Talking To Parents About Sex: How To Tell Your Dad Or Mom You Are Sexually Active

By Aaron Efuribe

Talking To Parents About Sex: How To Tell Your Dad Or Mom You Are Sexually Active

We all have questions about sex. Some are based on curiosity; some are based on fear and some are based on pure anticipation! And though you may know some people your own age who think they have all the answers about sex, they probably don’t.

To be honest, many adults haven’t got it all figured out either. Remember, the issue of sex has always been a controversial one that nobody wants to talk about, especially in a developing country like ours given our unique African cultural situation.

So, who can you go to for answers? Ever think about talking to your parents about sex? They may not have all the answers, but they are great resource persons on sex because they have definitely been there – you are living proof of that. And in the rare case that they don’t have the answer to your question, there is a good chance they will know where to find it.

But remember, just because you don’t necessarily agree with everything your parents have to say, it doesn’t automatically mean they are wrong. And you might be surprised just how open your parents are about talking about sex.

Just tell your parents that you want to talk about sex, or try these lines to “back into” a conversation about sex:

“We’re going to be talking about sex in school this year, but I don’t really know that much about it.”
“We talked about sex in class today. I learned a lot of really interesting things.”
“I heard some kids talking about sex today. They said that…(mention something you want to know about sex)…is that true?”
See where these leads will take you to. Your parents may be total into talking about sex with you.

But make sure you catch them at a good time, like when they are relaxing on the couch, not when they are just about to leave for work. Timing is very important.