‘Mummy What’s Sex?’

Rhiannon Boyle - 15 Nov 18

When I was a teacher, I loved teaching Sex Education.

But when it comes to teaching my own children about sex, will I be able to be as frank and open?

This week I actually had no choice. Let me explain…

Earlier this year we got a beautiful new Whippet pup, called Blue. We always wanted two dogs but thought we’d just get one to begin with. Then this week I had the ingenious idea that we could breed her and let her have a litter. The idea hit me when I bumped into a lovely dog walker, who also has a Whippet. A lovely, sandy coloured male, called Wilf. I excitedly told my six-year-old and four-year-old the idea.

Now, my kids already kind of know how babies are made…

Once when my husband was in the bath with them, they prodded him in the testicles and asked…

‘Daddy what are those things underneath your lampshade?’

So we told them…

We said – ‘That’s where Daddy keeps his seeds. He gave Mummy some seeds, and that’s how I grew you in my tummy.’

And that was that. They didn’t ask anything else.

However, today they needed answers.

‘How will Wilf get the seeds from his testicles into Bluey?’ My six-year-old asked.

Uh-Oh.

‘Well, he will have to get on top of her, and then put his willy inside her peggy.’ I say.

My six-year-old: ‘Is that how daddy got his seeds into you?’

Me: (giggling) ‘Erm… yes it is.’ I glance at her in the mirror. The cogs are turning fast.

‘How long did Daddy leave his willy in there?’ She says.

Me: ‘Eeeeeerm?!’  (Well this is awkward) ‘Just a few minutes.’ I say. (Pause)

‘What, like as long as an episode of something on Netflix?’ she says.

I actually snot out of my nose at this point. I mean Daddy’s pretty good, but lasting a whole Episode of Better Call Saul? Don’t think so.

‘Not quite that long.’ I say.

(Pause)

‘So yeah, that’s how babies are made.’ I add, ‘A man puts his penis in a woman’s vagina. It’s called sex.’

The kids laugh in a WTAF kind of way. I keep watching my six-year-old in the mirror. She is smiling and crinkling up her nose up at the thought of Daddy with his willy in Mummy’s peggy. It’s a lot to take in.

So that was that. Our first ever real – ‘Mummy where do babies come from?’ moment.  

And now they know.

Was it the right thing to do to be so open and frank? I think so. Isn’t it best to get it out there in the open whilst they’re young? It’s such a natural, biological, beautiful part of life after all.

Rhiannon Boyle

Hi, I’m Rhiannon. I live in Cardiff. I’m a wife and a mum to two beautiful girls who are 7 & 5. I’m a part time freelance writer/part time stay at home mum.

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