TheWRITEaddiction.com

Picture this:  Everybody sits ready for movie night.  The popcorn is ready.  Pizza slices already distributed. Paper plates and napkins in hand.  All that is left is to turn on the television so that family night can begin.  As the family excitedly awaits for the program to begin, a commercial comes on with a lady laying across a bed talking about her husbands erectile dysfunction and how Viagra has made EVERYTHING STEAMY AGAIN.  The children eat their pizza unfazed while the parents feel a combination of discomfort and anger.  “Whatever happened to modesty?  Can’t they wait until late night to talk about such private things?”  Someone forgot to tell this family that modesty DIED a long time ago.

Call me a prude if you will, I still believe in modesty.  Those who know me know that I am far from being a prude but I don’t want to know about the sexual escapades or sexual dysfunctions of someone I know or don’t know.  PERSONAL!  That means to keep it to yourself or share it with someone who cares. . . . which is not me.

Is there a medical need for Viagra?  Yes, for those who need it but my 8 year old does not need to know about it from the couple on the television.  Is there a need for K Y Jelly?  Yes, for those who need it but my 11 year old does not need to see the couple ripping their clothes off, holding up two types of his and hers jellies, fireworks, and then the two of them in bed her hair a tangled mess and the guy ginning like he just hit the lottery.  I am simply saying that there is a time and place for everything.  OUR CHILDREN ARE EXPOSED TO TOO MUCH TOO SOON AND IN THE WRONG WAY.

I spoke to my son about love, lust, relationships, sexuality, intimacy, STDs, childbirth, proper genital hygiene for males and females, etc.  You name it, I covered it but not all at once.  I had these conversations with him at age appropriate times using age appropriate language.  I hear many people saying, “if you don’t teach them, the world will,” or “I bet they already know more than you knew at that age.”  He probably was exposed to different sexual topics by age nine simply from being in public school and watching television, but I knew that he would receive the CORRECT version from me.

Parents need to speak to their children about sexuality in an age appropriate manner because the world does not care what age they are.  All I ask is when I sit down with my family to watch a program during FAMILY time, I don’t want to see programs and commercials about sex toys, sex lines, and sexual preferences.  Let me enjoy my family television time please?  Modesty needs to be resurrected from the grave.