Conversations with Otto: “Mama, what does sex mean?”
My son often asks me what words mean. So far I have done pretty well giving him correct and interesting meanings to all of his curiosities. He is just 8 years old.
I thought I would have at least another year or two for this one, but no.
“Mama, what does sex mean?”
He sheepishly blurted out while noshing on his chicken tenders. I paused and then decided to dive right in.
“Sex is how we create life. Do you want to see? “
Of course, he nodded yes. I ran upstairs and quickly dug out my embryology books from my anatomy teaching days when I would lay on the floor and burst out of an imaginary vagina to illustrate to my students how the form in the spine is created. Ahh, those were the days.
I rushed back downstairs because I knew full well that we could be on to swords and demon slayer ninja kicks in seconds. I was surprised but totally pleased when he was still there.
I opened the book and showed him how there were eggs just waiting —waiting filled with potential, exploding with life, but no energy. I showed how the eggs rest in the ovaries like our chicken’s eggs rest in the nest, waiting for this divine force (sperm) to create the cycle of life.
We talked about the extraordinary moment when the penis enters the vagina to deliver the most important thing ever - the spark of life, (lots of giggles happened here - how do children know to laugh at the mention of body parts?) Then when the penis enters the vagina it does so with a force because it’s sperm must penetrate the egg in just the right way to get through it’s wall and meet the eggs waiting potential in order to create life!
“Otto, this dynamic and beautiful moment sets off a new cycle of life. People have sex for different reasons, but ultimately it’s to create life. This is how you were created”
I showed him pictures of himself in my belly. It was amazing !! I totally felt like I aced it!
Then sort of interested but not satisfied, he asked his next big question:
”Mama, what is sexy? “
“Ask your father.”
