Ahh, teen sex. We all know it’s happening, yet we all want to continue playing dumb and pretending that it’s not. Is this school of thought outdated?
Lifestyle
Let’s face it: teen sex is as real as the nose on your face. If we adults simply used ourselves as a guide, we’d already know that the moment a teen hits puberty and those sexual urges grow out of control, 99.9% of kids experiment and experience teen sex.
So, why are we putting our heads in the sand and fooling ourselves into thinking it’s not really happening? At least some modern-day parents are tired of playing naive and taking matters into their own hands.
This past summer, 4 Massachusetts teens were arrested for engaging in sexual intercourse on a beach in Cape Cod. Unfortunately for the teens, their urges hit in the middle of the day, which meant their sexual escapades were witnessed by several unsuspecting onlookers. One of them called the public display “disgusting” then called the police. Upon hearing the story, some parents wondered if the permanent arrest record could have been avoided if the teens simply had a safe space for them to get busy. Such a concept is not as crazy as some might think.
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Remembering their own teen years and the dozens of times they participated in sexual intimacy inside a car, behind a dark building, or worse, some parents are beginning to modernize their mindset and allow their kids the luxury of something they never had — a place to “get it on.”
Instead of ignoring the issue of teen sex as taboo, some parents are beginning to have real conversations with their kids regarding how to protect themselves from pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. They are talking to their teens about being sexually responsible and not sexually promiscuous. They are also taking extended shopping or dinner trips to allow their teens privacy while they’re doing “it,” or even allowing overnight sleepovers of boyfriends and girlfriends.
Lifestyle
According to Cindy Goodman who authors the parenting blog “Raising Teens,” 41% of US high school students say they have had or are currently having sexual intercourse.
“A few years ago, I walked into my neighborhood clubhouse and found a teen couple having sex on the couch,” Goodman said. “At the time, I thought: ‘At least they are inside where they are somewhat safe!'”
She added: “I hate the idea of my kids having sex at random public places like beaches or parks, but I am realistic that this kind of teen behavior happens frequently.”
For decades, parents have subscribed to the theory that by not allowing teen sex inside the home, they were successfully preventing their teens from having sex anywhere at all. Not true! As proven by the 4 teens who were arrested in Massachusetts, preventing sex at home only creates an inconvenience and doesn’t stop it from occurring.
With teens sexting and taking advantage of opportunities not available a generation ago, is it time for parents to come out of the dark ages and acknowledge that their teenagers are almost assuredly participating in sexual activity? Should parents continue to turn a blind eye, or is it time to be a participant in their teen’s sexual growth and offer them parameters to experiment in the safety and comfort of their own home?
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Ok this is a good topic today DJ. Because the old school side of me says no don’t let teens have sex. But the truth is they are going to do it anyway like you said so maybe it is a good idea to prepare them and teach them about it. A lot of parents don’t prepare their children enough for becoming adults. Mine didn’t teach me enough about money and I had to learn some things the hard way. So maybe a 17 yer old could be given some permission to try sex safely and who knows maybe that could help them in the long run.
Wow. This is a tough one for me. To say I’m conflicted about it is an understatement.
In short, I absolutely Agree with this: “Instead of ignoring the issue of teen sex as taboo, some parents are beginning to have real conversations with their kids regarding how to protect themselves from pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. They are talking to their teens about being sexually responsible and not sexually promiscuous.”
“Should parents continue to turn a blind eye?” No, And to do so is foolish.
However, here’s the conflicting part for me……….
“or is it time to be a participant in their teen’s sexual growth and offer them parameters to experiment in the safety and comfort of their own home?”
On this, my answer is also….No.
Hey Truth this was a tough one for me too because of how we were raised. But here is the thing. If a parent tells kids don’t have sex in the house, that is not going to stop them from. They are going to either sneak and do it when the parents are gone or in a car somewhere. Except they might not be smart and not use birth control or protection. So believe me it is something to think about.
Of course, you’re right BD. I don’t disagree with anything you’ve said.
But yes, I was raised “old skool” as they say…lol. And even now thinking back to my teenage years, I would not have wanted *PERMISSION* from my parents to have sex in our home. The key word being “permission.” But teenagers of our generation were indeed having sex in “the comfort of their own homes.”