My oldest son is going to be a junior high student coming Fall... so the other day I went to their new student orientation. Boy.... has time changed. As the counselor was discussing about electives, classes, and other stuff.... she got into this one topic I was totally not prepared for.
She started discussing how kids nowadays are exposed to things that we were when we were 18 years old..... As I recall I remember kids back in my days who were more experienced than I could imagined but when she explained it goes on now when they are much younger in junior high age but more extreme because of the technology they are exposed to such as cell phone and computers made me shock.....imagine at the age of 13 yrs old, the girls are sending topless picture text of themselves to the guys they like. As a parent you think we're doing all the right things by buying our children stuff they need or want... treating them like babies and hoping they will not encounter peer pressures. But the reality is... it's going on right at this moment rather we like it or not!!!! My question is how can WE, as parents be prepared for these situations in order to prepare our children from those pressures and incidents?
I realized you have to attack the issue at hand and tell them like it is.... we should not try to sugar coat "THE TALK" when they already know or aware of the topics. Since my parents are Korean they never gave me "THE TALK" even now.... I found things out through my peers and TV. I wished they were more open about it.
So soon as I got home... I started to ask my son questions and try to give him "THE TALK" and I did not want to do it together with my husband because I did not want to overwhelm my son. So I asked simple questions and made sure he knew our communication lines were open. I wanted him to know we were always here for him no matter what the situation is or would be. That he should always feel dependent on us because we understand what he is going through and might go through in the future. I just started off with the basic foundation for "THE TALK" What surprised me was that my son opened up more and felt comfortable. I explained to him if there were subject he felt that I would not understand because I'm a woman, he can always go and talk to his dad about anything.
We've had our "drugs and alcohol" talk with all our children even the youngest one who is 7 yrs old but the "sex" talk I thought was to early even for my oldest son... but according to the junior counselor it is not too young. Many children are not aware of the topic and find themselves in trouble.... I would hate to see one of my children go through any problems on their own.
As a mom, I am always thankful to God for my children being healthy and happy. But I truly need Him more and His guidance in raising them with a good conscience so that they will try to be the best that they can be as God's children and as humans.... As parents we are blessed with such precious gifts and I would not want those gifts to be hurt in any ways! Being a parent it is our responsibility to guide them and protect them and prepare them. Although these problems might start younger but these are basically the same problems that we all went through ourselves and experienced them differently due to our parents generations. I hope and pray for each one of your children to be healthy, happy, and make the right choices in their lives.....
In conclusion... I am not saying I am the most understanding mom or the best mom but I know in order to understand our children we need to be more PATIENT, UNDERSTANDING, LOVING, and MOST OF ALL NEED GUIDANCE OURSELVES so that we can TRY OUR BEST TO BECOME THE BEST PARENT!!!! I know parenting is probably the most hardest thing I will ever have to experience in life but it's also the most joyful thing I am experiencing as well..... I can't imagine my life with my children because they are MY LIFE!!!! I LOVE YOU TAYLOR, LAUREN, and WILLIAM!!!! YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST!!!
