Wow. My son is 10 this month and my daughter is 7. The headlines the last few days have focused on a major new study on sexually transmitted diseases among young girls. Here's a graphic that tells part of the story:
Some girls offered their thoughts about why. Very instructive, I'd say. Here's the quote (and here's a link to the whole article.)
"The Marrow girls offered several reasons why teenagers have sex.
'It's to fit in, peer pressure,' Christine said, noting that virgins are often mocked. Also, 'sex sells on TV.'
Khadijah chimed in that some young girls found their inspiration in the popular R&B singer Rihanna, whose latest album is titled 'Good Girl Gone Bad'
But Christina suggested something closer to home. 'Write this down,' she said. 'Bad parenting'."
I talk about this in my new book, Faith as a Way of Life, I have a chapter on faith and family. One of the key issues there is about how few parents talk in depth about their faith and values with children, and talk through these sorts of moral choices with them--drugs, sex, even what sorts of music to listen to. Sonja and I talked the other day about how we feel about songs that have profanity in them as okay for the kids. This came about partly because of a segment of "The News From Lake Wobegon" in which someone learns to swear well. Isaiah thought it was really funny, but we didn't so much and we turned it off. But then we talked about swearing. I think we'll keep on talking, about swearing and much more.
peace,
Chris
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