The Birds and the Bees

RD and I have been trying to get some exercise into our lives so we would typically wake up early and jog around a nearby park.  This morning, it was quite warm and RD was feeling a bit tired, so we decided to walk instead.  Walking enabled us to talk.  

RD has been known to ask question related to the birds and the bees, but this morning, his question was even more intriguing.  "Mom, why do they even call it 'the birds and the bees'?"

I suddenly realised that I have used that term so many times without really knowing where it came from or why it was called such.  RD said the flowers and the bees might have been more appropriate.  After some thought I remembered that "the birds and the bees" came from a song.  I promised RD I'd look it up so that we could get to the bottom of this mystery.

So let me tell you about the birds and the bees...


The Birds and the Bees ... and the Spiders -- 22 August 2008

RD posed an interesting question last night. He asked, "Mom, can a spider give birth on its own?"

I paused to think of the right answer to that question then said, "Of course, sweetheart.  A spider can give birth on its own.  A spider doesn't need a doctor to have a baby, not like people."

"No, Mom,"  he shook his head and started over.  "What I meant was -- can a spider give birth on its own or does it need two spiders to have a baby spider?"

(Ahh ... the plot thickens.)

"Why do you ask?"

"Because yesterday there was only one spider over the sink.  And now, there are two."

"Oh, RD"  I said, "I think that other spider was already there before but you just didn't see it.  You need two spiders to make a baby spider."

You'd think that was the end of that ... but NOOOOO. 

This evening, he comes up to me and reports, "Mom, I think those two spiders are mad and don't want to talk to each other.  It's either that or they are sleeping."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because Mom, they are far away from each other and they are not moving."

(This is what I get for allowing spiders to spin their webs over the sink -- a 10-year old relational psychoanalyst for arachnids.)

(Too Early for Comfort) Birds and Bees Conversation – 17 December 2006

RD came up with a question the other morning that threw me off a bit.  He asked, “Mom, is it possible for a baby to come if the mom is not married?”

Hard question.

As always, I answered truthfully. I replied, “Yes, sweetheart.  It’s possible for a baby to come if the mom is not married.” 

“How does it happen, Mom?  Magic?”

I had to smile.  Of course there is magic when a child is born, but I don’t think that is what RD REALLY meant.

I cautiously answered, “For a baby to come, the mom doesn’t HAVE to be married.  But of course it’s better if the mom is married so that she and the dad can take care of the baby.  What is needed, RD is the mom and the dad.”

If I thought everything would end there, I would have been dreaming, right?

True enough, RD asked the hard follow up question.  He asked, “Why?”

“Well … “ I started, “that’s the …”

I got off the hook easy this time because RD ventured to complete my sentence.  He said, “… that’s the proper procedure?”

“Yes, sweetheart, you’re right.  That’s the proper procedure.”

[End of discussion.]

THE BIRDS AND THE BEES 

Let me tell you about the birds, and the bees the flowers and the trees
The moon up above and a thing called love

When I look into your big brown eyes it's very plain to see
That it's time you learned about the facts of life startin' from A to Z 

Let me tell you about the birds, and the bees the flowers and the trees
The moon up above, and a thing called love 

Let me tell you about the birds, and the bees the flowers, and the trees The stars in the sky a girl, and a guy 

The birds, and the bees the flowers, and the treesThe stars in the sky

a girl and a guy ....the birds, and the bees ...