This year I’ve been reading a list of banned books that came with a banned book jigsaw puzzle I received from a friend. It’s a long-ish list, and I’m skipping the twelve titles I’ve read before. For new reading, I’ve completed 20 books, most recently It’s Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, Gender and Sexual Health by Robie H. Harris and Michael Emberley.

 

I can’t believe you said that word!

 

What word, 9?

 

The “S” one! I hope Mom doesn’t read this or we’ll all be in trouble.

 

We probably would be if we’d said it at your age. But over the years I’ve heard Mom use that word quite a lot herself.

 

Let’s not go there.

 

I know the concept isn’t comfortable, or possibly even fathomable to you right now, Lily, but grown-ups do, in fact, sometimes talk about and sometimes have sex. Even parents.

 

That’s part of what’s in this book, intended for ages 10 and up. Age 10 makes sense to me. That was my age when we had our first “sex ed” presentation in public school.

 

But wait! I’ll be ten next year!

 

Yes, and a fifth grader. That’s when a male teacher will have a special class with the boys and a female teacher will have a special class with the girls. I don’t know exactly what the boys were taught. There was a rumor that they were shown a movie about a dwarf who sold pencils on the street (?). The writer in me is wondering if the dwarf and pencil thing is a metaphor. . .

 

The girls were shown a movie that was about wearing bras and getting periods and, once you had achieved these milestones, buying prettier and more grown up dresses. Being both the youngest girl in my class and a late bloomer, I thought the whole thing was silly and gross. But some of the girls in my class were eleven, and some of them already wore bras. Some probably even had their periods. These transitions are considered enviable achievements by the sixth grade female characters in Judy Blume’s book Are You there, God? It’s Me, Margaret, but I don’t remember my classmates competing about these things. Mostly, conversations about girls bodies had to do with big busts vs. flat chests. Girls at either end of the spectrum suffered a lot of teasing in this regard, all the way to and through senior year.

 

People are so stupid about that!

 

I agree, Lily. I also think that a book like It’s Perfectly Normal would be more informative for kids regarding their changing bodies than movies about sanitary pads and dresses (or, for that matter, dwarfs and pencils). It’s clearly written, and reiterates key concepts, such as how pregnancy begins. It also assures kids that not only the changes in their bodies, but how they feel about the changes in their bodies, is perfectly normal.

 

I’ll go into more detail about this particular book in a review posted on Facebook, something I’ve done for all the banned books I’ve read to date. Right now, what I’m thinking is Wouldn’t it be great if they had a book like this for adults that covered what can happen to our bodies as we age?

 

Okay, blog readers, I just heard some of you say, “Oh, gross!” But think about it. We’re going through some potentially disturbing shifts, too. And it’s not all about disease and death, there are unavoidable changes in hormone levels, skin elasticity, bone density, hair texture and thickness. Some of us lose an interest in sex and some of us don’t. Every time something unusual happens we may wonder if this is the start of our last hurrah. For example, “Huh, does this mean I’m dying, or is it just the result of eating beets for dinner last night?”

 

Wouldn’t it be nice to read about these things, as written by an objective third party, who assures us with every change and every moment of consternation It’s perfectly normal? Think of how many desperate and misleading internet searches you could save yourself, how many “just in case” medical appointments you could not make if you had an accurate and comprehensive guide to address the basics. Like the kid-targeted version, It’s Perfectly Normal for older folks could include sensible advice about when to see a doctor or nurse, or talk to a trusted friend or family member, if you need further guidance.

 

If I had geriatric health care expertise, I’d be tempted to write such a book myself. Chapter titles have been popping into my head all day:

 

Incontinence Woes? That Depends.

Why Is This Print So Small?

Oops, There Goes My Erection!

 

 

I can tell you think those are funny, but I don’t get it?

 

 

And you don’t have to, 9, not for another 50 years or so. But, small brag- -these titles recently cracked up a chronological peer and swim buddy, who will not be named as I did not ask her permission.

 

A likely story.

 

Believe me or not, Lily. But here’s the takeaway from today’s blog. Even if such a book never comes to be, at least we now have a mantra that is useful at any age:

 

It’s perfectly normal. It’s perfectly normal. It’s perfectly normal.