What do you do when your kids ask for a visual?

So, this was supposed to be a witty post about a survey I circulated amongst some people I know, but  I have to push out that post yet one more time. Why? I must share that my daughter made me stutter and I have not done that in years.

My 8 yr old loves watching the nightly news which is totally depressing and inappropriate for any age. The older children enjoy those animal shows where the animals kill each other in the wild and shows with exotic pets mauling the owners. Yes, I recognize those aren't feel good shows for children but they ask many questions that I feel I answer appropriately. I certainly agree, tigers are beautiful animals but we should not have them in the breakfast nook because they are wild animals. It's not the tiger's fault;  it's the person's fault for supporting exotic animal trade which is simply deplorable in my opinion.  However, my precocious just turned 7 yr old daughter came up to me last night and said, "Mommy, I want to know how babies are made. Don't tell me the stork. There is no stork." I said, "Au contraire my little Princess! There are storks, but you are correct. Babies do not come from storks." I wanted to be candid yet not too clinical. However, before I could describe how babies are made, she asked to "See an example of how this happens." What??? A visual? Is there an age appropriate DVD or book for this question? Did Phineas and Ferb do a special episode on this topic? No that was the show with Jamie Lynn Spears.  My first inclination was to go get Barbie and Ken but that felt innately wrong. The dry erase board certainly wasn't an option, and no....no. I was at a loss. She is a chatterbox so I knew that whatever I said would be repeated to others.

What to do? Hmmmm. After a brief description in 7 yr old language of how babies are made, I then referenced a recent show on Animal Planet. I told her it is something done in the privacy of your own home. Or jungle or den. I felt like I was digging myself a giant whole, but I did clarify that humans do not sit on an egg waiting for the babies to hatch. And yes, it's unfair that the male birds are generally more attractive than the females, but such is life.  I'm not sure if I handled any of this correctly, but no topic is off limits with my little people. Although, some admittedly are more awkward than others. I want my kids to be able to ask anything, but I just need to better prepare myself for those requests. Can't wait for the next "awkward" question...