When your 13-year-old asks about sex
By Cindy Kent
We were sitting around the breakfast table recently when my 13-year old son asked why doctors give out free condoms to kids .
And what adult wouldn't jump at the chance to display their deep wealth of knowledge on any given topic -- especially sex?
So almost simultaneously we both answered, "Because kids your age are having sex."
"Why?" he asked.
"Because they love.....loving," I said. I was trying to avoid being graphic. But my son caught the error.
"Oh come on, " he said. "Even I know at this age it isn't love."
Wow! He's good. Darn, the conversation is going to end before it gets started!
"You're right, " said the other wizened adult in the house. "But for some, it might feel like love to them."
That doesn't make it right, we all agreed. We talked about how risky it is - that there is a lot wrong with young teenagers being sexually active. (Trust me, there are a lot more discussions ahead.)
As he and his friends discuss sex, he is pretty well armed with sensible information.
The only true test will be over time, how he manages, processes and puts into practice the things he knows .
In the meantime, he can take a quiz: Sex, do you know your stuff? on About.com: Teen Advice.
For parents and their children, there are quizzes, articles, blogs and advice. Questions children have about sex are headlined as topics. I took the Sex, Do you know your stuff ? quiz and passed. Whew!
The idea is not to turn your child away from getting answers and having discussions with you. But if you find you are at a loss for words when the big questions come, or you think you child would appreciate the additional information then check out "Let's talk about sex, for the first time" and "Why do adults make such a big deal about teens having sex? "
Discussing sex on our son's level is powerful and beneficial to him. We hope he'll keep that line of communication open always for a wonderfully fulfilling relationship in the future .
Gretchen Day-Bryant has a son in high school and a daughter in middle school. She’s lived to tell about the struggles of juggling little kids and work.
Joy Oglesby has a preschooler...
Cindy Kent Fort Lauderdale mother of three. Her kids span in ages from teenager to 20s.
Rafael Olmeda and his wife welcomed their first son in Feb. 2009, and he's helping raise two teenage stepdaughters.
Lois Solomon lives in Boca Raton with her husband and three daughters.
Georgia East is the parent of a five-year-old girl, who came into the world weighing 1 pound, 13 ounces.
Brittany Wallman is the mother of Creed, 15, and Lily, 7, and is married to a journalist, Bob Norman. She covers Broward County government, which is filled with almost as much drama as the Norman household. Almost.
Chris Tiedje is the Social Media Coordinator and the father of a 7-year-old girl, and two boys ages 4 and 3.
Kyara Lomer Camarena has a 2-year-old son, Copelan, and a brand new baby. 
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