It seems like it should be such a natural question to ask. Why are these two people my parents and not anyone else? How come my brothers and sisters share the same parents? I never wondered about such things or discussed them with friends until I approached my teens. Was I unusual in that way?

I don’t recall noticing when my mother was pregnant with my younger brother, but I would imagine that it is not unusual for a child to be told that their mother is carrying a baby, who will be a new brother or sister. Wouldn’t it be the most natural thing to ask how this happened? I have a vague recollection of being told at age 6 that I had a new brother and of initially being disappointed that it would be a while before we could play games together.

In the age of the Internet, children now have access to more information than when I was young. I have seen sites posted on the Web advocating starting sexual education in kindergarten. It seems like a good idea. It might be easier to teach the facts of life before puberty, and also how to behave properly.