Let’s Talk About STD’s Campaign

My kids are little. Far too little to know what STD’s are. That said, I think that far too quickly the time will come that I may need to have conversations with them about the THINGS WE DON’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT but I believe education is a big part of young adults making the right decisions, so I’ll talk with them about these things. 

I’m not saying we need to just start chatting STD’s at the dinner table each night- but if my kids are old enough to start having physical relationships with others- as teens, young adults- well, I want them armed with knowledge to protect themselves.  I don’t want my kids to have premarital relations any more than the next parent- but I also don’t want them making one mistake that will haunt them for the rest of their days.  Do I want my kids doing things? No.  Will I tell them if I think they are considering (or doing) things how to be safe?  ABSOLUTELY. 

I went to college.  I’m fully aware of activities that go on there, and even a bit in high school.  I know people who had some “fun” in college and have a memento that they can’t seem to get rid of- a STD.  They will be the first to tell you that they really wish they’d just known more about how you can get an STD and ways to prevent.  Would they still have been sexually active?  Maybe.  Would they have protected themselves first? Absolutely.  Would they have gotten STD testing immediately after making a mistake?  Yes!  That’s a unanimous response from each of the women I know who will carry this with them for the rest of their lives. 

I’d rather have a few uncomfortable conversations with my kids as they become older teenagers and have them be healthy and STD free than be stuck with one. 

I am participating in the Let’s Talk about STDs Campaign for RapidSTDtesting.com. I received compensationin exchange for this post. Opinions expressed within are my own.