Why do you shave your legs Mommy?

Hmmm.....I never really though about it to be honest....so when my four year old asked me this question last week I was stumped. No one makes you think more about life and your choices than a child. To them everything is black and white and everything should have an answer. Have you ever tried to explain why there is war or why people die? Ha ha ha ha...just wait its great! I challenge you to give a 4 year old an answer they would be satisfied with or would make sense to you when you think about it through their perspective.

I guess I shave because my mother shaved and the girls in my class shaved and I am expected to shave. I like the way my legs feel when they are soft and just shaven. I don't think my husband would appreciate it if I didn't shave...scratch that I know he wouldn't. But I didn't want to say I shave because everyone else does or other people want me to...BAA! So the answer I gave was something like, "I shave to get the hair off my leg." Sounds good right? Anyone reading who has a toddler knows you have to give just enough information to answer the question without provoking a follow-up question. Well I usually stink at this and that time was no different.

Follow-up question: "Can I shave the hair off my legs?"
A: "No you are too young."
Question #3: "Well Daddy's older, Why doesn't he shave?"
A: "Men don't shave their legs but they do shave their face."
Question #4: "Do you shave your face?"
A: "No" (feeling above my upper lip suddenly self-conscious should I? Is my 4 yr old trying to nicely tell me something?)
Question #5: "Why do woman shave the hair off their legs?"

Now if you thought I was doing pretty well...hold that thought a second.

A: "Because in our culture, that's what's expected."
Question #6: "What is culture?"
A: Such a lame attempt to answer that I can't even remember how I stammered out a reply, followed by a barrage of more questions

SCCHREECCHHH...train is now off the track and I can tell the questions will continue unabated until I either shut up (which usually doesn't end the questions), try the "I don't know, lets look it up" approach, or (and this is what usually happens) I cry "uncle" and tell her that we are all done asking questions. I know...mean mean mean.

I hope when both girls get older they decide for themselves whether to shave or not and those around them respect their choice. I also hope when their kids ask them this question they have a good reason why they shave or don't shave, because my answer really stunk!