What children have to say about pregnancy

While I don't really care for the many comments from adults a fourth pregnancy elicits I am very entertained by the little people. Now that I am large enough to be either an oddity or pregnant it is interesting to watch the way children react. They are both much more hesitant and forthright than adults. They have no qualms about staring or asking what they truly are thinking. Here are some of my favorite examples.

Walking into Aurora's school I was spotted by a group of elementary school age boys. They did a lot of staring at my abdomen and pointing and whispering and finally shoved one of their friends towards me. He timidly stated "There's a baby in there isn't there?" When I replied yes he smiled, yelled "I knew it," and ran back to report to his buddies.

A friend of Aurora's who is an only child explained to me that I had plenty of children and it would be more fair if one of them could come live with her - preferably Aurora or the new one. I did see her point about the unfairness but not enough to indulge her request.

Another friend of Aurora's didn't seem to notice that I was rounder than most until I mentioned something about a new baby. She looked at me with big eyes, pointed at each of my girls and counted them off: "one, two, three" and proclaimed "you already have three! Why do you need more?"

A five year old boy took a break from rock climbing to ask me "how did you get to be so fat?"  "Well," I replied, "I ate a whole watermelon". He looked surprised but satisfied with my answer and went on climbing. Knowing my sarcasm was lost on this five year old I had to tell him the truth.

Children just take everything in stride. I watched a few birth videos with Sophia and Tova to get them acquainted with what birth looks like. They sat riveted and asked lots of pertinent questions. Upon seeing blood "does the baby bleed?" "No, that blood was from the mom" "Oh yeah." Upon seeing waters breaking "Why's there so much water?" "Babies live in water and it has to come out too" "Oh ok." Watching how woman act in labor "Why do they scream" "Because it hurts" "That makes sense." Upon seeing a labor where the woman was silent "Why didn't she scream?" And my favorite, when watching a birth take place in a car "How will she have a baby with her pants on?"

And then there is Tova. My fierce but sweet bolt of energy. For the past few months she has insisted that she too has a baby in her belly. Her baby will also be pushed out. Although sometimes she asks if I can push her baby out and sometimes she claims to have a door where her baby can just exit. When I mentioned selling my bicycle as I wouldn't be able to ride much with the baby she told me "you can ride your bicycle mama- I can hold the baby for you." She claims that in addition to breastfeeding her own baby she will breastfeed mine so I can rest. She also says she will change the diapers and dress the baby. Seems like there will be nothing else for me to do but take naps and go for bike rides. The other day she told Sophia and me that she actually has eight babies in her belly. And, when they are born she will grow nine breasts so that she can feed them each one at a time. Sophia laughed and asked "Why do you need nine breasts if you are going to feed them one at a time?" To which Tova replied with exasperation "SOOOOPHIIIIA!"

In juxtaposition, Jakob recently chatted with an influential Australian obstetrician who was appalled to hear we were having a home birth. Jakob had to suffer through many an inconsiderate comment. As he was leaving the doctor let Jakob know he should pass on the message to me that I was a selfish mother. I thought this was a great example of how while it is cute how children ask what they think adults lack the innocence and purity to do the same and should keep their opinions to themselves.

Challenge accepted

Who needs a climbing wall

Dressing for the weather

Going out in the storm