Sunday, January 14, 2007

Things I never thought I'd need to know.

Today hubby was changing Boy Terror's diaper (no, he's still not potty trained), and in the course of the conversation, I pointed out that he needs to wipe better. I also said the word "smegma". In front of my daughter.
Never mind the fact that I obviously forget that I'm a mother once in awhile. Get over the horror that in going to happen, when Girl Terror says "smegma" in front of other people.
I need information, people. Is there a "correct" term here that I just don't know? I grew up with sisters, in a house where the name for a vagina was "susie". Needless to say, I have never needed to know how to address this topic before. I asked Hubby what guys call it. He said "Nothing. It is not spoken of. We do NOT talk about smegma." Great. Help me out here. How can I teach Boy Terror (since his father is going to go with the time honoured Code of Male Silence) about genital cleanliness if I don't have the words?

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow, I for one would be completely impressed if I saw a young child say smegma, and think that the mother totally rocked.
The only other term I have heard for smegma is "fromunda"... as in from under... in a joke.
Do you like fromunda cheese?
Yeah... I think I will leave it at that! let me know if you need me to tell you the rest!

Raehan said...

I don't use the word smegma, because honestly, I had never heard it before, but I have no problem using the word vagina. What's wrong with it?

Anonymous said...

Well, my son calls his penis his boonie (long story), but he knows the real word too. I don't recall if I have ever used the word smegma. I have just always taught him to pull the skin back and clean himself. I think we call it gunk- maybe just dirt too. Or stuff, as in "be sure to clean your boonie and get all the gunky stuff off". (As an aside- his foreskin has been pretty retractabel from a young age and now at nine is only still connected in one tiny spot, yet a friend of his barely retracts at all. I guess it is a lot harder to clean if you can't pull it back much.)

jenny said...

eeerrrr, help, I have a five year son and have never noticed it that much... should I be looking closer? i must admit the focus has been on keeping his bottom clean, every time he passes wind he needs a quick wet wipe or a shower!