For parents: When did you have 'that talk' with your child?

@Ciniful (1587)
Canada
November 9, 2007 7:57am CST
Good morning, peoples. Alright, who has kids? Yesterday, my 9 year old daughter was drawing pictures and playing happily by herself. When she came up to show me what she'd drawn, I just about dropped my coffee. Here she'd drawn a very pretty picture, with a large heart in the center that contained these words: "Don't fall in love too fast or you'll have s*x too fast" Now, while the sentiment is absolutely true, she's 9!! To say I was shocked would be an understatement. My first thought of course is where she picked THIS up, knowing they absorb everything around them. So I sent my other kids off to play and sat down to have a talk with her. She thought she was in trouble .. I had to reinforce numerous times that she definitely wasn't, but that it was something we should talk about. I asked her what she knew about it, and where she'd heard those words. I asked her if she had any questions she'd like to ask me, since I'd rather she hear the correct information from me instead of rumours and wrong information from her friends. My husband pretty much ran from the room, lol. Apparently the very idea of his 9 year old discussing s*x was too much for him, lol. :) Keeping the conversation age appropriate, we had a nice talk. She seemed satisfied with the answers I gave her, and promised to come to me if she's curious about anything, instead of listening to her peers. This is only number 1 in a long line of future 'talks'. I've had this talk with my 12 year old at some point, although it went more indepth with him, as he's old enough to know more of the information. And I've had the surface talks with my 11 year old daughter. I have 2 other kids who haven't reached that stage yet. I think it's funny though, how parents can react to the idea of this talk worse than the child. My husband doesn't handle this area well at all .. he has to leave it to me, because he is just not comfortable discussing s*x with his children. Meanwhile, the kids take it in stride. There's no emberrasment or shame, just honest questions about something they've heard references to in music, movies, etc. The shame comes around when parents show that to their kids and make more of a deal out of it than it was to begin with. So how old are yours, and have you had to have 'the talk' yet? If you have, how did your children react to the information? Do you talk openly about it?
1 response
@Canteen (592)
• China
10 Nov 07
I am 19 years old, and just a daughter. My mom and dad didn't tell me anything about s*x through my growing up. I get the information from books,because I love reading very much.Thank godness, I think I have chosen the correct books and gotten the right information.In fact, my parents have never had a real communication with me by heart.They're concerned with my physical health, rather than the psychological. They never asked me my thoughts on these life things, though I know they love me very much. :a)I have to say your children are so lucky to have such a great mom.
@Ciniful (1587)
• Canada
10 Nov 07
It's unfortunate your parents didn't feel comfortable enough to discuss these things with you, but congrats to you for searching the information for yourself. :)