There are few words that put fear in the heart of many, but there are some. Pink slip. Marriage. Death. (some may think those last two are synonymous.) Pregnant. You get the picture. Whether the discussion is about lifestyle, experiences, preferences, performance, or hereditary likelihoods, the word SEX is avoided in most conservative conversations.

In schools across America, gender specific classes are now congregated for the purpose of identifying and targeting questions our children have about the act, process and do’s and don’ts of sex. It’s as if the boys can only know or be told certain things and the girls will not be privy to the information. It’s the same for the girls. Only the young ladies are taught about their bodies and what is normal and what is not normal. This is absurd! Sex education in schools should mirror that of drug abuse education and smoking education and all the other educations we want our children to have. We teach the theories of evolution AND creation and tell them to choose their own beliefs. We teach Physics and Science and let the mysteries within each to be explored and identified. We must NOT do this with sex education.

When I was taught about (street) drugs, I was told that they were bad for me and that I shouldn’t take any kind of drug for any reason. I wasn’t handed gloves to protect my fingers from being burnt by holding on to a lighter too long and told to be careful and to make sure I was with people I trusted. When I was taught about smoking, it wasn’t presented as something to do instead of drink soda…I was taught that smoking was bad for me, could eventually lead to all kinds of diseases and be fatal. Teaching our children about sex in a way that permits it is doing the same thing.

We hand our children condoms and place them on birth control in order to keep them from procreating at a time in their lives when it would be “bad” for them. We teach our children that as “long as you use protection” that it’s ok and no one gets hurt. None of this is true or correct! It is in our children’s WORST interest to continue to pad the situation and concede to the adage “Well, if they’re going to do it, they might as well be safe about it. We’d better make an appointment, Susie’s getting to be almost 12 now.” Yes, I said “12”. Children in the middle schools are not only trying drugs, alcohol and smoking, yes, parents, they ARE having sex! So, what’s the answer?

Hiding behind doors and films and movies will not quell the interest that our young children feign. This is instilled in our nature! Sex is a gift given to us to be used properly to bring us joy and fulfillment in a marriage relationship. Children look for and thrive in an environment where boundaries and expectation exists. Give those to your children. Let them know that it is important for them to get the most out of education and experience before they give their lives to a spouse and have a family!

There are opportunities that exist and they exist for all! However it is much more difficult for one to pursue their dreams when they are chasing the next dollar to buy diapers or medication to treat an incurable disease.