Thank you for taking the time to write such an eloquent comment. There is less time to spend with kids, and we need to make a change. I have always been active in school activities, so I did not see my parents very much (especially in high school). My parents realized this and started leaving important conversations for in the car. When you talk in the car you are both stuck there, you can’t go anywhere, and you have a plethora of suggestive songs on the radio to get the conversation flowing. Just try not to do it when you have your teen’s friends in the car.

Are we responsibly educating our children and teens for LIFE?

Unfortunately, in this age of technology where teens seem to be practising skills that do NOT strengthen ‘close up and personal’ communication (texting SMS, emailing)AND with both parents working, it is hardly surprising that they do not get many ‘informal’ opportunities to chat about sex with a parent. Sex talk never ends either, whether you’re a teen or nor! I can remember that it is through ‘informal’, drop -everything -and -talk -now chats with my own daughter that we are still close confidantes re sex/relationship matters today (she is 27,single and recently just out of a relationship)

What a pity many families no longer even share regular meals with their teens - not that this is the ideal ’sex talk time’ but is any kind of ‘quality time’ with a teenage son or daughter these days just a myth?

OK, so parents are not guidance counsellors or even have all the answers our teens need when it comes to sex (step in school programmes, books and the internet here) but even a humorous bout of parental story telling about past experiences or just LISTENING is worth its weight in gold if it nurtures ongoing, ‘close encounters’ with our teenagers.

As parents we should be encouraging our children to verbally tell us how they feel about all sorts of things, give us their opinion on ‘grown up’ topics that they may see on the TV and ask questions without fear of ‘appearing stupid’. When the time is right for age appropriate ’sex talk’ it won’t seem so difficult to just add a another ‘topic’ to the mix. The foundation has then been laid for years of coping with those teenage trials!

As I see it, parents, schools and governments have a duty of care to ensure that our children learn about feelings, love and relationships, expressing and enjoying sexuality safely and celebrating the incredible joys that raising another human being can bring. Our children and their children, have the right to reap the rewards of a truly ‘wholesome’ education. So yes, Amanda, let’s give them the TRUTH!