A daughter’s first period is a milestone for her—and also for her parents. It may be a dreaded event, heralding her budding sexuality and the turmoil of the teen years. Or it may be a happy thing, a source of pride, because your cherished daughter is moving toward the woman she’ll become. Parents may have […]
The Joy of the “Happy Buzz”
How much is the right amount to drink when you’re out to have a good time? Do you know how many drinks you need so you’re happy and relaxed—but not wasted, sick, or out of control? I call this middle ground your “happy buzz.” It’s where you’re feeling the positive effects of alcohol (a little […]
Which Parent Should Teach the Birds & the Bees?
Teaching kids about sex is uncomfortable for most parents. If you’re a single parent, the task pretty much falls to you, comfortable or not. But if there are two parents in the picture, who should cover it? Can you let your spouse handle the job? Well, maybe…but not really. It’s best for kids if both […]
Growing Your Child’s Sexual Health
There’s so much to nurture when we raise kids. We help them to grow in so many areas: language, emotional self-control, social interactions, practical skills, academics, compassion…. While you’re working on all that, remember to also factor in their sexual health. Even though it will be years before they’re sexually active, what you do now […]
What Young People Wish They’d Known Earlier about Sex
There’s a ton of information out there for teens and young adults today. Between sex ed at school, on-line resources, sexually active friends, chat rooms, and pornography, you might think that young people know everything they need to about sex. But it turns out, they don’t. When I asked 900 young adults (age 18 to […]
TalkStarter for Kids: “How I Learned about Puberty”
Let’s face it: puberty and sex are awkward topics. And when you do gear yourself up to talk to your child about it, you probably get cringing and eye rolls. But you don’t want your kids to enter puberty and have no idea why their bodies are changing. Even if their school does a good […]
A First-Grade Lesson that Helps with the Birds and the Bees
Back when my kids were in first grade, the teacher did a unit on distinguishing facts from opinions. Designed to help them learn critical thinking, it used examples like “Bananas are yellow” and “Bananas are better than apples,” then moved to more subtle kinds of communication. It was a great concept to introduce at an […]
What’s Scarier than Ghouls & Goblins? Birds & Bees
This is the time of year when we embrace what scares us: ghosts, zombies, skeletons. A lot of Halloween stuff is about death, if you think about it…a plenty uncomfortable topic for most of us. And yet we go there this time of year (albeit in a way that puts the subject at a comfortably […]
TalkStarter: Politics, “Locker-Room Language,” and Respect
Part of me hesitates to say anything that touches on this emotionally charged election season. But so much of what’s been going on lately relates to how people treat one another sexually that I can’t ignore it—and neither should parents. It truly is a talk-able moment. Whatever your political views, the recent uproar about Donald […]
TalkStarter: How Your Early Sex Life Affects Your Kid
Every one of us has our own sexual story. Whether we were virgins when we got married, promiscuous at a young age, or anything in between, our experiences shape our view of ourselves and sexuality. We may regret our past or celebrate it, but it’s part of who we are. It’s also part of how […]