The Birds and the Bees 'Chat'

Category: Chatting in the Garden | Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 2:00 pm

So...I'm getting the last of a flat of 'Hummingbird White' Nicotiana into the ground yesterday evening and my fourteen year old H comes over to chat.

Of all the kids H is the only one that might become a gardener. He knows the names of plants. He remembers where things are planted. I can send him out to get basil and chives and he comes back with them. When he was really little he liked to tie a towel around his neck and be a gardening super hero while Mom worked in the yard. (We will keep that a secret here, yes? A 14 year old boy's reputation lies in the balance)

H is taking Health and Agricultural Science as some of his 8th grade classes. He's a very smart kid (takes after his Mom).

H: "Mom?"

Me: "Yeah H?"

H: "You DO know that all plants aren't girls ...right?"

Me: "What? oh..yes H, I do."

H: "Well how come you always say "Isn't she pretty?" or, "Look how big she's getting?" or "Look at all those Tomatoes she's GOT?" when you talk about the yard and the flowers?

Me: "Do I?"

H: "Yeah...you do. Mom, I don't know if you know it but...there are these things called pistils and stamens...and the birds or sometimes the bees come along...."

(20 minutes later)

Me: "Wow H, I didn't realize you knew all that. Thats great. No wonder you have an "A" in Agriculture Science."

H: "No, Mom. I learned that in Health. It was the beginning of our Section On Reproduction. Then we did the whole genetics, animal sex/reproduction thing, then on to humans."

Me: "Wow. Seems like you paid close attention."

H: "Yes, it was very interesting. I do have a question tho?"....

(A small intake of breath on my part. H and I have had some chats before like this over the years. I'm ready for it.)

H: " ...So...why do they call ships and buildings, and cars 'She' too?"

I never did finish planting those Nicotianas.

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Comments

toni wrote on Tue May 22, 2007 2:24 pm:

Don't they just throw you for a loop sometimes? He sounds like a fun kid to have chats with.

CritterPainter wrote on Tue May 22, 2007 2:45 pm:

Isn't it fantastic to have an articulate kid? Sounds like a real champ, thanks I needed a smile this morning!

eileen wrote on Tue May 22, 2007 3:54 pm:

H sounds so much like our David at that age. He's now 27 and instead of HIM asking US questions WE ask HIM!!!

Frank wrote on Tue May 22, 2007 4:33 pm:

Quite a smart kid you've got there Chitweed :)

Chitweed wrote on Tue May 22, 2007 5:01 pm:

Thanx guys. He is awesome. One of the best things about him, is even at 14 I can love and hug on him and he doesn't mind. (the holding of Moms hand in public is gone till I turn 90 tho)