One Husband, Two Kids... And I'm Only Nineteen! + My Life, My Love, My Kids

26. Out With The Old...

Chapter Twenty-Six... Out With The Old...

When you're a kid, you dream.

You believe in the make-believe, you think you can do anything, and you almost always have a dream. Something that you want more than anything else in the world. You see everything through innocent eyes, and the bad things you see your parents always do their best to get rid of the monsters from your mind.

But then you grow up, and suddenly you don't know what innocence is, because you almost always do something that lifts the veil from over your eyes, and you see the real world.

It's just simply a part of growing up.

And even harder than growing up is being a parent, and watching your kids grow up.

So when Becca came to me, asking me about the facts of life, I didn't know what to do or say!

"Mom?" she said casually one day, sitting next to me on the sofa. "Uh..."

"What is it?" I asked, seeing that she was hesitating.

"Well, my friend Amy from school, she was telling us the other day that her sister is a woman now," Becca said quickly. "But she's only thirteen. How can she be a woman yet?"

"Uh... what?" I asked, thinking I knew what she meant, but not totally sure.

"Amy's sister is thirteen, but she said she told Amy that she's a woman now, because uh... something about blood..." Becca said, looking a little bit embarassed.

"Oh!" I exclaimed, knowing that I was right about what she meant. "Uh... it's just something that happens to girls. It's a part of life."

"But why?" she asked.

"Well, uh..." I hesitated.

"Mom, it's okay," she smiled. "You can tell me. I know it's some grown-up thing, but well, I'm nine. And Amy said that girls my age can get it, too."

"Yes, they can," I said quietly.

"So why does it happen, then?" she asked. "Amy said her sister had her first period, and that she's now a woman. I understand that. Well, sort of. But why does it happen?"

"It happens... so that when you're old enough... you can have babies," I tried to simplify.

"Okay..." she frowned a little. "But how?"

"Bec, it's a lot more complicated than you think," I said, sighing. "And some of it you're still too young to learn about. But they tell you at school, anyway. When you're in the seventh grade."

"But I'm only in the third grade," she groaned.

"Yes, and you're only nine years old, remember that," I sighed. "The only part you need to know about now, in case it happens, is what you already know. So don't push it."

"People talk about sex at school, mom," she said sharply. "I'm not an idiot."

"No, you're not," I smiled weakly. "But you still don't need to know this stuff."

"You had me when you were sixteen," she suddenly recalled. "Did you know all this stuff when you were my age?"

"Look, Becca," I said, wondering when she was going to drop the subject. "Yes, I was only sixteen when I had you. Which ever since you learnt how to subtract you've known. But that's me. And my mother was less than impressed, so don't get any ideas. But I knew all about that. And like I said, you're too young!"