Sometimes the mom in me wishes we still lived in simpler times. Times before the internet could introduce our children to both sex and sexual predators. Times before YouTube stars could lure tweens in with comedy and then teach them about sex toys. Times before parents had to monitor Instagram and iMessage for sexually explicit pictures. Times before cartoons and children shows were full half nude girls and the constant flip-flop of romantic encounters between kids of all ages. Times before my first-grade daughter would come home and tell me that the boy in her group wants to have sex with two of her friends.
Moms wake up because these are the times we live in. If your child goes to public school, you are in for a shock. It doesn’t matter how much we try to protect them because there will be at least one child in their class who has watched pornography or speaks about sex in a way that they aren’t capable of fully understanding themselves.
Over the past year, I have dealt with issues regarding sex on more than three occasions with a 1st, 5th, and 6th grader. Can you believe that 1st graders know about sex? I couldn’t either! We need to be diligent moms because if we don’t teach them, you can believe that the world will! The world is ready to introduce your child to sex even if only mildly through cartoons (not so mildly if your child happens to land on an adult-themed cartoon before bed).
I believed that I was on the top of my game when it came to teaching my children about sex. I talked to my oldest during his 5th-grade year. He has questions, and I answered them in an honest way. I wanted him to understand that God created sex as an incredible gift. I thought that was that, but I was wrong. The following year he heard many things on the bus that I hadn’t talked to him about. He learned terms that would make me blush and an idea that sex was about overpowering someone and being rude and crude. That stopped me in my tracks. I had not taught him all he needed to know. I should have warned him and prepared him for the things that he may hear, but I didn’t.
It is never too early to start talking to your child about their bodies, sex, and what others may be saying to them at school. My first grader isn’t ready for a full conversation, but I have to start somewhere with her because the boy in her class already has. These conversations are hard, but they are vital if we want to protect our children.
With my kids in mind, I decided to accept an offer to review the Passport2Purity Getaway Kit from FamilyLife. I had planned to take each of my sons on a weekend getaway to talk to them about purity and why it’s so important. Sadly with all that has been going on with my health and typical summer stuff, I have not had the chance to get them alone but we are planning to each take a weekend before school starts, and I can’t wait!
About Passport2Purity:
Your child begins the journey into adolescence in a world of sexting, bullying, online stalking and moral defiance. Innocence is under attack, and you cannot win the battle with a single awkward talk or a strict set of rules. The primary defense for your child is a strong relationship with you and with God. FamilyLife developed Passport2Purity (P2P) to assist you in building heart-to-heart communication with your preteen while laying a foundation of purity that will prepare him or her for the turbulent years ahead. Through the shared listening experience, object lessons and guided conversations of a P2P weekend getaway, you can set your son or daughter on a journey of moral integrity – and strengthen the bond between you. It is designed to be used by a mother and daughter or a father and son when the child is a preteen. It is suggested that the materials be completed over a weekend away from home, as the child may be more open to discussing the topics away from his or her normal environment. If this isn’t possible, the material can be completed over a period of four or five weeks.
What The Getaway Kit Contains: