If you’re friends with Joe on Facebook, this will seem redundant, but for those who are not, his last status update recounted a recent event including Anna, her “town cousin,” and a bull. After our family Easter egg hunt, Anna’s little blond cousin ran up to the fence line where “Pappy” had a bull and a few cows near the edge of the yard. She innocently poked her hand through the fence and said, “Hi, cow!” Anna, who had run up with her, without skipping a beat, corrected the citified cousin stating, “That’s not a COW, it’s a BULL. Look at his {rhymes with falls}!”
Oh boy.
Joe’s 86 year old grandfather, who heard the correction nearly died of laughter. Joe was so proud. I was MORTIFIED.
Honestly.
However, it got me to think, why shouldn’t she correct something that’s obviously incorrect in an absolutely blunt and truthful way? I have read a lot of debate and been a part of discussions recently about not lying to our kids. While it is probably not the most appropriate thing for us to equate certain events that are leading to the birth of our son with what the bull is now doing to the heifers in heat (cow porn is happening across the road…it’s very lovely, let me tell you.), isn’t it okay to explain to Anna, in language and verbage that is appropriate to her about essentially the birds and the bees when it comes to the cattle in which she feels somewhat responsible for?
I’m not telling you to run out and teach your kids about reproduction using beef cattle, but when it comes time for our “talk,” I feel like Anna will have at least a basis of science that will help her understand at least the mechanics of it all.
At least, that is what I’m telling myself. However, the first phone call I get from a parent from the kindergarten class that is complaining about Anna’s bluntness, I might have to pull the plug on this scientific sex ed!