when launching into a recap of a science test, i had no idea that i'd end up having "the talk" with my students. i knew that it was coming and i'd even started to browse for the requisite videos about "your changing body" but nothing prepared me for having to respond on the fly to the query "what's sperm?"
as i was thrust head first (pardon the pun!) into the discussion it took awhile to get my head around just how little they knew. i was fascinated by the gaps in their understanding and their willingness to be candid about something that mortified me when i was their age.
it all began with the question "how can two women have a baby without a man?" the question was tinged with a sense of confusion about how the parts would connect. i described in vitro, voluntary sex with a man, artificial insemination and adoption as potential answers. this in turn led to "women have eggs in them?", followed by , "but then how does the baby come out?"
as i spoke they started to gather around me, a question from one spurned a question form another and the vibe in the room became family like and comfortable. they handled everything i gave them openly and maturely. i was amazed with their comfort, marvelling at their well-adjustedness. the only time when their embarassment got the better of them was when one boy asked me what sperm was and i had to say the word penis. as i spoke the word they lost it covered their ears and rolled on the carpet. i even giggled a little myself-not exactly a word that feels natural to use in your day job.
before responding to the sperm dilemma, i had to check myself. do i talk about the texture, the variety of smells, volume? i wanted to honour their risk taking with truth and enough description to demistify any misconceptions they had but i didn't want to reveal too much about my personal familiarity with the subject matter either!
before long, the girls were prodding me to give it to them straight about their periods. questions about amount of blood, colour, pain, the use of tampons came barrelling at me, one after another. in no time i was heading for my stash and opening the packaging of a pad and a tampon. i can't even describe how incredibly taboo the whole thing felt. to have something so personal become so public was strange. holding them in my hands they seemed tinged with something otherworldly. so rarely do they see the light of day. i've never had to demonstrate how to use an applicator to an audience. i'm glad i did it though. both girls and boys had all sorts of questions revealing their readiness to hear it all.
while i was dreading the whole experience, it turned out to be something quite special. the litany of questions told me that it's been something on the forefront of their minds, keeping them up at night. their eagerness to share told me that the information would be a salve of sorts where they could feel somewhat normal again in the grand scheme of things. i felt honoured to be able to help them out and allay their fears.
listening to them, a part of me wished i had had their openess at their age. hope that they'll be able to carry this confidence with them for a few more years of change.
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