Even with our best efforts to teach our youngsters about life, there are bound to be a few blunders as kids apply their newfound “wisdom” to the world around them. If only children could understand tact before they learned to talk. The best thing to do in this kind of situation is laugh — laugh as hard as you can.

Gender Confusion. My three-year old had recently become interested in the differing anatomy of males and females and asking questions about what it was called and who had what. I tried to answer his questions as best as I could and hoped to let the topic rest for a while. A few weeks later we were attending church (a very large conservative church! with my in-laws and had him in the service with us. It came time for the children’s service down in front and they had a woman dressed up in crazy clothes with a wig to tell the story to the children that morning. My son was standing on the pew with us watching her very intently (I was so proud that he was quietly listening — haha!. All of a sudden he blurted out, “Mommy, does she have a penis?” The entire section around us turned their heads around so quickly or just started shaking with laughter in the pews. My husband grabbed my hand and tears were streaming down our cheeks from laughing so hard (and humilation!. We were just frozen and had no idea what to do — we didn’t even think to respond to the question and thankfully he did not ask it over and over again as he usually does. He made quite an impression on the congregation that day! –Arlington, VA  

Childish Rhymes. My 3-year-old daughter loves to play the rhyming game. She’ll come up with two words that rhyme, then it’s my turn, then her turn… She will frequently make up words to fit the game (like daisy rhymes with flaisy. The other day we are sitting in McDonald’s and are playing. She says “Bucket rhymes with…” She thinks a bit, then says ” I know, fuckit!” I was laughing so hard I had tears rolling down my face. I’m sure the folks at the next table just thought that I curse around my daughter all the time, but I swear, she just found some sounds that rhymed!! –Allentown, NJ

Just Say No. My son in first grade attended a presentation on Drug Prevention. They taught the children about the “Just say No” program and added in that smoking cigarettes was also considered drugs. My husband smokes, never around myself or the children, and goes outside the house on our deck when he does. My son answered the phone and I heard him telling the person on the other end that, “Daddy couldn’t come to the phone right now because he was out back ‘doing drugs’ again.” I was horrified at who might be on the other end, and thank goodness, it was my mother in law. –Harrisburg, PA

There is a certain kind of embarrassment that only a Mom can truly understand. Our MomMoments column is filled with these war stories of motherhood. We’d love to hear your stories so please share with us!