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Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Mama, do people come into heat?

This morning the inevitable happened. My almost 13-yr-old daughter asked the dreaded question.

Mama, do people come into heat?

I was jotting down on the calendar at that moment that our goat, Lady, might be in heat because my daughter pointed out how the little boy goat (castrated) was trying to mount her and she was standing perfectly still. A big sign of girl goat heat.

I grinned big at the calendar thinking what a perfect way for her to ask about this subject. I knew it was only a matter of time, she has the animals life cycle figured out. But I didn't really know what to say, I am not one of those moms who know how to talk to their kids about this in a nonchalant way, she asked again.

Mama, do people come into heat?

Chuckling softly I turned around and casually said, "Hon, lets talk about this later." I have avoided this subject before by putting it off until another time when the kids were younger and just didn't need to know, but I know the time is near, perhaps today.

She was pouring the goat's milk through the strainer into the jar musing to herself and said, "I want to know how people mate. I know so much about animals but I don't know about people, I really want to know."

Lord, may she always be this innocent!

I had to mouth over her little, very acute of hearing, brother's head, "LATER!"

Her, "OK."

Lord have mercy on me.

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Good luck Anna :). Maybe stick with the "in heat" thing and get to mating later...My time is coming too, dangit.

Aelwyn said...

You are blessed that she has been able to maintain that innocence. I agree with Hillary. Only tell as much as she needs at the moment.

Melissa said...

I can't believe you've been able to wait this long! I'd tell her soon though. It's pretty nervewracking to end up "in heat" and not have a clue what's happening to you. Have you seen The Story of Me books? They are highly recommended. Not at all recommended at the ages with which I'd use them, but well written I think.
You can do it, Mama! You want to tell her before someone else does. :)