We took the Sysmidgets to Chicago's Museum of Science & Industry to see the "Body Worlds 2" show today. We try to be fairly liberal about body image issues at home. But these kids ride a bus. They have friends and classmates who use the universal currency of dirty words to make the body something to snicker at.

So the boys were uncomfortable with the plasticine bodies. And what made them the most squirmy were the male reproductive organs on display.

At one point, I took them aside and said, "Guys. I want you to say "Penis, penis, penis."

They mumbled. Then they said it clearly. Then they shouted at each other.




Then we could look at the rest of the exhibit. In peace.

All the time, it had me thinking how much the human musculoskeletal system looked like a meat cutting diagram. Had me thinking of some fava beans and a nice chianti.

But I'd already filled up on bacon for the weekend.

Labels: penis, plasticine, plural