They said that with each of their children they would have a special dinner with mom and dad and explain to their child how they were going to talk to them about something wonderful and incredibly important. We really liked the idea and have implemented it with all of our children. Apparently the Eyres even have a script you can follow but it has been years since we have read/listened to their book (How To Talk To Your Child About Sex) and so we haven't followed that but have just explained things in simple terms using a spiritual perspective.
I have heard people say, "I can't imagine teaching my 8 year old about the facts of life -- that is SO young!" But we agree with the Eyres that it is better for them to learn true facts from parents in a loving environment with a spiritual perspective than to learn from the world's perspective on television or other ways -- especially in today's world with the ever present dangers of technology and pornography.
The other day I was talking with Rick and reminded him that we had forgotten to have this special date "and talk" with Jenna. He couldn't believe that we had forgotten such an important event. He met with Jenna and set up our special date for tonight. We decided on the Pizza Pie Cafe since they have gluten free pizza and pasta. Having older sisters, Jenna already knows quite a big about the changes that girls undergo, so I doubt much she hears at her fourth grade maturation program in a couple of years will really be new to her.
However, when we launched into more specific details about where babies come from, she was a little taken aback, said it was "gross" and said that she would never do that! We explained that it was a wonderful part of Heavenly Father's plan, for husbands and wives who were married, and that this was the way children were brought into the home. We also explained that it was against Heavenly Father's plan if done inappropriately outside of marriage.
She seemed pretty concerned over the whole thing -- more so than I remember her siblings being -- and I wondered if our talk had been premature. The next day I brought up our "talk" and she wasn't very thrilled to engage in another discussion. On the way home from a birthday party later that day, however, she was explaining how there were twins at the party -- a boy and a girl. What followed was a very natural conversation about how twins occurs in a pregnancy. Since she is the baby of the family she hasn't gone through the whole process of watching her mom go through a pregnancy, like the other kids did. But that's okay, she will understand someday and will have the same "talk" with her own little miracles.
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