Talking about "firsts"...it doesn't have to be difficult!

My big girl is growing up. It kinda makes my mama's heart a little sad, as I see a teeny bit of her "kid-ness" disappear each day (although, trust me, there is still PLENTY of kid there!). I love watching my kids grow up, but as they grow, it brings up a multitude of conversations to be had!

Birds and the bees, boyfriend/girlfriend issues, friend debacles, Santa Claus/Easter Bunny/Tooth Fairy conversations, and one I vividly remember having with my mom--shaving my legs.

Seriously, I can remember it like it was yesterday...

I was going into 6th grade, I had hairy legs, and I was sooooooooo wanting to be grown up enough to shave. My pitch? "Girls wear skirts a lot more in middle school. I need (yes, it was a need) to shave my legs 'cuz I'll be wearing more skirts." It worked! My mom went and bought me supplies to start shaving my legs!

BlogHer and Venus provided me the opportunity to really start thinking about this impending conversation with Belle that is likely to happen before I know it!

While Belle hasn't asked yet, I know those conversations are not all that far away. I always strive to have an open and honest relationship with my kids when it comes to more "sensitive" subjects; I want them to come to ME for their information, not to hear it at school or on the bus or from a friend.

I truly believe in answering questions as fully and honestly as possible with my kids. I never want them to feel they can't talk to me about something, even something as "easy" as conversations about shaving their legs! (Or shaving their faces; we crossed that bridge with the Pal a couple of years ago!)

While I think that Belle is currently "too young" to shave her legs, I invite discussion with her as often as I can about many subjects.

I take "real life" situations to turn conversations into organic discussions. Sometimes I think a lot of "discussion anxiety" (for kids AND parents) comes from the idea that you have to sit your child down and have the stern "Son, we need to talk" kind of speeches.

I have discovered that it is SO much easier and conversations seem so much more real and less "scary" when you can take everyday discussions and turn them into learning experiences.

The next time Belle asks about me shaving my legs or why I use shaving cream or "Does it hurt when you shave?" I fully intend to answer her questions honestly, then gently bring up something along the lines of, "Some day you'll shave your legs too. Do any girls shave their legs yet at school? I think you're currently too young, but someday soon I know you'll want to start shaving and when you and I both determine that you're old enough, I will show you how and teach you so that you don't hurt yourself."

Probably not those exact words, but along those lines of "conversation flow"!

We'll talk about how to shave, how using shaving cream and a good razor like the Venus Embrace helps to reduce nicks and cuts with its 5 blades and a Ribbon of Moisture for a smooth shave, and how sometimes, it's just a little more fun to use a girly product, like Satin Care Passionista Fruit, that smells sooooooo good, instead of the manly shaving cream that we always seem to have around!

Hey, a girl's gotta embrace her girliness!

If you have a first-time shaver in your home, you should check out some of these great tips from Venus Embrace!

So, wanna chance to win a $50 Visa gift card? It's super easy...just leave me a comment sharing a tip for tackling tough "firsts" with your kids, and you're entered for a chance to win! Easy peasy lemon squeezy!

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