Having "The Talk" With Your Teenagers ♥

Photographer

This is a guest post written by Paige Jirsa, who works with https://stdtestingfacilities.com/, which provides users same day STD testing in a discrete and proficient manner.

Having "the talk" with your teenager seems a daunting task to most parents. It doesn't have to be - and, in fact, shouldn't be - the terribly awkward experience it is sometimes made out to be. The most important thing in approaching this conversation is to be prepared, to know what to say and how to say it. This will not, of course, make the conversation entirely enjoyable, let alone comfortable, but it will make it easier for both parent and child.

Before talking to your child about sex, figure out what, exactly, you plan to talk about. Think about the things you think are important to discuss, and think of the questions your teenager might ask so that you can be ready with answers.

Most teenagers have an idea of what sex is, and there's no reason to put your child, or yourself, through a detailed description of the mechanics of sex. What then, exactly, should you include in the talk?

Choosing When, and Why, to Have Sex
When talking to your child about sex, it's a good idea to first discuss what it means to have sex. Simply stated, sex is something special shared between two people who feel strongly toward one another. It may seem scandalous, it may seem exciting, but it is nothing more and nothing less than means of expressing affection and spending time with someone you like and care for deeply. Just as you wouldn't share your secrets and bare your soul with anyone you didn't sincerely trust and feel comfortable being vulnerable with, so shouldn't you bare your body to someone with whom you do not share a deep level of commitment.

If you are in a committed relationship with someone you like, care for, and trust, sex can be a wonderful expression of your feelings. If you are in such a relationship, however, that doesn't mean that you should have sex. If your partner is ready to have sex and you aren't, you need to communicate your feelings and your reservations clearly. A relationship in which one partner attempts, successfully or not, to convince the other to have sex when they aren’t ready is not a healthy relationship.

Safe Sex
Understanding how to practice safe sex is as important as understanding the emotion behind it. It is important to be entirely clear in describing to your teenager the potential harm that may come from unsafe sex, including STDs, STIs, and pregnancy. Teenagers need to know that these outcomes are not circumstances of bad luck but entirely real, and avoidable, possibilities.

Discuss with your child, too, the different types of contraception and where they can be found, as well as where he or she can go if they suspect they have been exposed to a sexually transmitted disease or infection. Providing your child with information on how to prevent such transmission as well as resources and places to help, including STD testing facilities will empower them to practice safe sex.