The Birds and the Bees

OK, it’s happened . . . we had to talk to La Petite Belle about the birds and the bees, not because of choice, but because of necessity. I can’t believe a 7-year-old can be so inquisitive. I had the “talk” with K Belle earlier this year – she’s 10. We had a Christmas get-together with one side of my family where a young, unmarried cousin had a baby. She was there with the baby and La Petite Belle asks her, “This is your baby? You’re married? I didn’t know you were married. How can you have a baby if you’re not married?” Of course, I had to step in and say, “We’ll talk about it later.” She could not get over this. She asked the cousin again later, ” I don’t understand. How can you have a baby? You’re just a teen-ager.” Again, I told her we would talk about it later. She later followed me into the bathroom and proceeded to ask me about it again. As soon as we got into the truck to leave, she said, “OK, now, I don’t understand. Explain to me how a teenager can have a baby.” We held her off until we got home so that I could get the making babies book (the one hidden at the top of my closet for a couple of years, especially for this moment) out. Of course, we went through what God’s plan is and how important obedience to Him is. We explained that we don’t always make right choices and every choice has a consequence (like having a baby and not being able to go to college or get a good job, etc.). I told her that God sees all sin the same way, so that when she disobeys her parents, it’s just like the sin that this girl committed, and there’s consequences that go with disobedience and sin. She looked at me and said, “OK, Mommy. It was me who knocked all of K Belle’s CDs out of her case.” (Something I had asked about earlier that day) How quick she was to get herself right with God and me because of her fear of consequences! She wants to make sure her heart’s right. I wish I was as quick to run to God like that every time something sinful enters my heart . . . to have that child-like faith. I am a little sad that a part of her innocence is gone. As the girls grow up, I see more and more of it is gone every day. I’m trying to hold on to every moment.