Our teenagers are having sex. Whether we want to acknowledge it or not. I sincerely wish for us to have conversations with our young blossoms that aids them with tools which might come in handy when they find themselves in precarious situations.
Consent. Saying the word “No” is a complete sentence. Teaching our blossoms to say “No” is probably one of the most important things we can do as mothers. We all remember when our children first discovered the word “No” as toddlers, don’t we? They said it emphatically every time they did not like a particular food, toy, or being passed off to another person. How is it then that they lose the ability to say it as they get older? Let us have conversations with our daughters about the power behind saying: “No” and encourage them to continue to use it when they worry about feeling violated.
Testing of self and partner. If you find out your blossom is having consensual sex, encourage her to screen periodically for sexually transmitted infections. Turning a blind eye, may seem like the easier route, however an infection can have short and long lasting implications for her including her future fertility. Her partner should also be tested so that she will feel more at ease having sex.
A lot of people worry about pregnancy when they think of teen sex. Some will consider hormonal contraception to help their blossoms avoid pregnancy. It is important though to not forget one particular contraceptive: condoms. Next to abstinence, condoms are the only way to decrease both the chance of pregnancy AND sexually transmitted infections. Hormonal medication alone is not enough–keeping condoms on hand should be a part of her armament.
