If we're giving the idea that sexuality is stronger than us or sexuality is Satan's pathway,

we're undermining our children's ability to be choosers and agents of their sexuality.

Welcome to conversations with Dr. Jennifer, a collection of interviews on the topics of relationships,

sexuality, spirituality, and more, all featuring Dr. Finlayson-Fife.

Welcome.

Today we're going to talk a little bit about talking to your teenagers about sexuality,

and let me just pull up my notes here.

I want to just give you a few ideas just to start with.

Those of you who've taken my how to talk to your kids about sex course will probably already have some of these ideas in your mind.

But I just want to give them as kind of incurring ideas

that then I can reference as I'm going through some

of the questions that people wrote.

So one of the things that is, first of all, if you're a little stressed about how to do this well, you're in good company, it's not easy to talk to our kids about sexuality because of first our own anxieties about it.

The fact that kids both need that direction but don't want to get it from you.

And also because we live in a society currently that's highly sexual. And so your kids are

getting immersed in sexual ideas and content, whether or not we want them to, whether or not it's good for them.

And so it means parents to do it well have to be thoughtful and involved, which is not

comfortable or easy. And a lot of you are asking good questions around what is the moderate position?

Like I don't want to shame my kids, but I also value that they are wise and thoughtful and careful.

I don't want to shame them around modesty, but I also don't want them wearing, you know, Daisy Duke shorts around all the time.

And so how do I do this well?

So the fact of even trying is a big deal.

...