Adventures in Parenting
My 11 year old son has gotten to the point that he requests WSTW be played when we are driving somewhere. Tonight as we drove to the Bear/Glasgow YMCA for a quick swim, I started listening to the lyrics of the song playing on the radio. The song is “I Kissed a Girl,” a techno-rock sort of song that is basically about a bisexual first kiss. Not that there is anything wrong with that…
I kissed a girl
I liked it
The taste of her cherry chapstick
I kissed a girl
Just to try it
Hope my boyfriend don’t mind it
Now, it had a nice beat and I could dance to it (although, I really shouldn’t dance) but I thought it would be best to find a good way to change the channel nonchalantly before my 7 year old daughter started asking questions.
“Daddy?“
“Yes?” Oh good, she wants to talk about something, that will distract her from the song…
“I kissed a girl, but I didn’t like it.“
“Oh?” Shit.
“Yeah, we banged our heads together and we kissed at the same time. It hurt.“
“I see.“
Then she started to sing along… It isn’t easy being a parent some days.
Tags: parenting
Funny what we think and say in front of our kids, but tell us the truth, do you not like the thought of two girls kissing. Also, what is wrong with it. I thought you had no problem with gay marriage. Or do we have to ‘protect’ our children from that.
Hope you enjoyed your swim in the Cheaspeake this weekend.
Oh, LG… every parent has been in a situation like this. I remember letting my kids watch Ghostbusters. How did I ever forget the scene with Dan Akroyd and the insatiable ghost.
Mommy, why is the ghost unzipping his pants?
Oh yeah… I’ve been there.
No swimming in the Chesapeake for me. I stayed in the pool. There was a bacteria issue in the bay…
I don’t have a problem with two women kissing, I just didn’t have the inclination to discuss it with the 7 year old in that 5 minute drive. For the record, I don’t want to discuss strippers, specific forms of sex, or Republican politicians with her until she is at least 10.
Been there done that got the t-shirt wore it out.
Just remember that 7 year olds have curiosity but no sexuality as such.
About five years ago, when my own twins were 7, my students asked me how could explain same-sex marriage to them.
I told them that explaining that some boys liked boys and some girls like girls was a hell of a lot easier than explaining why 19 men decided to commit suicide on 9/11 and kill 3,000 people in the process.
They didn’t get it; most people still don’t.
Being honest it tough and will lead you into hairy situations, but there is no substitute.
Hang in there.
Amen to that, Steve. It ain’t easy being forthright, but I think the kids will be better off for it.
Singer is Katy Perry. Apparently the next big thing from what I hear. She has another song out called “You’re So Gay (But You Don’t Even Like Boys).” Haven’t heard either song, but I’m now a bit intrigued.
Fascinating, eh?
By the way, geek, I’ve been raising my youngest daughter on mostly country music. That way she’ll turn out to a drunk, drive a pick-up truck, go to prison, cheat on her man, and kill her ex-lovers with a shotgun. . . .
. . . . but at least she’ll be heterosexual and not mess with marriage the way God intended it.
Liberal Geek, just admit that when it comes to your children, you become me–a social conservative. It is called common sense. Unlike the first commenter, I don’t blame you. Unfortunately, today’s world robs our children of their innocence. That is why I avoid that stuff in my home, car, or anywhere I control.
When my children or step children asked why we don’t do what some other families do, I would just answer that you live in a religious regime. We don’t care what the world thinks or does, only about the will of God. Everyone in the home must go to church (even adult visitors if you are a friend or relative in town don’t come to my house if you don’t want to go to church during your visit). There is no alcohol or pornography. No smoking anything in the home. No fighting one another or disrespectful talk. No initiating violence against your fellow man. No roaming the streets at all hours. No movies that I couldn’t explain to the church. TV programs which violate our values are blocked. We have regular prayer and Bible study sessions. We watch religious programing daily and play Christian music. The only reason I got/get away with that is they see I live it the best I can. It is not do as I say, but do as I do. It is not about religion. It is about relationship with God. It makes life simpler and I feel happier. That old time religion truly is good enough for me. I wish you would try it.
You are a great American Steve.
David – No, I am not like you when it comes to raising children. I am a moderate when it comes to raising my children. I want them to have exposure, at the right time, to everything that the world has to offer.
Contrary to popular conservative belief, this does not mean that we have orgies for their 7th birthday. I have had conversations with my 11 year old about my gay boss. I don’t think that there is anything wrong with that life, and I made that clear to my son.
As for the rest of your description of your home, all I can say is that I’m glad that I wasn’t raised there. I would be wholly unprepared for the real world.
Oh, and the kegger at your house on Saturday is SO off. 🙂
Wow, social conservatism equals common sense. Awesome. Old-time religion. Sweet. Let me know when you’d like to join the rest of us in 21st century.
As far as LG post, the problem as I see it, is that you equate the kiss to other things that I agree are a bit over-the-top for a 7 year old (see comment 3 “strippers, specific forms of sex”).
Did you read the article about the two lesbians that were ejected from baseball game in Seattle last week for kissing. Some fans brought up the same lame 19th century argument. “How will I explain this to my children?” Here’s how dipshit… you know how mommy and daddy kiss because they love each other, some woman feel that way about other woman and some men feel that way about other men. Big fucking deal!
I am beginning to think having kids makes people almost as stupid as religion… almost…
Jill Sobule did one of the same title back around 1995. It was a bit more in your face.
http://www.lyricsdownload.com/jill-sobule-i-kissed-a-girl-lyrics.html
DG – If I were confronted with two lesbians kissing, I would likely do what you suggested. I certainly wouldn’t have asked them to stop, or to be ejected from the game. I would prefer to have that conversation on my own timeline, but I understand that the world doesn’t run on my watch.
That said, yes, I did equate the kiss to other things because I am seeing it through my 38 year old eyes. I think one of the morals of my story is that my daughter did not.
OMG! Geek! No freaking way!
You’re 38? Ya old bastard! 🙂
We have had long had gay/lesbian friends so my kids just ‘grew up’ knowing our friends as individuals and discovered in their own and accepted our friends for whom their are as individuals.
I will say this than our lesbian aquaintences seemed to have less respect for my son and the gay men were very respectful of my daughter.
I know our experience(s) can not be exstrapilated (sp) to the larger community…but, I’m proud to say neither of them are homophobic nor hate others for their religous beliefs, gender, creed, or country of origin.
Wanted to add the cite:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2004458950_aplesbiankiss.html
Go whole hog and teach your older kids some media literacy…Katy Perry is a preacher’s daughter whose marketing concept is good-Christian-girl-gone-“bad”. Meh.