name that part

[transformed]

i was just showering with my 19m old and she pointed to her front and said BUTT! I told her it was her vagina. She laughed and said "NO! BUTT!"

With my ds, I told him about his penis all the time because it was kind of "out there" and pretty self explanitory.

With my girl, I havent used any word for her "girl parts" because I am confused. There are alot of parts "in there" what do I tell her?

I feel like this is a really stupid question! I like to use medical termanology when possible however anus in our family has somehow become "bum rumples."

What do you tell a girl? I am so not comfortable with my girl as I was with my boy. Am I going to have to "get down there" when she is older and explain?

I think I didnt know what any of it was until I was like 9! (My parents left it up to the playground to teach me about these things.)

Jenny

[Calidris]

I use vulva. She has just recently (3.5) discovered that there are bits and pieces in there and I am naming them as she asks. Vulva is a good general term at that age.

[AbbieB]

I second the word vulva. It's a nice all inclusive term for the visible female parts.


When DD was in her 2's she started self examining herself more closely. As she asked I named the specific parts for her.

When she was 3 I became pregnant so she has now thoroughly examined all the diagrams of the female "bits" both inside and out. Every once in awhile she will be on the potty and point out her vagina, urethra or her anus. *sigh* Some parenting moments there is just no preparation for.

Just 2 days ago she came into the bathroom while DH was sitting on the potty doing his thing. Lucky me, I was in the tub so I got to witness this exchange. (You gotta love the family intimacy that is encouraged when you have just one bathroom.) She noticed DH pee and then sorta ducked down and pointed out DH's urethra. "Daddy! You have a urethra on your penis!" It was truly a funny and awkward moment!

[LilyGrace]

I use vulva. The vagina is inside. It's a lot less confusing as they get older.

I tried to use the proper terms so they wouldn't seem as embarrassing and funny when they boys got older. However, I didn't reckon on 7 year olds and their idea of funny. So...it's still hilarious, but hopefully the embarrassment factor is gone. Mostly.
Other reason I use proper words is because if <knock on wood> something should ever happen and one of them were molested, I'd want to know. And I'd want them to be able to say what happened. "He touched my cookie" or "he played with my dingi" doesn't have quite the same impact as "he touched my vulva" or "he played with my penis". There shouldn't be a reliance on cutesy little words that only the parent can understand.

[boysmom2]

Thank you for this post! I was going to post this very same question!

I have 2 boys, who have one boy cousin. So far, we've been really open about how they, like daddy, have penises (peni?). They know I don't have one, but have yet to ask what I have instead. I have to mention that when my oldest was ~18mo old and found this out he sobbed.

Anyway, we finally have a girl in our family - my brother and sil just had one. I'm expecting there may be questions now, but don't know what to say. Vagina doesn't seem like the best answer, since you can't actually see it, nor is that where the pee comes out - and I assume I would be answering "what's that?" or "where does the pee come out?" questions. KWIM?

I guess vulva seems like a better answer, though it feels a little weird - like I think my mom or grandma would be embarrassed by it. Well, that's probably exactly why I should teach them it - break the cycle of prudishness in my family, right?

Sorry for the rambling - thanks for posting!

[transformed]

Thanks guys! I am glad you told me cause I didnt even know what a "vulva" was....

Glad I am learning it before my baby.

[AbbieB]

Originally Posted by boysmom2

I guess vulva seems like a better answer, though it feels a little weird - like I think my mom or grandma would be embarrassed by it. Well, that's probably exactly why I should teach them it - break the cycle of prudishness in my family, right?

It felt weird to me too, at first. But it quickly became just another word in our house.

My Mom is so totally freaked out to hear DD say vulva. But for some reason she can talk about penises all day long and it's no big deal. I think this phenomena speaks to the misogyny in our society more than anyones prudishness .

[transformed]

Originally Posted by AbbieB

It felt weird to me too, at first. But it quickly became just another word in our house.

My Mom is so totally freaked out to hear DD say vulva. But for some reason she can talk about penises all day long and it's no big deal. I think this phenomena speaks to the misogyny in our society more than anyones prudishness .

I can say penis all day long too! Its so weird, I dont know why that is!

I am giving my hubby "vulva instructions" tonight.

[BelovedK]

We say 'Yoni' which is the Sanskrit term forvagina

[mamabird32]

Originally Posted by transformed

I am giving my hubby "vulva instructions" tonight.

HEE HEE HEE!!

Yeah, my ds, 25 months, talks about his penis and mams gina all day long.
I do have friends that teach their kids the girls have yoni's.

I think whatever you're comfortable with.