lol I am enjoying this chat.
aeh - your story made my day! LOL
And yes, we've covered puberty. No fanfare, no shame, just the physical changes and the ability to carry and nurse a baby for the female. I have also said males are pollinators and carry pollen, called sperm, but have not yet explained how an egg is fertilized by the sperm *exactly.
puffin, yes, I have told her I've had all these thoughts and most people do at her age. DH agree that's important for her to realize her thoughts are normal, and we tell her stories about how we felt when we were young to help her relax.
aquinas and polarbear - I'm with you on all points, especially the underlying point of longing for deep connections with friends.
She was so pained by her secret thoughts it took a very long time for them to come out and they came out herby-jerky. I didn't completely understand at first. She started by asking, "Mom, did you bond with your girl body?" That was a loaded question and I didn't even realize she was leading up to questions about herself. So I couldn't be too dismissive or minimize her concerns. I did normalize them and make sure she knew it was safe to reveal whatever is bothering her. This was not a passing comment, it was an hour-long conversation with tears because she was afraid to tell anyone her inside thoughts.
Thanks, everyone.
