And so it would be.
I invited Elizabeth out for nektar (you can tell a place is schwanky when they refuse to spell correctly) and we set out on a walk with super food beverages in hand!
I don't feel that Elizabeth is your average tween. For one thing, she's wise beyond her years and always has been. She was born with an old soul and sophistication. I stepped into this conversation knowing that it would be an easy one.
What I didn't know was how much to tell your child, how to find that fine line between parent and confidant, and what stance do I take on all things sex knowing that perhaps Nate and I have slightly different points of view on the matter. (Just because I was the one having the conversation doesn't mean that it would only come from my beliefs.) And so, I turned to the internet....
Tidbit: Don't do that.
Much like the absence of a one-stop-shop on learning how to bring a baby in this world, or a recipe for raising non-bratty children, there is no manual on this topic either! It's truly a non-scripted conversation that you have to have from your heart and it will vary from one child to the next. The conversation I had with Elizabeth will be changed to fit Abby's temperament when the time comes.
I won't get into the nitty-gritty of our conversation, but I will tell you that I could see deep understanding come into the heart of my daughter. I told her of God's plans for her, I used examples from my personal life, and I let her know that her Dad and I love her very much. I left the conversation open-ended as I knew that she would have questions for me as she started thinking about it more and as she started comparing notes with her 5th grade friends.
We've since had additional "nektar dates" and I'm so glad that I seized the moment to not only bond with my daughter, but to also remind her how special she is and how precious life is. This was the first of many heart-felt, character building conversations that we will share with one another and while it was nerve-racking to do, it was special and necessary.
You cannot find the answers to life's questions in a book. Ask God to guide you through those intricate details and thought provoking queries that life presents. It's a special thing when you can share your faith and your experiences with your children.
Embrace and cherish it.
Much like the absence of a one-stop-shop on learning how to bring a baby in this world, or a recipe for raising non-bratty children, there is no manual on this topic either! It's truly a non-scripted conversation that you have to have from your heart and it will vary from one child to the next. The conversation I had with Elizabeth will be changed to fit Abby's temperament when the time comes.
I won't get into the nitty-gritty of our conversation, but I will tell you that I could see deep understanding come into the heart of my daughter. I told her of God's plans for her, I used examples from my personal life, and I let her know that her Dad and I love her very much. I left the conversation open-ended as I knew that she would have questions for me as she started thinking about it more and as she started comparing notes with her 5th grade friends.
We've since had additional "nektar dates" and I'm so glad that I seized the moment to not only bond with my daughter, but to also remind her how special she is and how precious life is. This was the first of many heart-felt, character building conversations that we will share with one another and while it was nerve-racking to do, it was special and necessary.
You cannot find the answers to life's questions in a book. Ask God to guide you through those intricate details and thought provoking queries that life presents. It's a special thing when you can share your faith and your experiences with your children.
Embrace and cherish it.
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