Comments on: The Vajayjay Monologues: What do your tell your toddlers to call their parts? http://doodaddy.net/2007/10/31/the-vajayjay-monologues-what-do-your-tell-your-toddlers-to-call-their-parts/ A San Francisco stay-at-home dad getting the hang of things. Sun, 02 Oct 2011 20:11:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Dave http://doodaddy.net/2007/10/31/the-vajayjay-monologues-what-do-your-tell-your-toddlers-to-call-their-parts/comment-page-1/#comment-5337 Dave Wed, 28 May 2008 19:03:43 +0000 http://doodaddy.net/2007/10/31/the-vajayjay-monologues-what-do-your-tell-your-toddlers-to-call-their-parts/#comment-5337 We take a pretty simple but not very silly approach to this: Boy parts Girl parts Butt Chest Why? Let's take a real world example. I am using a publich restroom while a little kid is in a nearby stall chanting "penis penis penis". Those words are just too fun and unique to say for kids so they love to sing them... ALL THE TIME. Boy parts and girl parts are still descriptive enough, and if there ever was a trial for child molestation with my kid you bet they'd be taught what the real words were. Right after I beat the living crap out of whoever was at fault. We take a pretty simple but not very silly approach to this:

Boy parts
Girl parts
Butt
Chest

Why? Let’s take a real world example.
I am using a publich restroom while a little kid is in a nearby stall chanting “penis penis penis”. Those words are just too fun and unique to say for kids so they love to sing them… ALL THE TIME. Boy parts and girl parts are still descriptive enough, and if there ever was a trial for child molestation with my kid you bet they’d be taught what the real words were. Right after I beat the living crap out of whoever was at fault.

]]> By: Doodaddy » The One Absolute Truth of Parenting http://doodaddy.net/2007/10/31/the-vajayjay-monologues-what-do-your-tell-your-toddlers-to-call-their-parts/comment-page-1/#comment-4948 Doodaddy » The One Absolute Truth of Parenting Wed, 30 Apr 2008 06:07:52 +0000 http://doodaddy.net/2007/10/31/the-vajayjay-monologues-what-do-your-tell-your-toddlers-to-call-their-parts/#comment-4948 [...] to the conclusion that they’re all right because pretty much anything works for some kids. Tell your kids to say va-jay-jay? Sure, why not. Start raisins at one year or four? You know your kid, make up your own mind. Play [...] [...] to the conclusion that they’re all right because pretty much anything works for some kids. Tell your kids to say va-jay-jay? Sure, why not. Start raisins at one year or four? You know your kid, make up your own mind. Play [...]

]]> By: Pivotalrole http://doodaddy.net/2007/10/31/the-vajayjay-monologues-what-do-your-tell-your-toddlers-to-call-their-parts/comment-page-1/#comment-4934 Pivotalrole Mon, 28 Apr 2008 21:32:34 +0000 http://doodaddy.net/2007/10/31/the-vajayjay-monologues-what-do-your-tell-your-toddlers-to-call-their-parts/#comment-4934 Our son is barely 12 weeks old and my wife and I had a brief discussion about this just a few days ago. I believe that taking the mystery and embarrassment out of the equation will be of the greatest benefit in the long run. Obviously pronunciation will be a factor (less so for a boy, perhaps) and it may need to be shortened to “pee-pee” for a bit but that won’t stop us from gently correcting him and helping him work out the correct term of penis. I think we have enough difficulty deciding which truths of the world to allow in to our child’s psyche without complicating a simple piece of anatomy with terms like “wieners” and “cookies”. When he gets older he can call it what he likes but I don’t want him to do it out of self embarrassment or his parent’s inability to handle the subject. I don’t relish the thought of embarrassing bystanders with random exclamations, but an occasional, anatomically correct, genital reference in public should make us all consider growing up a little bit. While seeking opinions I came across postings elsewhere talking about the distinction of parts, particularly with girls. Vagina vs. vulva…urethra, etc. and penis/scrotum, testicles, etc. I think “penis” and “vagina” will serve just fine as general terms until more specificity is called for. Our son is barely 12 weeks old and my wife and I had a brief discussion about this just a few days ago. I believe that taking the mystery and embarrassment out of the equation will be of the greatest benefit in the long run. Obviously pronunciation will be a factor (less so for a boy, perhaps) and it may need to be shortened to “pee-pee” for a bit but that won’t stop us from gently correcting him and helping him work out the correct term of penis. I think we have enough difficulty deciding which truths of the world to allow in to our child’s psyche without complicating a simple piece of anatomy with terms like “wieners” and “cookies”. When he gets older he can call it what he likes but I don’t want him to do it out of self embarrassment or his parent’s inability to handle the subject. I don’t relish the thought of embarrassing bystanders with random exclamations, but an occasional, anatomically correct, genital reference in public should make us all consider growing up a little bit.
While seeking opinions I came across postings elsewhere talking about the distinction of parts, particularly with girls. Vagina vs. vulva…urethra, etc. and penis/scrotum, testicles, etc. I think “penis” and “vagina” will serve just fine as general terms until more specificity is called for.

]]> By: Doodaddy » Cut the crap. http://doodaddy.net/2007/10/31/the-vajayjay-monologues-what-do-your-tell-your-toddlers-to-call-their-parts/comment-page-1/#comment-4391 Doodaddy » Cut the crap. Sun, 16 Mar 2008 19:37:42 +0000 http://doodaddy.net/2007/10/31/the-vajayjay-monologues-what-do-your-tell-your-toddlers-to-call-their-parts/#comment-4391 [...] not that I’m into using the "clinical" term for everything (remember, we say "hoo-hoo" in our house and it ain’t to describe the screech of an owl). I just think "potty" is weird. [...] [...] not that I’m into using the "clinical" term for everything (remember, we say "hoo-hoo" in our house and it ain’t to describe the screech of an owl). I just think "potty" is weird. [...]

]]> By: Doodaddy » Potty Training Means Underwear for Little Girls http://doodaddy.net/2007/10/31/the-vajayjay-monologues-what-do-your-tell-your-toddlers-to-call-their-parts/comment-page-1/#comment-3035 Doodaddy » Potty Training Means Underwear for Little Girls Wed, 19 Dec 2007 14:39:49 +0000 http://doodaddy.net/2007/10/31/the-vajayjay-monologues-what-do-your-tell-your-toddlers-to-call-their-parts/#comment-3035 [...] What is this — some sort of sugar-daddy come-on? Don’t need money if I’ve got a hoo-hoo? Frickin’ [...] [...] What is this — some sort of sugar-daddy come-on? Don’t need money if I’ve got a hoo-hoo? Frickin’ [...]

]]> By: Doodaddy » Toddlers Cussing: Gonna Get an Adult Rating For This One, For Sure http://doodaddy.net/2007/10/31/the-vajayjay-monologues-what-do-your-tell-your-toddlers-to-call-their-parts/comment-page-1/#comment-3029 Doodaddy » Toddlers Cussing: Gonna Get an Adult Rating For This One, For Sure Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:49:03 +0000 http://doodaddy.net/2007/10/31/the-vajayjay-monologues-what-do-your-tell-your-toddlers-to-call-their-parts/#comment-3029 [...] least she’s not loudly addressing her own private parts in public anymore. Now it’s just fucks, craps, and, of course, still poopy. Last night out at [...] [...] least she’s not loudly addressing her own private parts in public anymore. Now it’s just fucks, craps, and, of course, still poopy. Last night out at [...]

]]> By: Tumerica http://doodaddy.net/2007/10/31/the-vajayjay-monologues-what-do-your-tell-your-toddlers-to-call-their-parts/comment-page-1/#comment-2333 Tumerica Tue, 06 Nov 2007 22:48:52 +0000 http://doodaddy.net/2007/10/31/the-vajayjay-monologues-what-do-your-tell-your-toddlers-to-call-their-parts/#comment-2333 Great post, DooDaddy. It's such a dilemma--we have to refer to you-know-what sometimes with little ones, what with potty training, and accidents, and the reality of living in our bodies and explaining it all--as though we have some kinda monopoly on truth just because we are parents. Anyway, I made the decision to use a cute made-up word because I didn't want my little girl referring to her privates in public and causing embarrassment to everyone but her. So I remembered a joke where female genitals were referred to as a "twinkie," and I just liked it, so stuck with it. Our Jaclyn says, Mama, I forgot to wipe my twinkie, or Dah-dah, I fell and bumped my twinkie. And no one is the wiser. Someday she'll snigger when she can read and sees the actuall cream-filled chocolate cakes by the same name. But a sweet word is a good word, I thought. Now we have the word vajayjay, and while I don't love this word particularly, it does have a nice va-va-voom factor, and at LEAST it's a positive word. English-speaking gals have needed a word like this for a long time. Lord knows, men have PLENTY of them to choose from! And that brings me to how to explain the birds and the bees to a little kid. I told my four-year-old that men have seeds and women have eggs and that if a man's seed and a woman's egg get together successfully, they can make a baby in the woman's tummy. Best I could come up. Great post, DooDaddy.

It’s such a dilemma–we have to refer to you-know-what sometimes with little ones, what with potty training, and accidents, and the reality of living in our bodies and explaining it all–as though we have some kinda monopoly on truth just because we are parents.

Anyway, I made the decision to use a cute made-up word because I didn’t want my little girl referring to her privates in public and causing embarrassment to everyone but her. So I remembered a joke where female genitals were referred to as a “twinkie,” and I just liked it, so stuck with it. Our Jaclyn says, Mama, I forgot to wipe my twinkie, or Dah-dah, I fell and bumped my twinkie. And no one is the wiser. Someday she’ll snigger when she can read and sees the actuall cream-filled chocolate cakes by the same name. But a sweet word is a good word, I thought.

Now we have the word vajayjay, and while I don’t love this word particularly, it does have a nice va-va-voom factor, and at LEAST it’s a positive word. English-speaking gals have needed a word like this for a long time. Lord knows, men have PLENTY of them to choose from!

And that brings me to how to explain the birds and the bees to a little kid. I told my four-year-old that men have seeds and women have eggs and that if a man’s seed and a woman’s egg get together successfully, they can make a baby in the woman’s tummy. Best I could come up.

]]> By: Go Biology or Street - What to call the genitals? http://doodaddy.net/2007/10/31/the-vajayjay-monologues-what-do-your-tell-your-toddlers-to-call-their-parts/comment-page-1/#comment-2238 Go Biology or Street - What to call the genitals? Thu, 01 Nov 2007 12:21:32 +0000 http://doodaddy.net/2007/10/31/the-vajayjay-monologues-what-do-your-tell-your-toddlers-to-call-their-parts/#comment-2238 [...] Doodaddy has some pros and cons for some different options, ranging from the biological to the playful. [...] [...] Doodaddy has some pros and cons for some different options, ranging from the biological to the playful. [...]

]]> By: Dawn http://doodaddy.net/2007/10/31/the-vajayjay-monologues-what-do-your-tell-your-toddlers-to-call-their-parts/comment-page-1/#comment-2235 Dawn Wed, 31 Oct 2007 17:11:59 +0000 http://doodaddy.net/2007/10/31/the-vajayjay-monologues-what-do-your-tell-your-toddlers-to-call-their-parts/#comment-2235 The reasoning for the scientific names as relative to abuse is more for the reporting and questioning aspects - If a child is used to the word penis he can tell someone or answer a question about it easier than if the questioner has to look for the "right" word for penis. And sadly, if a kiddo looks confused on the stand in a courtroom it will be made to look like they are unsure about what actually happened instead of having trouble with the terminology. We call it a penis. Specifically at every.single.diaper.change with the matter of fact "yes, there's your penis" as grabs on for dear life. Like he's found a long lost friend or playmate. The reasoning for the scientific names as relative to abuse is more for the reporting and questioning aspects – If a child is used to the word penis he can tell someone or answer a question about it easier than if the questioner has to look for the “right” word for penis. And sadly, if a kiddo looks confused on the stand in a courtroom it will be made to look like they are unsure about what actually happened instead of having trouble with the terminology.

We call it a penis. Specifically at every.single.diaper.change with the matter of fact “yes, there’s your penis” as grabs on for dear life. Like he’s found a long lost friend or playmate.

]]> By: Annie http://doodaddy.net/2007/10/31/the-vajayjay-monologues-what-do-your-tell-your-toddlers-to-call-their-parts/comment-page-1/#comment-2232 Annie Wed, 31 Oct 2007 12:52:06 +0000 http://doodaddy.net/2007/10/31/the-vajayjay-monologues-what-do-your-tell-your-toddlers-to-call-their-parts/#comment-2232 I cant' do it - I don't want my very verbal and articulate 3 year old spouting sentences with Penis and Vagina in it - as you say - it doesn't need to come up. As far as Miss E is concerned - everything is her 'bottom' and that works for now. I have had to come up with something for her brother since she has obviously noticed the difference and so she uses the term given to me about my brothers' equipment - 'toot' - and that works great for now too. Except for when she runs into an American who uses 'toot' for a completely different bodily happening! Will cross that bridge when I come to it :) I cant’ do it – I don’t want my very verbal and articulate 3 year old spouting sentences with Penis and Vagina in it – as you say – it doesn’t need to come up.

As far as Miss E is concerned – everything is her ‘bottom’ and that works for now. I have had to come up with something for her brother since she has obviously noticed the difference and so she uses the term given to me about my brothers’ equipment – ‘toot’ – and that works great for now too. Except for when she runs into an American who uses ‘toot’ for a completely different bodily happening! Will cross that bridge when I come to it :)

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