SEX ED Edited

I belong to a group of very responsible mothers. They were recently discussing the topic of having “the talk” with their sons. Someone had asked for good books. Someone else had, I suspect inadvertently, suggested that if the communication is good a book is not necessary. This sparked a rebuttal in favor of using books and the rationale behind the use of books. It of course resulted in personal stories and beliefs. This was an interesting thread. Usually my role in conflicts such as this is to jump in the middle of it and throw a pie in my face before saying what I think. This time the work had been done for me. Someone was quoting how her son who thought he knew everything one day asked his mother “what general herpes” was. What follows is my reply to the thread and I share it because I got one of the best laughs I have had all week (and this was a good week). I hope you enjoy.

Ahhh General Herpes. Wasn’t that the infamous General of the battle of water loo who would not show up for long periods of time and then would suddenly show up when least expected or desired and make a general pain of himself? I think I remember him rubbing lots of people the wrong way and going down in history as the worst general ever.

And my best laugh of the week came from this beautifully constructed sentence.

>my husband and I are TRYING to have another
child and that has sparked plenty of discussion in our house as to how will mom get pregnant from our 9 year old.

My sincere hope is that in their desperation they have not resorted to entertaining the notion of mom getting pregnant from their 9 year old.

I know this was not written for my enjoyment, but these posts provided some of the best laughs I have had in a long time. Which by the way, is the most important advice I have on sex Ed (having been there done that and taught that). Ohhhhh I have stories, but in all my bumbling ways and dangerous experiences the sharpest and most important tool I have ever had to get me through is my ability to laugh at myself and others. Sex is a great topic for the giggles, obviously.

Ironically, my girlfriend and I were just hunting the bookstore shelves for books to educate my son and daughter (Must be spring). Or more accurately to supplement the creative and too early introduction I gave of the topic when my rabbits were breeding. When my kids were about 6 I thought it would be good to get the topic started by having our rabbit breed. When we were discussing the topic my son asked a question that to me meant, “it’s time to have the talk”. When I got done, he was stunned and said, “I think maybe you should have just stuck to the rabbits”. The bookstore did not offer much better as far as my friend and I were concerned. We ended cracking up over the silly things in the book store attracting attention of the salesperson who cracked up with us and told us some hilarious stories of when she told her now grown children.

It is so impossible to do it wrong if you are willing to be honest, humble, vulnerable and light hearted. Use a book. Make fun of the parts you don’t like. Don’t use a book. Make fun of yourself. It’s all good. Really it is. Even the bad stuff is good if you can beat it (or survive it, at least). Obviously I am not suggesting the bad guy abusers get off the hook but it is essential they not get the last laugh or take the laughter entirely. If we stop laughing the terrorists will have won.

Anyone willing to take this topic seriously enough to engage in the topic (or the activity for that matter) should be applauded. Anyone taking this topic seriously enough to approach it reverently and laugh at the absurd human condition of managing animal instincts and practicing animal husbandry should be given a standing O.

Comments

[Kristin Doctor]

Jill,

No we aren't going to use my 9 yr old to get pg. You goof. You are too funny, thanks for the lightheartness. I still think you are the best and your rabbit story has scared me enough to stay away from them in the manner of using them as object lessons.

Kristin