Dear Queenie,
I was born with 6 toes on each foot. They were removed with surgery when I was still little, but the doctor tells me the tendency is genetic and my children might also have the same defect.
So Queenie, when and how do I tell my boyfriend about this?—Abnormal Jean
Dear Abnormal Jean,
Why is a genetic abnormality automatically considered a defect?
Of course, having an extra toe would make it difficult to find shoes that fit, and an extra finger might subject a child to some teasing, but either (or both) can be adjusted (I refuse to say “corrected”; presumably God knows what He is doing, even if we do not understand).
This is not a matter that would threaten a child’s life, or even his/her health, so do not make more of it that it deserves. The time to tell your boyfriend is when there is a possibility of having children with him, and the way to do it is matter-of-factly, not as a big deal. If he does not take the information well, that tells you something about him that you certainly should want to know.
