The Parent Teacher Conference

Jack,

So my story about the Parent Teacher Conference this evening begins yesterday. I picked you up from school and we were in the van driving to get your sister. I asked as I do every day how your day at school was and you gave your normal response that it was fine.

Things were going as normal - you were sitting in your seat looking out at the traffic and I was thinking of what dinner would be when you seemed to be wondering out loud about something.

"Mommy - it's not good when someone asks you to do something that gets you in trouble."

WARNING - WARNING - RED LIGHTS FLASHING - THIS IS NOT A TEST... Sorry - that's just what happened in my brain when you said that.

"Why do you say that, Jack? Did something happen?"

"yes."

"What happened?"

"Sebastian told me to draw a bad picture."

(sigh)....

"What was it a bad picture of?"

(whispering to me): "a penis"

"I see. What happened when you drew it?"

"My teacher got mad at me."

"I'm sure she did. Did you tell her what happened?"

"Yes."

"Did she talk to Sebastian?"

"Yes. He got in trouble too."

"Where is this picture?"

"She said she was going to keep it till after conference."

GROOOOOOOOOOOOOAN!!!!!

So.... this Parent Teacher conference is happening this evening. As it currently is - I know that I'm going into this meeting with my child's teacher knowing that my sons artist reference of a penis will have to be discussed. I feel like the thoughts in my head are completely schitzophrenic in nature....

On one hand - THIS IS FUNNY, RIGHT?!?!? I mean - come on. We all have done something like this. It's funny!

On the other hand - why is my almost 6 year old drawing penises at school? Isn't he too young for this? Or is it because I'll always consider him a baby that this seems so totally wrong?

And a little part of me turns defensive. What - do we live in such a Puritanical society that we can't admit that kids are going to be curious about sex and their bodies? Isn't this completely natural? I don't want my child to grow up thinking that penis is a bad word or that there is any type of negative connotation associated with having one. I wouldn't want him to be ashamed or anything like that.

But mostly, it's just funny.... right?

I'm sure I'll post tomorrow on how this really turned out and maybe I'll have to post a picture of the artwork. Maybe... :)

Love,

Mommy