We’ve been meaning to have “the talk” with Son #1 for quite awhile now, but just haven’t gotten around to it. He’s ten years old, in between 4th and 5th grade, and quite curious about the birds and the bees.

Beyond sitting down and talking things through with him, we also wanted to get him some books to help satisfy his curiosity. Unfortunately, the pickings are pretty slim at our local library, so…

Now that we’re back from vacation and things are settling down, my lovely and talented wife and I spent some time last night perusing Amazon.com for suitable titles. As it turns out, there are a ton of books available on the subject, and it’s pretty hard to tell what’s good and what isn’t without being able to look through them. We picked through the reviews as best we could, wound up picking three that sounded pretty good and were targeted to kids his age.

» It’s Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health

» What’s Going on Down There? Answers to Questions Boys Find Hard to Ask

» The American Medical Association Boy’s Guide to Becoming a Teen

If anyone out there has already been through this, we’d love to hear your recommendations. And, of course, we’ll be sure to post our thoughts on the books listed above after we’ve had a chance to pick through them.

Today is your first day of school
I hold back tears as you get on the bus
Wearing your back pack and brand new shoes
With your hair all spiky with gel
You turn to smile
Shining eyes behind bifocals
Chubby cheeks with a dimple
Short legs climb the steps and take a seat
You’re in good hands with brothers there
I wave to you through the window but you don’t see
Your school journey begins
Another chapter for me
You are ready
I let go

As if Son #4 needed another huge milestone to pass… He just moved out of his crib and gave up his pacifier, and then I started potty training him four days ago. He’s 27 months old, which is a little young for a boy, so I decided from the start that if he resisted at all, I would back off and wait a month or two. Fortunately, he has been totally compliant and enthusiastic. [more]