Rites of Passage

There are some things I know we will have to address with the kids at the appropriate times - sex, alcohol, drugs, etc. But there are other, smaller issues that must be dealt with sensitively and practically - puberty comes to mind.

Nathan is enrolled to play 4/5 T-ball. As part of that, he is required to wear an athletic cup. For T-ball! Seems a bit overkill, but good habits start early, right?

Warren is out of town in KC for several days, so after I went to the dentist yesterday, I went to Sports Authority. In the boys' section, I stopped a man who worked there and asked where the boys' athletic cups were. He pointed me to a wall of cups. Okay, maybe not a wall, but definitely a section that is 6 ft wide and about 10 ft tall. That sounds like a wall to me. Fortunately, there was one right at eye level - pee wee athletic cup. PERFECT.

So I bought it. Went back to the office. As I walked with N from his school summer camp program to the car, we had this conversation:

me: Nathan, I bought you something you have to wear in order to play.
N: What is it?
me: It's called an athletic cup. It protects your pXXXX.
N: What's a pXXXX?
me: Your wee wee.
N: Oh. (giggles)

At home, I helped him put the briefs on, then inserted the cup into the little pocket. Upside down. Hm. That didn't look comfortable, so I changed it. Ah. Looks better. N said he could not move his legs. So, pulled up the briefs a little bit, readjusted and all was better. He asked if everyone else on the team had to wear one. I told him yes. Only later do I realize there is a girl on the team, too.

I just hope explaining the use of a maxi-pad or tampon is as easy.