Friday, November 16, 2007

Calling all expert mother advice........

Maddy came home yesterday with her new library book she checked out. As I was making dinner she was finishing up her homework and she wanted me to read her book with her. I told her to sit on the counter and read me her book while I finished dinner. So I was kinda half listening and not really paying attention to what she was reading and then I heard her read, "Tiffany was the first girl in school to wear a bra, even though she didn't need one." My ears perked up a little and I thought what the heck is this book about? I looked at the book and it was a book about a girl named Amber Brown and we had read books about her before. Granted they were not chapter books as big as this book she was reading. So she continued, and again I started tuning it out a little until I heard, "We must......we must.....we must improve our bust. We better.......we better...... before we wear our sweater." WHAT?! She is seven! So I promptly said, "TIME TO EAT!" and made her put the book down and set the table. Now the thing is she had NO idea what that "chant" was all about. It was actually really really funny because I don't think there are many people out there that haven't heard the, we must improve our bust thing, but I don't think ANYONE has ever heard it said like Maddy was saying it. As she was setting the table she was dancing around singing it in the most melodic melody and it was making me laugh! She just had NO idea what it was, she thought it was a song or a cheer and she has no idea what "a bust" is. While this isn't TERRIBLE, I don't think she is old enough to be reading about these subjects yet. But maybe I am wrong? I don't know. I don't know if I should not make a big deal out ot it and just read it together with her and see what questions crop up from it. Or if I should conveniently misplace it for her until her next library day. Or if I should talk to her out right about it and explain things but then that opens a whole other can of worms explaining what a "bust" is and why it has anything to do with wearing a sweater. But I DO NOT want her teachign "the song" to her friends at school! It is a fourth grade level reading book (obviously aimed at an older audience) but Maddy reads well enough to read it. So anyway what do I do?! All you moms of girls out there PLEASE help me with this one. She has already put the book on the kitchen counter this morning and informed me that we are reading it together when we get home. I think most of it is going WAY over her head but WHAT DO I DO? And by the way Liz I can't promise that Sam won't go home from Thanksgiving singing the "we must improve our bust" song. ;)

13 comments:

Dustin said...

I think I just had a stroke.

JasonDebbie said...

If it were me I would probably hide it and not talk about the real boob issue for a few more years, then again when she needs a bra. But I don't have an older child so maybe thats not the right answer. I don't know I think thats really weird to be in a childs book though!!

Wendy said...

we really struggle with this problem as well. Just because Olivia CAN read any book under the sun, doesn't mean she SHOULD. I have been absolutely shocked at what some authors put into supposedly "children's" books! I have gotten to the point where I read Olivia's books as much as she does. If it is a new author, and I haven't read it before, I read it first, then tell her if it is okay.
I think that I would tell Maddy when she gets home that you don't think that the book is appropriate for her age. I think kids need to realize that not all books are okay to read, just like movies and TV shows. You may have to tell her that the chant she learned from it is not appropriate, and that she should not repeat it to anyone. The hard part is if she asks WHY it is not appropriate. Olivia would be okay with a vague answer like, "It is not something you are ready to learn about yet." But if Maddy keeps questioning, I think you will have to be candid with her and tell her what a bust is, and why that is offensive to sing about.(our bodies are sacred, etc). The only problem I see with just making the book disappear is that she will probably check it out again sometime! I have really struggled with the question of how much do we tell our kids, and when do we tell them? I do not want to put ideas into their heads, but I also do not want to have someone else putting false ideas in there either! It is so hard to know! Good luck!

Wendy said...

Oh Jess, I was also going to tell you about a great website that has awesome reviews on kids books. It is called common sense media. They review books, movies, tv shows, etc.I have looked up lots of books that I want to get for Liv to see if they are appropriate or not. I especially like to read the adult reviews (parents write in and tell what they think). Go check it out! (commonsensemedia.org)

Heidi said...

Okay, I was ready to give you my advice on the subject, but g&w moyes said exactly what I wanted to and I wholeheartedly agree with them! I tell my kids all the time that certain songs, tv shows, words, etc are not appropriate for children their age. I'm always shocked when things that are aimed at children have questionable content.

Liz said...

K that is so funny because Sam today came out of her room with socks stuffed down her shirt. I started laughing and she was laughing pretty hard too but I do not think that she knew what she was doing, maybe.

Castiel Moyes said...

Liz! That is too funny and it is nice to have another with one the same age to laugh at.

Wendy! Thanks for the advice. Very well said. It is also nice to have someone else have a child a little older to have been there and hopefully figured out some of these things already.

Castiel Moyes said...

I just had a very scary thought for Thanksgiving Liz. Maddy is going to teach the innappropriate song to Sam and then Sam will show Maddy how to actually increase their bust! Luckily neither of them knows whats going on.

Williams Fam said...

Okay I obviously have no wisdom to contribute( Wendy had a great method!) but your post and all of your comments made me laugh my head off!! Please tell me I have AT LEAST 5 more years before I need to worry about this!!! Wish I were going to be there for the show at Thanksgiving! Sounds like it should be pretty entertaining!!

Amanda said...

I just love reading all the comments! Ryan and I got a good laugh out of that...maybe because we only have ONE girl right now..and then I will have all my wise sisters to gather information from!! :) Good luck! Oh ya, and Ash is quite the parrot repeating EVERYTHING she hears so this will be funny.!!!!

Darrell and Alissa said...

Good luck on that one! I'm waiting for something like this to happen. The sad thing is I remember saying that little quote and opening and closing m arms at the ripe age of 7-my older sister really thought she could increase her bust- so I copied her! Once again I don't like this part of being the mom!

Rachel said...

This is so hilarious! But I have a feeling when I get to this point in parenting I'll be lost.

Alli said...

i am dying to see some new pictures! hurry up! i get so excited when you have something new... and i am getting bored! haha