Morning
"Had a meeting with my son's coach and he's got a bowl of condoms on the corner of his desk. Some parents are starting to grumble. What's your take?"
Oh, yeah, we've heard these stories, haven't we? The parents who think it's giving permission or promoting sex. And, "who's paying for them" is another big concern.
I think it's a bit like walking a tightrope. But here's the thing: Once they've become sexually active, are they going to stop? No. Just like when they start jacking off, they aren't going to stop just because someone tells them they shouldn't.
They may as well be safe. Safe from unwanted pregnancy and safe from STIs.
Maybe the coach should put that bowl in a file cabinet or desk drawer. Still accessible, but not "in your face" obvious that they're there and free for the taking.
What say you, Readers?
21 comments:
Bravo, I think that's great... But if these young people aren't sexually active yet, the boys can practice putting them on so they don't panic on the big day... I remember I was the one who bought my 16-year-old son his first condoms; it's called prevention, it's part of raising children...
It's always the kids with the parents who are against giving kids condoms. Or even talking about sex with them. That come up pregnant or with an STI. And not because they don't have access to information or condoms. But because they rebel against their parents prudishness. Remember the jokes about the preachers daughters.
A little discretion would be appropriate.
Oh Lord! Depending on how old the kids are, you don't want to promote sex too early before they've learned what they need to know, but if there is high school age, wouldn't you want your kids to be safe rather than have a mistake?
Leave them out, can't people just come to reality and accept, they will be sexually active when they want and don't need your permission. Better to educate and have it accessible, than end up sick or for a straight couple, pregnant. There are enough unwanted babies out there. Also, how about you teach your kids what it means to be an upstanding member of society, focus on that.
Perhaps the coach should put a package of baby diapers on the other corner of the desk and when parents give the stink-eye, ask them; "Which would you choose?"
When I was in the 10th grade, the weekly 'health class' was replaced with a (gasp!) sex education class (for at least one marking period). There was a great hullabaloo about the schools taking over a parent's God Given Rights to educate their children.
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Parents weren't educating their kids-- By the time we had the class, several girls had disappeared for 9 months at a time. Wonder what that was all about...
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As you said, it's more for 'prevention of disease' (or, so said the sticker on the condom dispenser when I bought my first condom). I guess selling such things for 'prevention of pregnancy' was too much for New Jersey at the time.
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Young people are going to explore their bodies, and the bodies of their friends... and sometimes it's going to be a male-female exploration. Better to teach them how to prevent pregnancy, than forced to get married 'for the sake of the child.'
The parents or other people complaining about this are fools. The coach is to be commended.
What's my take? People are stupid? Sadly, you can't fix stupid. Maybe the coach could provide a larger bowl of sand for the grumbling parents to stick their heads in. After living through the AIDS crisis, the end of Roe v. Wade and COVID, 7+ billion people on the planet, I don't have a lot of sympathy for idiot parents. Bravo, Coach!
The parents objecting should take a few condoms, use them regularly, and not have any more children.
Upstanding member: I like that image.
Way back in the 1960’s there was an initiative in some public high schools in California to introduce a sex education program from Sweden.
Parents were outraged and said program was cancelled.
At that time California had one of the highest rates of VD and unwanted pregnancies in the country.
-Rj
Good thought. The first attempt to put on a condom is always fraught with anxiety --- and misatkes.
That's typically the way it goes. There's always truth in humor.
I'm assuming HS - college would be a stretch for worried parents.
I like THAT suggestion!
And those types of marriages rarely last.
Good answer!
The results of pretending that kids aren't going to engage in sexual activity should've been plastered everywhere.
Thats what keeps the discussion taboo - out in the open - its a condom, very appropriate
If he hadn't put it on the table, I probably wouldn't have picked one; I was too embarrassed.
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