First, let”s put our moral codes and Bible down for one moment. Look at the true driving force with animals, and, yes we are all animals, we”re just the smartest one. The most powerful driving force in all animals is to make babies. Get our genes out there. Just look at what all other living things on this Earth do to make those babies and pass on the genes, and this even includes the plant life. We all dress up in our fanciest get-ups, do dances, even enhance body parts, both naturally and with some help from highly paid doctors. We attract third parties, like bees, to help us do this.
What parent has not seen their children, of both genders, hit that age where they notice a new importance to their appearance, buff up their physical assets, both by nature and some with the help of some high paid doctors. At the same time, fashion for both genders becomes important, the need for a snazzy car, increase in dating funds, even to a point, to get a job, etc. All of the above is their natural strong desire to spread their gene pools. It is the single, strongest desire both genders will ever have. It brings rewards, joy, deepest sorrows (broken hearts), frustrations, shame, pride and the list goes on.
Now, say you are a lover of chocolate, many of us are, but it does not have the level of desire that sex has. You find your self locked in a See”s candy store for the night. Now tell me you”re not going to eat a piece of chocolate; yeah, right. The power of everyone”s sexual desire is the No. 1 thing that most products we buy are sold with. The advertising industry has known this for generations.
The bottom line is asking a kid to say no is about the dumbest thing a parent can do. Teaching them, yes, parents, at very early ages, about sex, what responsibilities go with it, making it as comfortable an issue at the dinner table as discussing their grades in school, and the need to use protection if they are having sex outside of a committed relationship, is the best and only real answer to the problem. Our sex lives are a beautiful thing and the past generations that made it dirty have done so much damage to the human experience, and have damaged so many innocent lives, is it really worth going on and doing the same thing in this day and age. No!
Money and sex are the two greatest reasons for divorce, and we need to address both with our children, openly and honestly, now! It is part of being a parent. Publisher Gary Dickson and I are on the same mission, trying to solve an ongoing, real problem. We have offered two thoughts on doing this. We can”t choose which one you as parents may follow, but follow one of them, for your kids” sake.
Jim Hall
Clearlake Oaks
