Never ask a three-year-old a leading question

Lately I’ve been getting a little frustrated with a new habit of Devin’s. Every time I turn around she’s holding onto herself as though she has to go potty and it’s getting a little old. I thought only little boys did that, not adorable little girls.

Yesterday we were out at a friend’s place for dinner and Devin would not stop grabbing herself. After asking her to stop more than a dozen times a light bulb went off in my brain and I thought that perhaps she wouldn’t stop because it hurt.

Now, I should really know by now not to ask a three-year-old a leading question, but I guess I had checked my brain at the door that night.

“Honey, does your vagina hurt?” I asked my daughter in concern.

“Yes,” she responded with equal seriousness. “It has a crack in it and it hurts.”

I started laughing so hard that tears started streaming down my face.

“I found a leaf and it had a crack in it too!” she continued; pleased with the hilarity that her first crack comment had caused.
I guess I’ll have to sit down with her and explain why we have a crack down there. Then I’ll either have to find another non-leading way to ask her about her ongoing Michael Jackson move or chalk it up to a phase that three-year-olds go through.