Raising A Teen 101: Sexual Health
In the blink of an eye, it seems like your cute little kids become teenagers, and suddenly you have to contend with a whole new range of issues. While you might not like to think so, teenagers have sex, and they will do so whether or not they are prepared for it properly. So talking to your teens about their sexual health is important because it helps to ensure that they will be making smart decisions. Read on for more.
Bringing Up the Topic
Arguably one of the hardest parts of having the conversation is trying to work out when you should bring it up. The truth is that it probably won’t be a one-off discussion. It will likely become an ongoing conversation. You can use things that you have seen on the television or in songs as a way to break the ice and get the discussion going.
Keeping the Lines of Communication Open
You need to do your best to ensure that your teen feels comfortable enough to talk to you when they need to. Trust goes both ways, after all. You should always be honest and direct. Try to avoid simply clinically delivering the facts; it is important to provide context, too, whether that is religious or cultural attitudes or your own personal feelings. Remember to try to consider their point of view.
Raising the Question of Sexuality
Sometimes there will be signs of your child’s sexuality; however, this doesn’t necessarily mean anything. A lot of teens wonder about their sexuality and even experiment before deciding to label themselves however they feel comfortable. Talking to a parent about their sexual orientation can be horrifying for a child. They are scared of the reaction they are going to receive. Do not pressure them to have that conversation. Instead, you need to make it clear to them that you will support them regardless and wait for them to be ready to have that conversation with you.
When They Become Sexually Active
The likelihood is that your child will become sexually active to some extent during their teen years, and you both need to be prepared for this. Remind them that there is no time frame to adhere to; they should wait until their ready without kowtowing to external pressures. They should never feel like they are obligated to have sex with someone. Teaching consent is crucial to ensuring that your child understands their bodily autonomy and the rights that they have.
A lot of teens do not tell their parents that they are sexually active until it is too late. In an ideal world, they would tell you ahead of time so that you could discuss contraception and safe sex, but this isn’t often the case. Instead, you often need to respond to the behaviour after the fact. This could mean the morning after pill or STI tests which you can get from Cloud Pharmacy.
In the End
The best thing that you can do for your teens is to be there for them and support them without judgement as they make strides into adulthood. The way in which you parent your child directly affects the type of person that they are going to be. So do your best to be honest, even if it gets a little uncomfortable.
