A subject like this always hits home with me, in a weird sort of nostalgic way. My boyfriend and I got together when we were 14. (12 years :eek:) We have been together since, no breakups or anything. No kids, either, and we've been... active... since 15.
Chris rarely stayed at my house overnight, though there were times he would walk me home from his house and be too tired or it would be too cold to return so he would sleep in the living room and I would sleep in my room. There were times I would crash out after a long day at school at his house.
The first time I accidentally fell asleep at his house (I'd had a hard day and we cuddled and both fell asleep), I woke up at 3 in the morning and panicked. I dashed out to the living room and his mom was still up. She worked late in those days. I was so red-faced and embarrassed but she saw me standing in the hallway and laughed softly, inviting me to sit on the couch with her. She said she'd talked to Chris's dad, who'd explained that he'd seen us fall asleep and knew about the rough day, and they'd contacted my folks, who were fine with it. The door had been open and they'd checked on us, apparently. She asked if I needed anything and told me my parents had already gone to bed so I could stay there. I went back to bed in some borrowed PJs and life went on.
After that, and after talking with both sets of parents, the concensus was that it was generally OK for me to stay over on weekends so long as the door was open. That was fine with us. We weren't your average sex-crazed teenagers. We weren't your average teenagers, period.
I saw this article and just shook my head, my jaw on the floor. I wish that young people would take the time to educat themselves and talk to their parents or SOMEONE about all aspects of it.
Here in my hometown, the schools are not allowed to incorporate Chapter 9- The Reproductive System into Biology class. You go from chapters 1-8 to 10-16. Lame. Our school's teen pregnancy rates are off the charts and they can't seem to figure out why.
Chris and I were always pretty open with our folks, and they were open with us. It's only been a bit awkward, but in the end so worth it. We have a healthy sexual relationship and good communication with our parents.
The two of us sat down before our first sexual experience and discussed birth control, what we expected out of our relationship, if/how we figured sex would change things between us (luckily it brought us closer!) and explored all the what-ifs that come with sex. We waited until we were both ready and had another discussion about it afterward.
I realize we're the exception, not the rule, but I sure do wish more young people could have the sort of experience we did. I think it would change a LOT of things.