(no subject)

[rivka]

In the grocery store today, we had one of those really classic parenting moments.

Alex pointed to a package of Always Maximum Protection Super Giant-Sized sanitary pads Michael had just put on the checkstand and asked, in her clear, piercing three-year-old voice, "What are those?"

"Those are Mama's," Michael said.

So she turned to me. "Mama, what are those?"

"Those are pads for me to use after the baby is born," I told her.

"What are they for, for after the baby is born?" she persisted. I could see ears perking up all along the checkout line.

Fortunately, Really Classic Parenting Moments have ready-made Really Classic Parenting Answers.

"I'll tell you when we're in the car," I said. And all along the checkout line, disappointed heads turned away.

Comments

[namedphoenix.livejournal.com]

Someone one else said that the perked ears may just have been tuned to advice - I'm sure mine would have been. But how mortifying! I suppose when you have a three-year-old you aren't allowed to be publicly mortifiable anymore, but still!

You handled it with all the class and grace I'm accustomed to on your blog!

[ailbhe]

When I was about 6 or 7 I was walking home down the hill with my mother, past the shops and houses, with cars all along the road, zooming on by. The elastic on her knickers (underpants) snapped and they fell down to her knees. She hitched them up carefully without exposing herself, did something at her waistband to secure them, and kept going.

"What happened?"
"My pants fell down, so I fixed them."
"But isn't that REALLY EMBARRASSING?"
"By the time you've had five children," she said, "it takes more than that to embarrass you."