As parents, we embrace and foster each of our child’s interest. Sometimes, we find ourselves baffled at what sparks our child’s interest or what becomes an attachment. We expect the teddy bears, blankets, or dolls. We also know children are incredibly peculiar and find fascination in what we may find bizarre.
When you see me out with my children, you might notice one of my sons carrying something different. His hand is grasping a purple piece of a circular red plush toy. It does not look like your typical stuffed animal you would expect a child to carry around. This peculiar toy has been pushed in shopping carts, pushed in swings, and featured in many pictures I take of my children. You probably have no idea what this could be.
My son loves his stuffed placenta.
Stuffed placenta? You heard me right. I get wide eyes, giggles, and questions. I get the why’s and how’s. How in the world did my child come to love a plush placenta?
On top of a dresser, in my mom’s room, sits a stuffed placenta, among other treasured belongings. It was gifted to her by my sister, a midwife, for Mother’s Day one year. I can’t remember when, but during one trip to central Pennsylvania to visit my parents, my son discovered the placenta. He formed an immediate attachment with it and carried it with him everywhere. Every visit resulted in him requesting the placenta snuggle. Then, last year, he asked Santa to bring him his very own placenta.
On Christmas morning of 2018, my children flew down the stairs to find what Santa had left them. There, under the tree, sat the placenta. My son scooped it into his arms, love at first sight.
Often, as parents, we can benefit from exploring our children’s interest. Because of my children, I know about numbers that I never knew existed, facts about outer space, names of flowers I never knew existed, and the differences in many languages. My Jeopardy game is stronger because of my children.
I take every question as a learning opportunity so you can imagine the discussions over a placenta. My children know more about the function of the placenta than most adults I know. My boys know more than most men about the female reproductive system, thanks to this toy. While this might seem like a bit much to some, I found my children are benefiting.
It started with a simple question. “What does a placenta do?” From there, it evolved into more in-depth conversations and inquiries, all which I answered in ways they could understand that was factual. If you asked me how I would approach these topics before children, my perspective would be different. I never planned on sharing so much at such young ages, especially with my sons. Like many plans and ideas, I had before children, my previous thoughts went out the window.
Why should I shelter what should be a regular part of life? I looked to my past experiences, filled with this idea that reproduction, pregnancy, and menstruation was taboo. I could not ask a man to buy tampons without a face turning red or a big deal made from the simple request. My brother was grossed out at any comment on that time of the month for my sister and I. Pregnancy knowledge fell on those carrying the baby. For years, I thought placentas were disgusting.
If I can start the conversations now and educate at a younger age, perhaps my daughter will be comfortable. Maybe my sons will grow up with empathy and appreciation for what most men consider taboo. I’m not expecting them to know everything but I think of a friend’s teenage son. He carries pads in his backpack in case a friend needs one. There is a sense of compassion I hope my children grasp.
The sweetness in my son’s love for his placenta will forever be a favorite memory. There may come a day where it gets tossed aside and forgotten. As bittersweet as it will be for me, I will know he learned so much from this simple toy.
