Parenting Past the Physical

I was in class with a group of middle schoolers recently, where the topic for discussion was…   …sex. (Always an exciting discussion, amiright??) So there they sat, beads of perspiration on their brow, palms sweating profusely. The awkwardness was palpable. The teacher was discussing abstinence; specifically, how to safeguard yourself from getting into questionable situations. He talked about setting a curfew with your boyfriend/girlfriend, not going into a bedroom alone, having accountability, etc. All good suggestions. Suggestions that were given to me at that age, actually. Suggestions that my own parents enforced in their home. Times haven’t changed. Except, as I began to realize, they kind of have. A few months ago…