[Mezzo1]

We have two children adopted from Russia. We decided to reference their birthmothers as the "Tummy Ladies" just while they are little. Well...

My 2 1/2 year old daughter has been talking a lot lately about how she is growing a doggie in her tummy (she desperately wants a dog, and she has seen a lot of our pregnant friends recently, and is getting used to the arrival of her new baby brother). She asked me over the weekend if I have a baby growing in my tummy. I told her that my tummy was broken and that the "Tummy Lady" grew her for me and how thrilled we were about that. I told her that the same was for her baby brother. She then asked me if I have a new tummy now and I said Yes. She told someone we know later that day that her mommy's tummy was broken, but now she has a new one.

Last night she asked me to tell her a story about her. I told her how we went to Russia, "tummy lady" etc... I did not emphasize the tummy lady part, I just made it a natural part of the story, but it obviously stuck with her. She asked me what is the "tummy lady's" name. I told her I didn't know, but would try and find out for her.

This morning my husband told my daughter that she would be going with me to a playroup tomorrow with other children adopted from Russia. my daughter then asked him if the "tummy ladies" would be there.

I'm a little freaked out that she's so young and asking about this. I'm questioning whether I should have even brought up the "tummy lady" at such a young age. I know they can absorb different things at different ages, but that each chikd is different. Maybe when my daughter asked me if I had a baby growing in my tummy, I should have answered with a simple no since she didn't ask me if she grew in my tummy.

I'd be interested in others experiences with this.

Thanks!

Mezzo