Comments on: The TALK http://meredithefken.com/blog/2006/08/22/all-about-parenting/the-talk/ Stories of extraordinary every-day women, stay-at-home moms (SAHMs), and adoptive parents. Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:25:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Mary http://meredithefken.com/blog/2006/08/22/all-about-parenting/the-talk/#comment-223 Mary Tue, 29 Aug 2006 04:27:36 +0000 http://meredithefken.com/blog/2006/08/22/all-about-parenting/the-talk/#comment-223 Thanks so much for the title, Meredith! And while I'm posting, have to tell you I just read SAHM I Am and loved it! My first chick/mom-lit read! I loved Rosalyn Ebberly's tag line...seeing it every time she posted was so smugly hilarious! You did a great job...have you written/published any others? Thanks so much for the title, Meredith! And while I’m posting, have to tell you I just read SAHM I Am and loved it! My first chick/mom-lit read! I loved Rosalyn Ebberly’s tag line…seeing it every time she posted was so smugly hilarious! You did a great job…have you written/published any others?

]]> By: Gina http://meredithefken.com/blog/2006/08/22/all-about-parenting/the-talk/#comment-200 Gina Fri, 25 Aug 2006 17:28:12 +0000 http://meredithefken.com/blog/2006/08/22/all-about-parenting/the-talk/#comment-200 That's the book I edited some parts out with my ten year old. I really like it and will use it with my other kids, but I will still read it to them and edit out the stuff that I feel gives just a little too much info. :) Of course they will learn about it all, just not sure when. :) That’s the book I edited some parts out with my ten year old. I really like it and will use it with my other kids, but I will still read it to them and edit out the stuff that I feel gives just a little too much info. :) Of course they will learn about it all, just not sure when. :)

]]> By: Meredith Efken http://meredithefken.com/blog/2006/08/22/all-about-parenting/the-talk/#comment-197 Meredith Efken Thu, 24 Aug 2006 16:11:03 +0000 http://meredithefken.com/blog/2006/08/22/all-about-parenting/the-talk/#comment-197 Hi Mary, Glad you liked the post! The book we used is <i>Before I Was Born</i>, by Carol Nystrom. It is part of a series, and is a Gold Medallion winner. The illustrations are very beautiful and age appropriate, and the text is just right. Hi Mary,

Glad you liked the post! The book we used is Before I Was Born, by Carol Nystrom. It is part of a series, and is a Gold Medallion winner. The illustrations are very beautiful and age appropriate, and the text is just right.

]]> By: Mary http://meredithefken.com/blog/2006/08/22/all-about-parenting/the-talk/#comment-193 Mary Thu, 24 Aug 2006 04:18:06 +0000 http://meredithefken.com/blog/2006/08/22/all-about-parenting/the-talk/#comment-193 I posted about this a while back, titled it "The Talk" just like you...only I'm still procrastinating about it!!! What book did you guys end up using for her, if you don't mind sharing... Loved reading this btw, hilarious! I posted about this a while back, titled it “The Talk” just like you…only I’m still procrastinating about it!!! What book did you guys end up using for her, if you don’t mind sharing…
Loved reading this btw, hilarious!

]]> By: Meredith Efken http://meredithefken.com/blog/2006/08/22/all-about-parenting/the-talk/#comment-192 Meredith Efken Wed, 23 Aug 2006 16:10:40 +0000 http://meredithefken.com/blog/2006/08/22/all-about-parenting/the-talk/#comment-192 Barb and Pattie, Thanks--I'm glad you appreciated this post. Pattie, I'm looking forward to your post later this week. Barb, I'm so glad you are blogging. It IS writing, you know. :) Barb and Pattie,

Thanks–I’m glad you appreciated this post. Pattie, I’m looking forward to your post later this week. Barb, I’m so glad you are blogging. It IS writing, you know. :)

]]> By: Barb http://meredithefken.com/blog/2006/08/22/all-about-parenting/the-talk/#comment-188 Barb Tue, 22 Aug 2006 21:20:21 +0000 http://meredithefken.com/blog/2006/08/22/all-about-parenting/the-talk/#comment-188 My husband and I knew open lines of communication were half the battle in preparing our girls for the real world of high school. It's surprising how difficult it is for parents to have this talk with their children. But I agree that 8 is not too young and you just have to jump in and do it. If they see that you're not afraid to talk to them about sex, they will in turn not be afraid to talk to you. It worked for us. But I have to tell you, it's a huge relief when they get married! :-) Thank you for you nice comments on my "novel" post. I think a lot of us ARE afraid to try to write. Maybe that's why we blog. :-) My husband and I knew open lines of communication were half the battle in preparing our girls for the real world of high school. It’s surprising how difficult it is for parents to have this talk with their children. But I agree that 8 is not too young and you just have to jump in and do it. If they see that you’re not afraid to talk to them about sex, they will in turn not be afraid to talk to you. It worked for us. But I have to tell you, it’s a huge relief when they get married! :-)

Thank you for you nice comments on my “novel” post. I think a lot of us ARE afraid to try to write. Maybe that’s why we blog. :-)

]]> By: Pattie http://meredithefken.com/blog/2006/08/22/all-about-parenting/the-talk/#comment-187 Pattie Tue, 22 Aug 2006 16:49:07 +0000 http://meredithefken.com/blog/2006/08/22/all-about-parenting/the-talk/#comment-187 I am reading "Preparing Your Daughter for Every Woman's Battle" right now and am preparing to have "the talk" with my 9 year old, as soon as I can get some time alone w/her w/o her little sis in the house! LOL I appreciate your blog on this today. pattie I am reading “Preparing Your Daughter for Every Woman’s Battle” right now and am preparing to have “the talk” with my 9 year old, as soon as I can get some time alone w/her w/o her little sis in the house! LOL

I appreciate your blog on this today.

pattie

]]> By: Meredith Efken http://meredithefken.com/blog/2006/08/22/all-about-parenting/the-talk/#comment-186 Meredith Efken Tue, 22 Aug 2006 16:25:05 +0000 http://meredithefken.com/blog/2006/08/22/all-about-parenting/the-talk/#comment-186 Laurel, you shoulda MADE your DH do the Talk. :) But yes, I was very proud of my husband--kept it very low-key, he did. We discussed whether or not to talk about it with her together, so she would see that it's okay to talk about it with either mom OR dad. But then we thought maybe I'd better do it, just so it didn't seem like we were ganging up on her. And so she'd feel more comfortable asking questions. And Amy! Thanks SO much for commenting! I really, really value that insight. It makes me feel a little better--when I told one of my friends about the discussion (her daughter is best buds with mine, so I figured the mom best be aware that we had this talk), she wasn't upset, but she seemed more than a bit surprised. And not very happy that she might end up with some questions from her 8 year old if mine talked about it (though we've told her not to at this point.) It's good to know that we probably made the right decision to address it now. Laurel, you shoulda MADE your DH do the Talk. :) But yes, I was very proud of my husband–kept it very low-key, he did. We discussed whether or not to talk about it with her together, so she would see that it’s okay to talk about it with either mom OR dad. But then we thought maybe I’d better do it, just so it didn’t seem like we were ganging up on her. And so she’d feel more comfortable asking questions.

And Amy! Thanks SO much for commenting! I really, really value that insight. It makes me feel a little better–when I told one of my friends about the discussion (her daughter is best buds with mine, so I figured the mom best be aware that we had this talk), she wasn’t upset, but she seemed more than a bit surprised. And not very happy that she might end up with some questions from her 8 year old if mine talked about it (though we’ve told her not to at this point.) It’s good to know that we probably made the right decision to address it now.

]]> By: Amy http://meredithefken.com/blog/2006/08/22/all-about-parenting/the-talk/#comment-185 Amy Tue, 22 Aug 2006 16:11:59 +0000 http://meredithefken.com/blog/2006/08/22/all-about-parenting/the-talk/#comment-185 I am not a mom; but I am a high school teacher (and a friend of Meredith BTW). I read this entry about the "talk" with interest, because it is my experience that not a lot of parents are having any discussions at all about sex, and those that are aren't discussing it soon enough. We struggle in our private school as we watch our kids make terrible decisions about their sexuality with parents turning a blind eye and the media having the biggest influence on their choices. Eight years old is not too soon to talk about sex. And when you do talk about it, talk about what intimacy is and about relationships. Too many teens today see sexual activity as a just another form of recreation. Additionally, do all you can to protect your kids from the terrible influences in the media that demean sexuality. Almost all of our students have seen the movie "The 40 Year Old Virgin" so many times they have it memorized. Many of the girls own the uncut version of the show "Sex and the City" on dvd--purchased by their parents no less. Don't turn a blind eye to what media like this teaches your kids about sex!! That's my soapbox from 12+ years of listening to teenagers!!! I am not a mom; but I am a high school teacher (and a friend of Meredith BTW). I read this entry about the “talk” with interest, because it is my experience that not a lot of parents are having any discussions at all about sex, and those that are aren’t discussing it soon enough.

We struggle in our private school as we watch our kids make terrible decisions about their sexuality with parents turning a blind eye and the media having the biggest influence on their choices. Eight years old is not too soon to talk about sex. And when you do talk about it, talk about what intimacy is and about relationships. Too many teens today see sexual activity as a just another form of recreation. Additionally, do all you can to protect your kids from the terrible influences in the media that demean sexuality. Almost all of our students have seen the movie “The 40 Year Old Virgin” so many times they have it memorized. Many of the girls own the uncut version of the show “Sex and the City” on dvd–purchased by their parents no less. Don’t turn a blind eye to what media like this teaches your kids about sex!!

That’s my soapbox from 12+ years of listening to teenagers!!!

]]> By: Laurel Wreath http://meredithefken.com/blog/2006/08/22/all-about-parenting/the-talk/#comment-184 Laurel Wreath Tue, 22 Aug 2006 14:39:28 +0000 http://meredithefken.com/blog/2006/08/22/all-about-parenting/the-talk/#comment-184 Ok you had me busting up, laughing out loud. I think my husband would have fallen out of his chair (and we have all boys). Mr. Wonderful left the task of "birds and bees" to me. Then basically sat down with the child afterwards and said "any questions?". There I helped, his grin said to me. HA!!! Ok you had me busting up, laughing out loud. I think my husband would have fallen out of his chair (and we have all boys). Mr. Wonderful left the task of “birds and bees” to me. Then basically sat down with the child afterwards and said “any questions?”.

There I helped, his grin said to me.

HA!!!

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