It's a known fact: Children form their deepest picture of who they are during their preschool years
Little ones figure out the world they live in by asking endless questions like, "Where did I come from?" and "Where did people come from?
Even the most articulate parents may struggle for words as they try to answer. (Sorry to tell you, but the questions don't get easier as they get older.)
If we're to answer that first question we'll need to at least introduce the subject of sex. It's okay to feel shaky and struggle for words. Don't worry, your children won't notice. And the more you make sex a part of normal conversation, the easier it gets.
How we answer these and other questions will impact our kids for life.
Laying the foundation
Always, what we say about what we believe helps youngsters form values.
Some moms and dads assume it's better to wait "until they need to know." They assume their children will learn about sex in school, from trained educators who dispense the facts correctly. Everything will be "age-appropriate," with "approved" terminology.
Surely, that would be better. Wouldn't it?
It's true school personnel probably will present units on "sex ed," often beginning as early as Kindergarten. If you haven't spoken of sex at home it means that strangers will impart their personal slant on sexuality and their values to your children before you do.
Besides, not all "sex ed" is labeled as such. Recent laws in California--and perhaps other states, too--changed all that.
Now all teaching materials in any subject in California public schools must specify contributions to the public good by individuals who were or are gay, lesbian, bi-sexual or trans-gendered and identify these individuals as such. (See first link below.)
Building for life--all of it
A big part of what we do as parents is to make sure our kids know what our family stands for.
Think of builders, how careful they are to make the foundation and the framework of a building strong.
Our children and teens are "under construction," too. Our job as parents is to help our kids develop a solid foundation and an inner framework of faith and values and viewpoints.
That means we do our best to help them work through issues like sex and "Where did people come from?"
At any age our view of life flows out of what we believe
As a Christian I believe a loving, gracious God created the first human being (Genesis 1:28-29) and every one of us. Psalm 139:14 tells us, "We are fearfully and wonderfully made."
Occasionally science offers evidence to prove the same point. On September 5, 2012, the New York Times lead science article was titled, "Bits of Mystery DNA, Far From 'Junk,' Play Crucial Role." (See link below.)
Here's one quote: "Human DNA is such a long strand — about 10 feet of DNA stuffed into a microscopic nucleus of a cell — that it fits only because it is tightly wound and coiled around itself."
Read that sentence one more time and ask yourself, Could such intricacy be the result of random processes?
That's miles away from what most schoolkids learn
Most students in public school learn that human beings are descended from apes--or from fish or chickens or pond scum. Take your pick, none of these views are particularly inspiring.
To me it's way more plausible--and uplifting--to tell our kids that the God of the universe created and designed the human body.
So we start where we are and do what we can can to plant that nobler picture in their minds and give our children a solid grounding.
If they argue with us it means they're thinking and processing. That can be a good thing.
What if they tune us out?
What our children learn at home underlies all of life. Remember that, even if they later seem to part company with what we stand for.
If they wander, we keep praying and keep trusting that one day they may do a U-turn.
I know one thing for sure. Our children--even as adults--care what we think and they do hear us, even when they pretend not to.
That makes it clear our call is to keep on loving them and do our best, then leave the rest to God.
For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. --Psalm 100:5
Trusting along with you,
Lenore
http://awomansview.typepad.com/a_womans_view/2011/10/are-you-female-male-both-or-neither.html
Recent Comments