The Talk

[Zah]

I’m always so interested in what people say about their earliest recollections of learning about sex – whether it’s the birds and the bees, school sex ed programs, parent’s leaving brochures around your room, etc. Do you guys remember learning about it for the first time?

[ElleBelle]

I had the anatomical stuff sorted out as early as I can remember. My mum always referred to our body parts by their correct name and we read the “Where Did I Come From?” book when I was about 5.  I knew the basics before school classes covered them, plus I used to read a lot of Dolly Doctor. I do remember being quite young, maybe 11 or 12, and watching When Harry Met Sally with my parents. During the infamous fake-orgasm scene I asked Mum what was happening and she said “I’ll tell you when you’re 18” which was kind of a bummer. I never learned about orgasms and masturbation or how to communicate my needs/wants until I was older. That seems to be left out of most sex ed, as does the importance of consent.

[MsBlueStreak]

Other than the parents signing the consent form so as to avoid having to have ‘the conversation’ with me themselves – I remembered “Letters to Judy” by Judy Blume being mentioned in class.  Turns out there was a copy in our bookshelves at home, and being curious and a reader I devoured its content.

[Curiosity]

The talk with my parents started by the book “what’s happening to me” puberty book magically appearing on my bed to read. A lot of my sexual health information came from Dolly doctor too @ElleBelle. I think my parents “hoped” that it they would never have to have the sexual safety talk with me

[mak_trouble891]

I definitely think I’m one of the lucky ones now. My family is very open. I remember learning about sexual health mainly around the dinner table with my parents and 3 older siblings. Nothing really seemed to be off limits and I never really felt embarrassed. I know when I first got my period I asked my mum for a book to read, but other than that….definitely lucky I think

[Aunt_Flo]

My parents always used the correct terms for things – I remember knowing what a penis was at the age of five. I think that’s helped me be quite relaxed around sex and sexuality. I’ve never formally had the ‘talk’, but it’s always very easy to discuss something like a question about my birth control with my mum. I’m very lucky that way.

[Aunt_Flo]

@Caiti I remember reading a Babette Cole book called something along the lines of ‘Mummy laid an egg’ about pregnancy! It was a pretty silly but effective way of explaining things to kids.

[Kit]

Oh yeah, @ElleBelle I remember ‘Where Did I Come From?’. I have no idea how old I was then so I guess that conversation started pretty early. I do remember a condom discussion coming after an episode of Getaway (yes the TV travel show) I was watching with my sister. The host was at some swanky place and made some coy comment about the facilities and it showed a vending machine. I didn’t see what was in the machine so asked the question and my older sister was too embarrassed to respond. Cue Dad bringing out and opening a condom for a detailed explanation when ‘it was a condom machine’ would have sufficed!

[Author]

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