The Ten-Minute Moment

Written by Valerie Zilinsky


We'll be celebrating my daughter's fifth birthday, an important milestone, in just a few short weeks. But we experienced another major event in her life just three weeks ago.

With her hands on her hips and full of self-confidence, she announced to her dad on a Saturday afternoon that she was ready for him to remove her training wheels. I knew this was coming, because her and I had previously discussed it. But it still came as a shock when she actually said it.

When it comes to my kids getting hurt, I amrepparttar stereotypical worried parent. When my husband proceeded to completely removerepparttar 111628 training wheels, I panicked! I suggested just raising them a little bit, a mere "baby step". He hadrepparttar 111629 nerve to remind me that she was no longer a baby, something that I choose to ignore whenever possible, which can be difficult to do while encouraging her to grow and learn and experience new things.

I was outnumbered, andrepparttar 111630 training wheels were completely removed. I securedrepparttar 111631 elbow and knee pads, re-adjusted her helmet to ensure proper fitting, and she ran over to her "big girl" bike. I was tempted to close my eyes or run inside, but I couldn't bear to miss a moment that was so exciting for her.

Dad also raised her seat, when we noticed that she had actually gotten taller since last fall. He helped her on her bike, and started guiding her downrepparttar 111632 sidewalk. They made a few trips back and forth, and I thought to myself, "Hey, this isn't that bad." I figured I had a few weeks to go before she gotrepparttar 111633 hang of it.

A Little Girl With A Big Question

Written by Valerie Zilinsky


A few nights back, I was enjoyingrepparttar nightly ritual of combing out my daughter's long hair after her bath. She always engages me in thought-provoking conversations during this time. It's become a special bonding session for us each evening, even if it's just to go overrepparttar 111627 new experiences she's had that day.

This time, though, she caught me off guard. My darling daughter, who won't even be five years old until next week, askedrepparttar 111628 famous question, "Mom, where do babies come from?"

I immediately started to respond, "Well, honey, when a man and a woman love each other, their love can make a baby...."

At this point, she quickly interrupted me..."No, mom, I mean, how doesrepparttar 111629 baby get insiderepparttar 111630 mommy's tummy?"

That was all it took for me. Ten years of reading parenting magazines and advice books continuously, and I had forgotten everything I ever read onrepparttar 111631 proper response to this line of questioning. My chin dropped to my chest, and my mind was blank.

Luckily, I realized that I had to recover from my momentary brain-freeze, and come up with some sort of answer. My daughter isn'trepparttar 111632 type to let something go unanswered. To buy myself some time, I told her it wasn't easy to explain, and I'd look for a book that we could read together. This seemed to satisfy her forrepparttar 111633 time being.

Now, with a few days to get back to her, I can help other parents avoid being caught inrepparttar 111634 same situation. I'm sure I am notrepparttar 111635 only parent unprepared to have this conversation with a child this young. So what'srepparttar 111636 best approach, according torepparttar 111637 'experts'?

Regardingrepparttar 111638 best time to start talking about sex with your child, Planned Parenthood says, "It's best to start as soon as children begin getting sexual messages. And they start getting them as soon as they're born. But don't worry if you haven't started yet. It's never too late. Just don't try to "catch up" all at once. The most important thing is to be open and available whenever a child wants to talk. The rest will take care of itself." (How to Talk With Your Child About Sexuality: A Parent's Guide)

According to Pandorah Turner of www.RaisingKids.tv, "Your 5-year-old daughter may be happy withrepparttar 111639 simple answer that babies come from a seed that grows in a special place inside repparttar 111640 mother. Dad helps when his seed combines with mom's seed, which causesrepparttar 111641 baby to start to grow" (Article: Talking To Your Daughter About The Birds & The Bees). To me, that seems like a very comfortable way to answer her question. However, it scares me to think what she might ask next!

Many experts state that you should only offerrepparttar 111642 information that your young children ask for. If you get too involved beyond their specific questions, most likely they won't retain what you tell them. There is nothing wrong with admitting to your child that you don't knowrepparttar 111643 answer to their question. Instead of possibly providing incorrect information, offer to look uprepparttar 111644 answers and get back to them, but make sure that you follow through. Be sure to use correct terminology when answering questions, especially when referring to anatomy. If repparttar 111645 words make you uncomfortable, practice saying them when you are alone, before you try using them in conversations with your child.

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