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The Mommy Check When I became pregnant with my son, my 3-year-old daughter couldn’t quite believe that a baby could fit in a tummy so flat. But as my belly began to expand, I explained to my daughter that Mommy’s belly was getting bigger because baby needed room to grow. Soon after that, every time my daughter saw a woman with a slight pudge in her middle, she would ask, “Do you have a baby in your stomach, too?” The first few times she did this, I was so embarrassed I wanted to melt into the floor. To get her to stop asking this question, and questions like, “What’s wrong with your teeth?” (to people with visible cavities), or “You have a bump right here,” (to those with acne problems), I explained that her innocent questions can really hurt people’s feelings. I explained that it’s impolite to verbalize people’s imperfections. Now, to make sure her words aren’t offensive, she runs a confidential Mommy Check on each question before asking it. Explaining why a child should or shouldn’t do something helps them grasp the concept and refrain from embarrassing behavior—or at the least, embarrassing inquiries. Jessica Barrow, Cameron, Central EMC |
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