Loving me, loving you. Uh-huh!

Voting for THE LEZZY AWARDs is almost over, and I’m trailing at a woeful rate. The current leader has 544 votes followed by Peaches & Coconuts at 190. The gap is wide but not impossible, and I don’t feel like giving up without a fight. VOTE HERE for Peaches & Coconuts: Best Personal Blog. Harassment ends Wednesday.

And now back to our regularly scheduled blog. February focuses our attention on Valentine’s Day whether you participate or not, I thought I’d include an entry about love. As the fabulous Rupaul said on Rupaul’s Drag Race, “If you can’t love yourself, how the hell are you going to love anyone else? Can I get an Amen in here?” And because I love Rupaul and because I do agree that it’s always best to start with a solid foundation and work your way up, it would be irresponsible and unprofessional to talk about love without talking about self-love. Those who know me know that I am nothing if not responsible and professional.

Once upon a time, I may have shared with you my experiences with self-love. I may have talked about early explorations and pleasures, but I have family reading this blog. Whether or not I had a special pillow as a child is not anything they would want to know, and therefore I refuse to confirm or deny its existence. Suffice it to say that my foundation of love was a solid one from an early age.

Our boys have encountered no obstacles in their paths to self-love. Who is ever surprised to learn that little boys play with their bits? I don’t know a single boy who wasn’t tempted by their willies. Difficult for any little boy to ignore that dangling bit that’s so accessible and available and begging for attention. And I don’t know very many mothers who are embarrassed by their sons’ activities. We were a little concerned initially with Asher’s fervor when he first began to engage in the sport. We had to consult with a male friend who assured us that even though it looked as if Asher was going to rip it right off, he was, in fact, causing himself no harm and probably would be able to reproduce one day should he so please. He has since softened his technique and has become more private about it which is a good thing at the age of 5.

Daughters are an entirely different subject. I remember an outing with some other mums in the early days of our weekly playgroup meetings. We decided to venture out one chilly morning and take the tube to a park. The kids were layered and coated and secured in their prams when we boarded the train. It wasn’t long into our journey when we noticed one of the little girls writhing around in her pram. At first, we thought she might be uncomfortable-too restricted in her seat perhaps. Too layered? Too hot? Nope.

Catalogs descriptions do not do the 5 point harness justice. Safety is clearly only part of the picture. The additional benefit of the 5 point harness is the built-in self-love feature. Who knew that crotch-strap could provide both safety and stimulation? The tighter the better on both counts.

It was our first exposure to the discoveries of daughters, and we all came face to face with the fact girls like a little fiddle just as much as the next guy. Story after story support what all women know but are often too embarrassed to admit. Girls love to love ourselves. There’s the 4 year old daughter who wouldn’t leave the house until she was “finished” with the door knob. Or the 9 year old girl who takes inordinately long baths in which the tub never seems to fill. Then, there’s the 12 year old daughter who insists on borrowing her mom’s back massager without a single complaint of back aches.

So, to new mothers of daughters, do not be alarmed if your daughter exhibits tendencies toward self-titillation. It’s just as natural for the girls to explore as it is for the boys. And don’t we want our daughters to be just as fluent in love as their brothers? When was the last time you carved out a little time for yourself? That’s a rhetorical question. I’m just saying, put together your own stimulus package and celebrate the month of love-whether you have a partner or not. Enjoy!