Fatherhood

How to teach your kids about sex before Eminem does

A lot of parents think of themselves as sexually comfortable and sexually hip, but when the time comes, they don’t know where to begin, because nobody ever talked to them about sex. So they hope someone else will do it for them.

By: Colin McEnroe, Photographs: Greg Broom
[ Updated: Jul 14, 2008 - 4:30:47 PM ]

Real conversation:
My son, Joey, 16, and I are in an elevator in my apartment building.

Me: “Do you think I’ve given you enough information about sex?”

Him: “You haven’t given me any information about sex.”

Me: “Yes, but is that enough? I mean, are there things you want to know that I haven’t told you?”

Him: “Why are you asking me this at 10:30 at night in an elevator?”

Me: “No reason. I just started wondering. Is there anything you’d like to ask me? About sex?”

Him: “Like what?”