Laura,

Good Luck!!  :)  I told the girls the whole story last year when Abby came home and declared- "Mitch was making sex with his paper!!!!!!"  After I regained consciousness from passing out from shock.  I asked her what that meant and what she thought "making sex" was.  Her and her sister gave me lots of explanations of things they learned at school from their classmates.  When this conversation took place, they were in kindergarten and 2nd grade.  These children "know" so much but are so misinformed!  I was shocked and realized that I needed to talk to them in a way that was age appropriate but accurate.  I wish I had been better prepared!  I wish I had a book but I think I did a pretty good job covering it and I also impressed upon them (setting things up for the future) that if they ever had questions about ANYTHING that I would be here to talk to them and that I would be honest in my answers.  We’ve had lots of conversations over the years about marriage, as they have many friends whose parents and now an aunt and uncle who are getting divorced.  I framed the issue of sex around the covenant of marriage.  I told them that when a man and woman love each other very much, and they are financially able to, they get married and when you get married you feel very loving towards that person.  And sometimes a way to express how much you love that person you do something called "making love".  And I explained it - body parts and all.  I then explained how a woman can get pregnant from that. They asked me lots of questions, I clarified it for them.  They were really interested in the miracle of a baby coming from a sperm and an egg that you can’t even see with your eyes.  Then Abby said the funniest thing- "MOM - THAT’S GROSS!!!!  Did you have to do that once or twice with Daddy to have us?!"

The other conversation you’re going to have soon is the period question.  For Abby’s 8th birthday the girls were watching the Cosby show in the basement when they came up and said "What’s a period!?".  Our neighbor Alexis volunteered the information - "It’s when you bleed from your butt".  OH BOY!!!!!!  I told the girls (all 9 of them) when you get home, you should ask your mommy because that is a very special talk you should have with her."  SO, I had to explain to all of these mothers what inquiring minds wanted to know and why.  I had the talk with the girls as soon as everyone left because they were bugging me to know.  Their response?  "Boys are so lucky!"

Good luck Laura!  Another good resource would be your local library.  They’ll have tons of selections. 

Blessings,

Tonia