The birds and the bees

[Ahhlee]

My stance in the argument about teenage pregnancy is that parents need to take a more proactive role in talking to their kids about ***. It shouldn't be the school's, the church's or the government's responsibility to do the lion's share of raising our nation's children...it should be the parents' job.

I'm not implying that other programs can't be involved in teaching our kids good moral values. ****, the more exposure kids have to learning about personal accountability, the better! It just seems to me that the more lax we become about accepting the nanny state direction our country is taking, the more parents seem to be willing to let "the system" take over the parenting job that they, themselves, should be doing.

I have some questions for you:

1) How did you learn about ***? How did you learn about birth control methods?

2) If you have children, do you talk to them about ***? Do you discuss birth control methods with them and do you help them to obtain them (providing they are of age, of course)?

 

[hugo]

I remember myself as a modern parent having that birds and bees talk with my son. It went something like "Ya see them hedge clippers. If ya ever get a gal pregnant they can cause a great deal of damage."

 

[Ahhlee]

I remember myself as a modern parent having that birds and bees talk with my son. It went something like "Ya see them hedge clippers. If ya ever get a gal pregnant they can cause a great deal of damage."

Yes hugo, you are quite the new age "sensitive" man....lol.

I was given the generic birds and bees talk when I was a little kid by my mom. I think I was 7.

I didn't hear anything else until I was asked to prom. My mom said, "You're going to prom with Troy, huh? Don't get pregnant". That was it.

My dad never talked to me about ***.

This area is also super conservative, so I didn't learn much in the *** ed. program at school, either. Everything I know, I learned from tv, movies, reading and other kids.

I don't have children of my own, but if I did, I would want them to feel comfortable to come talk to me about ***. It won't be easy for me considering my own upbringing, but for their sake, I would try. And if my son or daughter honestly felt they were ready for ***, then I would make sure they had access to protection and understood exactly what they were getting themselves into.

 

[timesjoke]

I have some questions for you:

1) How did you learn about ***? How did you learn about birth control methods?

I was raised on a farm, my education on how nature provides for reproduction was an early class, specifics on what was considered 'safe' *** was actually from my older brother (at the directive of my mother I later found out). My 'hands on' *** education came from one of my older sister's best friends

2) If you have children, do you talk to them about ***? Do you discuss birth control methods with them and do you help them to obtain them (providing they are of age, of course)?

Here is the hard part, I am a father and let me tell you, the reality of having children is much different than just imagining it. I will say there is a double standard in my mind between my view of my oldest son who is now in the Marines and my soon to be 12 year old daughter.

My own situation is complicated by a less than rosy divorce and their mother being what I consider to be a very, very bad influence. I would never say anything for my children to hear but I fear that there might be a bad result in my daughter watching her mother 'get around' with a lot of different men. 11 in 6 years (counting the one who died after getting her pregnant), one she married after knowing him just three weeks and two months later they were getting a divorce.

I feel strange talking to my daughter about *** to be completely honest so I try to involve life lession discussions when the chance comes up, like when we see a very young girl in the store with a little baby, we discuss how hard her life will be trying to finish her education and even go to college while trying to raise a child. Then I will add in that protection is more than just preventing pregnancies but it is also about preventing disease.

 

[emkay64]

Hmmmm....

My mother was amazing with the whole *** talk. She came equipped with pamphlets books and nothing was off limits. It was the one time I felt totally comfortable.

This all came about after sticking my head out the window while my Dad was driving to the lake and saying "Hey I'm getting a ********". I was 8. I guess she felt it was time.

My Dad made his attempt at the "talk" when I was 15 and he caught me making out on the couch. The "used baggage" speech was not exactly what I had in mind. I think it would be cool to get the talk from your Dad, but that little foray with MY Dad was sooooo...not good.

I talk openly about *** and whatever with my girls. It can be uncomfortable, but not nearly as uncomfortable as not understanding things. I tailor it to their age. Emily asked baby questions since she was 5...so anyways...she got the whole speech at 9 years old. Not as much about protection and the like, but that will be revisited again as she gets older. It's easier to do it in pieces. On a "need to know" basis. I'm not uncomfortable in the least.

 

[snafu]

I never got the talk. I had to figure out everything on my own. I think it was this girl baby sitting a few doors down when she offered me to come over and help. Didn't do anything but we did a lot of exploring on each other.

I asked my son if he needed the talk last year he just laughed. With the internet now I bet the kids can teach us about the birds and the bees.

 

[hugo]

I never got the talk. I had to figure out everything on my own. I think it was this girl baby sitting a few doors down when she offered me to come over and help. Didn't do anything but we did a lot of exploring on each other.
I asked my son if he needed the talk last year he just laughed. With the internet now I bet the kids can teach us about the birds and the bees.

Sounds like the kid needs the ole hedgeclipper talk.

 

[atlantic]

ROFLMAO @ Emkay sticking her head out of a moving car yelling that. The things kids say without knowing what they are saying

I first learned about *** after finding a pornographic magazine while strolling through the woods one day as a kid. I can't remember how old I was.

The only thing my mother would ever say about *** was "Don't get pregnant - it will ruin your life"

 

[emkay64]

"The only thing my mother would ever say about *** was "Don't get pregnant - it will ruin your life"

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Awww Atlantic. That made me sad. I've sure had my issues with my Mom, but the *** thing was one thing that really stood out for me. Just me and her at the kitchen table, talking. She was so calm and understanding...it was a really good memory for me. I think the *** talk is more important for girls....I'm just sorry you got that kind of an impression during yours.

 

[atlantic]

"The only thing my mother would ever say about *** was "Don't get pregnant - it will ruin your life"
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Awww Atlantic. That made me sad. I've sure had my issues with my Mom, but the *** thing was one thing that really stood out for me. Just me and her at the kitchen table, talking. She was so calm and understanding...it was a really good memory for me. I think the *** talk is more important for girls....I'm just sorry you got that kind of an impression during yours.

It must have sunk in too, because I had decided to never have kids. I didn't decide to get pregnant til I was 36, and that was after alot of thought. I had a really good job and knew I would be able to provide for him. My son is the best part of my life. I adore him and couldn't imagine life without him. My poor sister never had kids, and has always lived alone.