Children are impressionable and look to the adults, their primary care givers, for guidance and love. Like precious little sponges, they soak up the energy and words of the environment in which they are raised, and believe everything they are told.
Recently I overheard a group of young girls talking in TK Maxx about things their moms had told them (to scare them off sex) about having babies. A couple of the girls were of Afro carribbean background, one of them said with great earnestness,
"My mom said that when you have children too young your nose spreads across your face and never goes back to the way it was before."
A fairly homely girl, I was shocked that as a parent her mother would tell her such urban legends and claim them to be fact.
This article written with such passion clearly conveys the pain and confusion that can be caused when young people are told lies in an effort (by well meaning parents) to ensure they behave in a way that society deems as acceptable. Particularly relating to religion.
It has taken me years of Emotinal healing to undo the devastating effects of the toxic shame i felt when I got pregnant and had my daughter when I was 13. I felt dirty, and developed hand washing OCD in an attempt to cleanse my "sins". All becaue of the things people said to and about me during that time. Those words impacted my beliefs about my self worth and value until I began looking at myself, and finally let go of the labels of slag, slut and hoe (even thogu some fools still seem to want to apply those labels when they read the article in the sun about me, with the unfortunate headline).
It is essential that we are careful what we teach our children, and consider why we feel the need to scare them about sex rather than talk to them.
Why do people suddenly stop being human when it comes to sex education with their children? What's up with that?
One of my dreams is to see parenting classes as part of the curriculum for all age groups. Making sure we understand the importance of honest and clear communication with our children and young people.
One day this dream will be a reality.
#Love #children #Life #Hapiness #HealthyRelationships #Sex #Healing #SexBeforeMarriage