady (her unfortunate term for a transgendered person) who was beaten in McDonald’s? That’s what sex is. She was confused about hers. Um, close. But you just bought me a few more weeks of not discussing this.
Haha, oh dear. Poor kids – it must be confusing that there’s two meanings behind the word “sex.”