"The Big Talk"

My hands are sweaty and my heart is skipping beats. Why am I so nervous? Tonight we are taking Ben out to dinner to have "the big talk". I have been reading a book recommended by a friend on how and when to talk to your kids about sex, and they recommend that you tell them at Eight years old. At this age they are too young to be embarrassed and it gives you a chance to give them correct information before they learn it from friends. Since Ben is 10 1/2 I have put it off as long as possible. You are supposed to build it up as a big secret that they are finally old enough to know and let them choose where they want to go with out to eat to hear it. We are going to the outback and then he wanted to go see the Star Wars clone movie. I am so freakin nervous! Will we say to much, not enough, scar him for life, will he ever look at us the same. The book recommended using another book from the library that has cartoon illustrations, and though it was very well done, there is no way that I am showing that too him! It is bad enough telling him but showing him cartoon illustrations seems a little overboard to me. (Although Tony did tell me to put a sketch pad and pencil in my purse!) I am also worried about how much he will be watching us, so far we have been able to fly under the radar. The kids think that we really are just having "weekly planning meetings" or a "nap", I feel like we will have to go out of town to really be safe for a little while. And after we tell him we have to decide when to tell Whitney because she is all ready eight. YIKES! I wish I could shelter them longer, but I have to remember that I first heard about sex in Elementary School, and of course my information was all wrong. My mom asked me the night before I got married if I knew everything I needed to know. I hope that by starting to talk with him now we will be able to communicate well with him through his entire life.