Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Conversation with Evan today:

While watching Transformers, we come upon a scene where the mom asks her son if he was masturbating. Evan, of course, asks what that means.

Ahem.
(after briefly mulling over the idea of saying "I don't know" or something equivalent, I followed through with my decision of always giving them the true answers to sexual questions. But I still blinked a few times...)

I told him it was the name for when older boys played with their penises. He said "Oh." and we continued on watching. I waited for the next, inevitable question...

"Why do they play with their penises?"

Uggghhh.....

"Um, because it feels good, I guess. But they always do it in private. And some people get embarrassed about it, so that's why the boy and daddy were acting so weird. Ok? Any more questions? No? Ok, let's watch the robots."

Oy.

For the record, I was really dismayed that the editing crew felt that this scene was necessary in such a family-oriented movie. They KNEW that young boys would be watching the show. They marketed the toys for the 6-10 year olds. There was no call to have a masturbation joke sequence in the movie. But it did make for a good conversation with my 5 year old, so thanks...

27 comments:

Kamis Khlopchyk said...

Oy is right! Totally not necessary but I am with you, the truth is much better than fluffing over it with some cockamamy thing that will only confuse them later.

:-)

Phoenix said...

Hahahahaha. Leave it to Transformers to start a conversation that you were hoping to avoid for a while.

I did love that movie though.

R Royal Family said...

Good answer. I have been in many a situation with my kids where I have given them the "uh I dono" and then after the fact a reasonable, logical answer comes to mind

Dana said...

It sounds like you handled yourself quite well. My boys too, are always filled with tons of interesting questions and I also answer them with honesty. As a matter of fact, I'll have to let you know what I did when they started calling each other douche bags! LOL Blogging idea!!

Unknown said...

YIKES!!! LOL!

Hannah gets the how-babies-are-made lesson in school in March. I have until then to clue her in myself. I've been stressing about it and will retreat to the bookstore for a little guidance, I'm sure.

Sheryl said...

Ugh. We've had conversations like that before. My kids LOVE movies like Transformers, The Spiderman Trilogy, etc. But they are 4 and 5 so sometimes the subject matter can get kind of tricky.

Unknown said...

NICE!
thanks for the warning, wonder if my kids will even catch it.

Lizzy in the Burbs said...

Wow! That is not something I would have expected to be in that type of movie, either. I hate how they throw things like that in there strictly for shock value. Seems everything in our culture these days has a sexual undertone to it, from toothpaste commercials to cartoons. It's sad, kids can't be kids for very long any more. You handled it beautifully, though! I had an uncomfortable conversation with my 12 yr. old a few months ago trying to explain what Viagra was for, geesh!

the dragonfly said...

Is this what I have to look forward to??

;)

Beck said...

You answered it perfectly but I noticed that scene too. Lucky for me, none of my kids were watching...

Tricia said...

I found that movie to be a pleasant surprise- so funny. Although, the last battle was a little long. We only let our 11 year old watch it- and he knows the answer- so all was well.

I always hand those questions back to them... why do boys play with their penis? Well, why do you?

Alex Elliot said...

You're a terrific mom to answer his questions so honestly! Thanks for the warning about the movie though. I'll make sure to be prepared if my boys see it some day. Yesterday my son was talking very loudly in Friendly's (like Bakers Square)about how he had grown in my uterus.

Kellan said...

Ditto what Kami said - Ditto!

Kristi said...

Well, you handled that a lot better than I would have. I think I would have stuck with the "Huh. I don't know. Maybe you should ask Daddy."

And it does seem silly to have that scene in the movie in the first place.

Jamie said...

Ooh thats a toughy. Well done though :)

Unknown said...

Ha--my boys love that movie, so when we get to that part I try and start talking, asking them something totally random, just so they don't hear it. They haven't asked me about it yet, so I think its working so far...

Kailani said...

OMG! We are currently showing this movie on the plane! I had no idea they talked like that. Hopefully, it was edited out! Yikes!

Kailani
An Island Life

Miss Hope said...

Yeah, we watched this movie, too. When this scene came along, the hubby and I shot glances at our 8 year old GIRL, then at each other. So far, she hasn't asked. Whew.

Anonymous said...

I always hate it when movies do that too! I'm glad you talk frankly with your kids, it's the best thing for them! Although maybe a little uncomfy for you!

Gina said...

They throw stuff like that in so many movies centered for kids... it sucks!

You handled that well!

Anonymous said...

Wow! Totally not what I would have expected from that show.

Catherine said...

My son is 16 months old, so I haven't started editing movies yet...and I'm not really excited for that day to come...sounds like you handled it well though...

Nice to "meet" you!
catherine

Elle*Bee said...

Thanks for the warning! I think my mother just bought the DVD for a Christmas gift for my boys. I guess I'll have to watch it first and see if I can use the remote to skip that scene for my 5 year old.

As for the question, it sounds like you handled it well. "They" (whoever they are) always say to answer honestly and simply.

(Simply is my challenge. I have to resist giving them "too much information")

Ali said...

i'm so glad i haven't let my kids watch it yet...i'm so not ready for a question like that!!!

TruLove said...

My 7 year old watched it, and just never asked, PRAISE BE!!! I don't know if I'd have had the guts to answer your way. I may have said the ol' stand by "Ask your dad."

Ruby said...

You handle it quite well, I think.

Better you than me;)

Michelle said...

Yikes! I haven't seen the movie, but I am surprised that put that in there (and was it really necessary to the storyline?) knowing kids would be watching...sounds like you handled it well though!

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