There Is Much We Can Do
Dear parents,
There has been a lovely discussion, on the RC e-mail discussion list for leaders of parents, about sex and pornography and how to think about our children. Thanks to all who have written. [See two examples on previous two pages.]
I want to add that the porn industry preys on our children and that it’s our job to protect them from it. We need to have control over all our children’s devices. Computers need to be in a common space (not in a child’s room).
As children become teens (and earlier) they have access to pornography and other distress-laden websites in their friends’ homes, at school, and elsewhere. It becomes more difficult to protect them from it. That’s why open discussions about sex, closeness, sexism, pornography, and LGBQT identities are so important.
I especially encourage us parents to counsel on sex, sexual abuse, pornography, sexism, and LGBQT oppression in a systematic way. We need many sessions—over weeks, months, and years. The gains are immediate.
I still have a hard time talking about sex without giggling uncontrollably with embarrassment. I plan to do more counseling, so I can talk about it and listen in a more relaxed way. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t have work to do on this topic.
Distresses about sex help keep our oppressive society in place. Our children are targeted for the installation of these distresses. We can’t protect them from all of it, but there is much we can do. We can help them discharge. We can keep the lines of communication open.
As a parent you will make mistakes in this area. That’s okay. Don’t let your discouragement dissuade you from persisting with the project. We’re all in this together.
Somerville, Massachusetts, USA
Reprinted from the RC e-mail discussion list for leaders of parents
(Present Time 190, January 2018)