That little boys will play with their “turkey timer” and with no sense of shame but pure wonderment. So tonight AAA is in the tub and he’s got these plastic squirting toys and he discovers its really …er, simulating to squirt his junk with water.After a few minutes he looks at me for an emotion (validation, laughter, horror) to associate with his new activity. You know what I mean, it’s a new thing and kids rely on the parent as a gauge.Not wanting to project my own Mormon-Catholic-Jewish-Shamsn shame on him “hey, enjoy your penis!” I say as I shrug my shoulder, “when you get older everyone gets uptight and tells you to put it away – have fun now.”
Nobody prepared me and it was the best I could think of on the spot. He’ll either be well adjusted or need a therapist with me as his dad; no middle ground I’m sure.
It may not be a nightly check-in but I have situations that catch me off guard and I have no idea what to do or say.