Let's talk about "THE TALK"

I think it is fine to discuss the parts of the body as soon as children begin to notice them. We did in my house and my parents were very conservative. They were not scared of sex though, although they did teach us that it was something better left until marriage.

Obviously they did not go into detail about the sexual act until later, but there is no reason to mislead a child about their own body.

I found out about sex because there were used condoms on our playground in elementary school. One of my friends had had the sex talk, so he said, "Ugh, a condom! And it's used!" This happened a few times, so I went home one day and asked my parents what a used condom was, and if there were unused ones (he never found ones that he would classify as unused). So my parents decided it was time to give me the sex talk. I think they gave me a book that described it in more detail, because I didn't understand from my mom how this thing didn't involve peeing and what the deal was.

My younger brother once asked what rape was because he had heard it somewhere. Our father said something like, "Abuse." I think he figured things out on his own eventually. He never had the sex talk with our parents, maybe because the internet had been invented by then. My mom wanted to talk to him about sex but he refused because he already knew what it was and was embarrassed.

Two random stories :)

My parents didn't tell me sh1t. I thought a baby was shat out of a women's anus, and that was in highschool. When I finally saw my first gf's poon, I was like "Dang, who cut you so bad?" It was like someone took a hatchet to it.

WOW. just WOW. I actually remember telling my best friend in about 7th grade (who was a baptist minster's son) that a baby did NOT come out of a woman's butt, but instead came out the vagina. He really believed it came out the butt. Were you told that at some point? He didn't believe me and said all smarty-pants-like "Oh yeah, well where does it come from then?" I was blown away that he didn't know. They showed "those" movies in 5th grade if your parents gave permission...i guess his did not. Well I told him the baby comes out the vagina. His response was that of being horrified and he yelled "OH GROSS!" hahahahahaha In his mind, it was not gross to come out the poop chute, but it was gross to come out the vagina. hmmmmmm

My brother was 4 years older than me. By the time my parents wanted to have the talk with me, I was like "yeah I know." My mom would then ask me questions and, to her surprise, I could answer them correctly, usually editing the answers from the lurid details my brother gave me.

Watching those movies in 5th grade was excrutiating, mostly because I knew all this and 80% of the boys in the auditorium just giggled and laughed every time they saw or heard anything relating to penis, vagina, intercourse, etc. Good ole big brother. He prepared me for life early.

My wife's parents discussed things withthier 5 daughters very openly from the time they were very young. My dad tried to have "the talk" with me when I was 18 (under pressure from my mom as I was getting ready to leave for college). Like others, I basically was embarrassed and told him I already knew everything.

We are using the open approach with our kids. I think they will be much better prepared to handle situations with a chance of success if they are properly informed. Growing up is pretty tough in today's society and I think your best bet is to make sure your children get as much information through your perspective as is possible.

When I got the talk, I remember not being able to understand how the man knew he wouldn't just piss in the vagina. I think my mom said that he gets a "special feeling" and knows it's time to have sex. Yeah...it's a special feeling alright.