I Don't Think I Can Only Blame Wipeout

I try to pride myself on listening to my children and answering whatever questions I can. 

Yes, I know I should NOT be prideful..."When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom." (Proverbs 11:2)...just one of many examples.

However...I am prideful anyway. But that's not the subject of this post.

I always want the PBA to feel comfortable coming to me with any topic at all, even if the subject could be embarrassing.

So...recently the PBA were watching an episode of "Wipeout" that we had DVR'd (yes I'm sure that's a verb...when you record a show using a DVR, then you DVR'd it.)

It's not my favorite show but definitely appeals to boys especially; watching people subject themselves to obvious torture and possible maiming and bodily injury is such a y-chromosome thing.

But I would be remiss (and lying) if I said I hadn't ever laughed at it. I spend WAY too much time with y-chromosomes to be immune to slapstick-type comedy.

And this show has, in the past, elicited various and sundry questions.

This episode did not fail in that department.

The PBA were eating lunch while watching and all of a sudden called me into the room.

"Mom...can you come here?"

"Yes?"

"Ummm...we can't tell. Is this a man or a woman?"

I thought that seemed like an odd question, but before I saw the screen, I asked, "Well, what to you think? Does it LOOK like a man or a woman?"

"Well, we can't tell...and the name is 'Candy'".

I looked at the screen. It was clear to me: a man dressed as a woman.

"Hmmm..."

They could tell I had something to say. "So....what is it? Man or woman?"

My tact left me at a most critical hour and I blurted it out without an attempt at sugar coating. "Well, I think it is a man dressed like a woman."

The protruding Adam's Apple was kind of a give-away.

Furrowed eyebrows and wrinkled foreheads swung from the TV to look back at me.

I didn't stop myself there. "And I'm certain his name isn't really 'Candy'".

Still struggling to put together a sentence, my 10yo began, "Why would...?" and he kind of trailed off.

It's not often he's at a loss for words.

"Yeah, I don't know why, Buddy. But sometimes some men like to dress in women's clothing."

"What?!?" (Yes, the Minon reference from "Despicable Me" again...but I only report the facts. Clearly we're using this reference more than we maybe should. But we are over the moon excited for "Despicable Me 2". Here's a trailer for it, just so you can get on the bandwagon as well.)

And please understand that when I say "we" I really mean "me". The PBA are excited about the movie, but to say they are "over the moon" about it MAY be a bit of an exaggeration.

And we're back..."Yeah, I don't understand it either. And sometimes men will have surgery so they will look more like women."

Again, furrowed brows.And eyes WIDE open. And mouths agape to boot. 

I've never actually seen that face on anyone before. Sheer and utter confusion.

Perhaps I gave them more information than they were really asking for...and I don't think it's all Wipeout's fault.