Day 132...thoughts about upbringing

May 31

I just want to clarify, before I get started on this subject, that I love my mother very much. I loved my father very much too, and I believe they both did what they could, to the best of their own upbringing and ability, in raising three kids....mom especially being widowed with a 10 year old, and a 17 year old still at home.

That being said, I know we always have our own ideas before we have kids of how we are going to "rear" them. I remember thinking as a kid, or teen, when I have kids, I'm going to teach them.... insert whatever lesson you thought your parents did a poor job on, here. Kids think and say things about life, of which they have no idea what they are talking about....most of the time.

Occasionally however, their spout offs about how they would raise their own children, have a hint of wisdom attached and they stick with their convictions when the time comes to train their own kids. Not to sound big headed, but I think this has happened with me. It feels strange, coming from an adult perspective, though.

Today, I read two stories from my mom's blog, "A Grannie's memories" (which I highly recommend even if you don't know my mom, but especially if you do) that prompted me to recall a childhood/teen/young person with no kids, spout off I have had, that I still feel strongly about. Strong enough, that I feel I can't pass up the opportunity for a little accountability from my own blog readers, friends and family, to stick with my convictions since I am now a mother....though the time has not yet come, and will not for quite some time, to put this conviction into practice.

What the heck is she talking about? You may be wondering to yourself.

I am going to do a better job at teaching my kids about sex, than my parents did with me and both of my siblings. When I say I, I mean both Eli and I. We have talked about this before, and we talked about it tonight, and I'm sure we'll talk about it more in the future. I do believe it's good to shelter kids, especially young kids, but only to a certain extent. I don't ever want my kids to feel like that can't come to me with any questions they have about anything, but sex especially....I don't want them to feel like it's a shameful topic, that should never be discussed in the home. So I intend to be open with them, when they have questions.

I have some friends who have kids approaching the age, in which they will have to have "the talk" with them. I don't know how they intend to handle that situation. They have however, been open I believe, if any questions have come up, and have encouraged their kids to learn about human anatomy, which I think is an awesome idea to start with...partly because I myself find that to be an utterly fascinating topic.

In addition to being more directly involved in teaching my children about sex, and all that that encompasses....I also hope to instill in them the desire to "know" things. If they don't know what something means, or how something works, to want to know. To ask Eli and me questions. To ask their teachers, and other adults whom they trust questions. I know I can't make them do this. But I want them to know that it's ok to do so, and we encourage them to do so

I suppose that's all I have to say on the matter for now.