Kids Grow Too Quickly

So I've been trying to refrain from writing about my students and lessons and so on, but last week's lesson was just so awkward that I must put it down before I forget. During my 5th grade girl's violin lesson, we were learning a new piece, Theme from Witches' Dance, and I wanted her to come up with a story. Somehow, the topic of having kids came up, and she asked a rather curious, if not awkward, question.

She asked: why did people back then have a lot of kids, but people today don't have so many?

I said: Well, it's very expensive to raise a kid. About a quarter-million per kid. 

Girl: No, but, why don't people have so many kids anymore? They used to have 7 or 8.

Me: Well, if you want a little brother or sister, bring it up with your mom.

Girl: That's not what I mean. I mean...how can they decide? 

That's when I realized she didn't know about birth control yet. Of course, I didn't answer her question. Lucky for me, our lesson was over, and I wasn't about to stay extra to teach her about contraceptives. She'll learn soon enough. I never wondered about that. Especially not at 12 years old.