Does this translate to 'we don't need to talk about sex unless someone gets pregnant?'
A little hard of a discussion depending on what you have instilled in your kids. Me? I said 'sex is wonderful and created by God, but it is a TREMENDOUS responsibility and you need to be sure the circumstance is not ruled by emotion or desire, but responsibility. It is best when we don't monkey with another monkey's monkey (Bobby Baer/Shel Silverstein song). The Apostle Paul says to treat younger women as sisters, older women as mothers. Sleeping with another man's future wife, or another woman's future husband is something to think about and take seriously. We are stewards. "After" the pregnancy? They wouldn't have listened well. I've told them about the book by these two physicians. So far, all three of my kids are fine until they are married, all out of high school. Okay, that's my family, but I think similar works for anyone, we can point them to very good sources as well as tell them we'd like them to keep the barn door closed until they intelligently make wise decisions not over-ruled by their hormones.
Lon, these are your kids you're bringing onto the internet for this discussion and I'm not comfortable with that.
They are all adults, but you asked about my advice. I have no problem with answering the question about what I have done and I've not gone into anything other than my kids think well.
I didn't. Not sure where you got that from.
Again, in regard to Teen Vogue, it is not where or when I want kids hearing about sex, in an 'entertainment' magazine.
Obviously the author was more worried about how it felt than STD or whether it was a safe think regarding anatomy and medical health. I didn't read the article, but it seems there were a number of health risks not discussed. As such, I think they are going to rightfully be sued for this, in the future. Some kid is going to have his/her medical bills footed for indiscretion.
"Read this" could be a good thing. I understand about passing on religious beliefs and values, I'm not negating that. I'm saying that most kids are going to find out more than that from their friends and from the internet, and families have varying litmus tests for what's appropriate. Some families are quite open about the ways our bodies work biologically, about the human shape and form, while others aren't much of a step past the Victorian age. So who decides what's appropriate?
Have to agree somewhat, but I yet think it wise to relegate some of this to the reading as well as the doctor. My doctors also talked about these issues with my kids, from a health and medical perspective (hopefully not disclosing too much).
I think we are both enough on page.
I'd think, with others in thread, if I can address it being a homosexual concern, it very well could have been any article on sex, without being responsible, and would be a topic of similar concern. While hot potato topics of homosexuality are discussed on TOL and our culture, it too needs to be a concern. There are a lot of health issues that a responsible magazine would have talked about especially with tweens and teens, and with a healthy dose of caution. This one seemed to be hippyish, careless/carefree, and free-sex related. No parent wants their kids to read that. While a lot of kids seem to inevitably succumb to pressure, I yet believe responsible teaching is an adult's job, not 'go for it!" That just is horrible advice. "We'd like you to be a responsible teen and adult. Pressure arise, but we are hopeful you can do this. There are these books I want you familiar with. I want you to read them before you are sexually active and am hopeful before you are married."
