Questions kids ask...

My first grader wanted to know if my tummy was cut when I had a baby.
We were enjoying the stars and the moon and the saturn shine bright against the black magic paint of our ceiling and snuggling close to me as she does every night, she asked me this nagging question. I say nagging because we have dealt with the issue many times before but seemingly her doubts persist still.
I thought it was a passing question and just said a simple, yes.
Both the times?
Yes, both the times.
Did it hurt?
It didn’t, I honestly told her. They had given me some medicine which put me to sleep and when I woke up each time I found a cute little bundle of a baby beside me, I explained.
I thought she was satisfied but no, there was more she wanted to know.
Will my tummy be cut when I have a baby?
Its too early to talk about such matters chotunu, I said.
But she insisted that I tell her.
Not necessarily, I offered.
Then where would the baby come from, she enquired.
This was getting exasperating but I reminded myself to exercise patience and not to lose my cool.
There are other places where the baby can come out from. Now just say your prayers and go to sleep for you have school tomorrow.
I know that but I first want to know the place they come out from if not through the tummy.
Some tough cookie this little one, I thought.
Before I could formulate the proper answer she shot forth her suggestion alluding to the place.
I somehow concealed my shock and said, yes, somewhere near by.
I thought that was the end of it, but no it wasn’t.
It was going to be one long and late night.
But that hole is so small. How can a baby come out from it was the next big Q.
This was getting serious so in all seriousness I informed her that that hole has a natural capacity to enlarge enough for a baby to come out. Now may we please, close our eyes, count the sheep and go to sleep?
One last question, she pleaded.
Ok, one last question. Shoot.
How many babies should I have???

My husband feels I have been foolish enough to give her such details. A simple, its not the right time to know such things would have sufficed, he said.
Would it really, when the kid had such a questioning mind and was coming forth with assumptions of her own?
The articles I have read so far on handling such situations always suggest that its better to give them a satisfactory answer if not the whole factual answer. That would be much better than shooing them off or giving half baked or misleadign answers.

I think so too.
So, was I wrong in answering my girl the way I did?

I have had to answer similar more questions as whether we sang and danced in the garden after we were married?
LOL
Or kissed to have babies?
Seriously.
I have let them know that yes, mummy and daddy kissed and did much more to have babies but that it is enough for them to know this much for the time being. The details would follow with age.

The pad ads bring forth another volley of questions.
Just yesterday they asked their dadi, what the ad meant and being the old timer that she is she was at a loss for words, especially because the query came from a grandson!
She sought my counsel on how to deal with such queries.
Having been subjected to such sessions before I told her exactly what I told them.

My bro-in-laws’ son wanted to know what that ’thing’ was and asked me directly. Both my girls joined him and pressed me for an answer. Yet again, before I could formulate an answer, my little one shot up: Is it a diaper for adults?!
Thats it! I held on to her little wisdom and elaborated that yes, it was for adults needed diapers after a certain age once in a while.
Would we be needing them?
Not all of you, just girls.
When?
After some years........
How soon.........
I’ll let you know when the time comes...
Promise?
promise.
Do you have one of those things at home?
yes...
Can we see?
No.
Please.
No.
When the time comes?
Yes, when the time comes.

And this is exactly what the girls reminded their cousin about before their grandma: Just grow up a bit and you’ll know all about it and when the time comes; besides mummy has the pack ready...

Grandma let out a helpless sigh and I retreated to my quarters chuckling all the way.
Husband as usual, upon hearing the account, shook his head in disbelief.
Aaj kal ke bache aur unke sawaalaat aur ek stupid tum, he muttered.
Really, have I been stupid?