Last night around the fire pit (after lil' bro & I had left) R & Ethan had the "going to middle school-puberty talk." According to Richard, here is a list of the topics they covered in the glow of burning embers: erections, fighting, being popular, drugs, naked ladies, a few technical details on sex, computer pornography, and a WWII question. By the time Richard recited this list my eyebrows had jumped a foot above my head. When I set Richard on this task, I'm not sure I anticipated that they would travel ALL these paths. After my initial shock wore off and my pulse returned to normal, R & I debriefed this conversation-and, yes, even chuckled about it. ("Dad, why would ladies let somebody take a naked picure of them???").
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Our philosophy is this: our son will be exposed to the ways of the world-with or without our knowledge or approval. We intend to be ahead of the world's ways-not chasing after it and our son. We need our son to hear & know our plan for him, and most importantly God's plan for him. I was really proud of the depth of the conversations, the realism of the world that Richard did not ignore, Ethan's ability (right now) to hear his parents' hopes & dreams for him, and the purity and ease in which father & son discussed these critical issues. Now it's my turn. R has given me the follow up job-the easier job by far. I am excited to share the "woman's perspective" with my son (and correct a few of his father's bits of wisdom!)-I just hope I don't have to answer the WWII question!
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Our philosophy is this: our son will be exposed to the ways of the world-with or without our knowledge or approval. We intend to be ahead of the world's ways-not chasing after it and our son. We need our son to hear & know our plan for him, and most importantly God's plan for him. I was really proud of the depth of the conversations, the realism of the world that Richard did not ignore, Ethan's ability (right now) to hear his parents' hopes & dreams for him, and the purity and ease in which father & son discussed these critical issues. Now it's my turn. R has given me the follow up job-the easier job by far. I am excited to share the "woman's perspective" with my son (and correct a few of his father's bits of wisdom!)-I just hope I don't have to answer the WWII question!
I am with ya. Just had the sit down talk with Chloe too. I was so proud on how much she didn't know. But am like you I want her to hear it from me and NOT kids from school.
ReplyDeleteThis makes me so appreciative of my talks with Ryder. Recent topics have been, as quoted back from Ryder, "No drink bafth wawwer. No pick Mommy's fowers. (be) sweet and nice (to) Oh Wow (Camden). No Ry Ry Cry" It's so wonderful to hear all these vitally important rules quoted back to you in a sweet baby voice, and even more so after looking towards the future talks that will have to occur :)
ReplyDeleteI applaud you and Richard for staying ahead of the curve. But just reading this gave me hives - talks like these are one of the reasons I don't want to have kids!
ReplyDeleteI would much rather be the one having these discussions with them rather than them getting an ear-full of nonsense from their friends. I think it is wonderful that you all are open to discuss these topics with Ethan.
ReplyDeleteSarah and I have been having a lot of important chats lately about very touchy subjects. I want them to feel like they can open up to me about anything and I think it should start early.
How adorable! I firmly believe that if children don't talk to their parents about all of the *ahem* touchy subjects, then they will go to their peers. And lord knows kids don't know a thing!
ReplyDeleteMy parents were great about this, but I STILL went to my friends! My mom had to sit me down about once every 6 months to do a "refresher" course, and correct any crappy advice that my friends had given me!
Ya'll are good parents!
ReplyDeleteHad the "talk" with Shelby last year (necessitated by a fellow Girl Scout who "matured" at 9!! gasp!) Like others of you I was pleased at her lack of knowledge and also like many of you am trying to stay ahead of the world's ways providing her information. One of my continued blessings is the total trust she has in us as parents and the continued ability to talk about "stuff"...even though it works better when we talk in low light or darkness at tuck-in-time. It's now my time for the follow-up talk (more details about the act, alternative lifestyles, etc.) We've bought "real bras" and so I guess we're ready for the next informational step.....
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