| I often wonder if little kids are so | | | | recounted. "I thought it was time to |
| fascinated with the discovery of themselves | | | | introduce him to the world of tools, like big |
| that they have to share all their incredible | | | | kids. Together, we picked out a new hammer |
| information with the world. Perhaps because | | | | and screwdriver, and some brackets I needed |
| subjects are so openly discussed at home, | | | | to hang our new drapes. At the counter, the |
| children feel that it's alright to discuss | | | | elderly owner of the store rang up my |
| private affairs in public. Whatever the | | | | purchases. About this time, my son announces |
| reason, kids often say the funniest things, | | | | at the top of his lungs, 'Daddy's tool is a |
| and what they say usually involves body | | | | lot bigger than mine, but he says mine's |
| functions. | | | | gonna grow a lot.' The old gentleman never |
| | | | batted an eye. He just said 'I sure hope so, |
| Because they're darling innocents, that's | | | | sonny.' |
| why. The world hasn't taught them yet that | | | | |
| such conversation with total strangers isn't | | | | "It was Christmas," said the mother of an |
| socially appropriate. If Mommy is concerned | | | | adorable three-year-old daughter. "Of course |
| about a rash on a toddler's pee-pee, why | | | | all we were hearing were Christmas carols. |
| can't that concern be related to the postman, | | | | My daughter was just learning about God and |
| the grocery store clerk, or the neighbors? | | | | Jesus and what Christmas is really all about. |
| Little kids just don't comprehend the | | | | When "Silent Night" came on the radio, my |
| censorship that our society will eventually | | | | daughter turned to me and asked 'Mommy, |
| inflict upon them. If it can be said at | | | | what's a virgin?' I thought about it for a |
| home, why can't it be said in public? Again, | | | | moment - how to explain virginity to a little |
| toddlers have no concept of personal privacy; | | | | girl? Finally, I said 'A virgin is a young |
| just ask any frazzled mother whose child just | | | | unmarried woman.' 'Oh,' said my daughter |
| has to go "number two" right this minute! Or | | | | with wisdom beyond her years, 'then my cousin |
| so the child agonizingly informs everyone in | | | | CeCe is a virgin cause she's only sixteen.' |
| the checkout lane at Wal-Mart. | | | | From behind the newspaper, my husband |
| | | | snickered and said, 'I wouldn't count on it.' |
| If you have ever been in one of these | | | | From then on, every time I saw CeCe I |
| situations, then you will be able to | | | | couldn't help laughing." |
| sympathize with the following real life | | | | |
| stories. And if you are a parent with | | | | "Out of the mouth of babes…" Nothing |
| children too young to speak yet, just you | | | | could be truer. Children will speak their |
| wait, your time will come! | | | | minds, regardless of the social circumstances |
| | | | around them. You spend several months |
| "I was breast feeding my little girl when the | | | | coaxing those first words from your baby and |
| doorbell rang. I covered up quickly and | | | | then spend the next couple of years telling |
| answered the door with my child still in my | | | | them to be quiet or not to say that. You |
| arms. To my dismay, there were two young, | | | | can't win, so the next best thing you can do |
| very polite young men; Mormon missionaries | | | | is laugh and enjoy your children's' faux pas. |
| they were! My daughter, who's a very | | | | Don't try to tell your toddler to hush; that |
| friendly child, pulled aside my shirt and | | | | tactic won't work and may even make the |
| gleefully announced 'See Mommy's boobies!' | | | | situation worse. You'll get a never-ending |
| I'll never forget the look on those nice | | | | string of "Why"? One day, when your toddler |
| young fellas' faces. I was so embarrassed; I | | | | is grown and bringing home that one true love |
| excused myself and shut the door. Glaring at | | | | to meet the family, you can be sure that |
| my daughter, who looked at me with wide, | | | | their significant other will want to hear |
| innocent eyes, I started to laugh. And every | | | | stories and anecdotes about the sparkle in |
| time I tell this story, I still laugh!" | | | | their life. Then you can regale them and |
| | | | entertain with tales of a certain chatty |
| "I took my four-year-old son to the hardware | | | | toddler in the line at Wal-Mart. |
| store with me," one red-faced father | | | | |