explaining homosexuality to a 9 year old

BS left a Time Magazine on the top of the toilet as he always does. he’s always weeks behind on his quality reading, so this issue must be at least a month or so old. one headline that screams from the cover: Yep, He’s Gay.

BC and i were in the bathroom at the same time, she washing her hands and me drying mine. it was one of those slow-motion moments where i saw her eyes leap to the monosyllabic words, words she can easily read. and i knew hilarity would ensue.

mama, girlfriend said, what does that mean?

what?

“gay” she said. duh, mama.

attempting to be as matter of fact as if i were discussing butter or baseball, i replied, gay is when two people are in love with each other and they are both men or both women.

i saw girlfriend processing this one. she made an uneasy face. i wanted to head it off at the pass.

you know, buzz (one of her nicknames), i added, in this world, you are lucky if you can find someone you love who loves you back. it doesn’t really matter whether it’s a boy or a girl.

that finished it. we were both satisfied.

fin.

11 thoughts on “explaining homosexuality to a 9 year old

  1. Haha! I just love how kids process things. Unlike adults, they don’t hide their confusion or often their level of understanding.

  2. thanks 🙂 there are so many times words befuddle or just leave me. but i am actually learning a thing or two from my BS — he always tells me i overexplain things.

    hopefully this time, i didn’t 😉

  3. Ooh yeh, that was a great explanation. I almost want to raise the subject with Gav just so I can give your advice. That is apparently a hot subject with the sixth graders as he c0mes home at least 2 days a week, “So and so is GAAAAYYY!” To which I’m always, “And, that matters how?”

    Good job. 🙂

  4. oh, i am actually relieved you had this come up. i realized after the fact that one of the books I sent to little miss has references to homosexuality in it, and i thought you might strangle me because you hadn’t had that “talk” with her yet. Phew! But, kudos to you for the cool way in which you handled it!

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