The Talk: Third and Final Installment

I've already covered the major stories of Scarlett's road to enlightenment about how God made boys and girls different, where babies live and the emerge from their mothers, and a bit about how she learned how they got there, but today's story is about the aftermath of "The Talk." The part where Not-So-Classic Husband really shined as the follow-up speaker.

For us, it's really important to be on the same page with the kids. We make a real effort to not only appear united, but to be united on things concerning the kids. So, the day after Scarlet and I read the very helpful book Before I Was Born together I asked Husband to talk with her about what she discussed with me and to ask if she had any questions about it. (I didn't want her to think that I was making up this stuff because, come on, doesn't it still sound weird to you?) He happily agreed and did an excellent job.

I'd already mentioned that Scarlett and I were together for six years before we got Not-So-Classic Husband and, even though I tried to convince my parents of it, her conception was not immaculate. While we were reading our book, I felt sure that at any moment she would ask me some uncomfortable questions, but she didn't. She kept on thinking about that baby as Bubba and not as her until she spoke with her daddy, Not-So-Classic Husband, the next day.

God gave him such grace! He saw her eyes connect the facts and she asked him about Mommy and the other person doing that. He simply deferred to the Bible and recounted a story of David, Bathsheba and their amazingly gifted, wise and treasured son, Solomon. With a little help from the Veggie Tale, King George and the Ducky, Scarlett suddenly looked at herself and realized that she was a treasure, that she was blessed and that she was loved as a prized possession. I cried as my dear Husband told me what he said to our Scarlett because I know that he made her feel like the daughter of the King and not an unloved step-child.

It was one of those days I prayed for back when I was alone feeling like Hester Prynne with my great big red "A" trudging though life beating myself up over the mistakes I had made. But I had faith that these days would exist: the days when I would no longer feel condemnation and when it would not be passed to my beautiful daughter. When I named her, I chose her name carefully not just for her, but for me to remember that I too, mistakes and all, am a daughter of the King. Scarlett's real name means "purity and innocence." If you know her, you know that those are perfect words to describe her.

So it can happen. We can have great discussions with our kids about topics that we may not want to discuss. We can be the ones that give them the moral compass to navigate these waters of life. All I needed was a little help from my unsuspecting father, a pregnant Barbie doll and Veggie Tales. What about you?