I know, seeing that can make you squirm 
but I feel (and this is just my opinion) it is a necessary step in teaching young boys about their sexuality and being responsible for it. If he is in year nine, then he is at a good age to see it first hand (mind you, most boys already have discovered masturbation by that age, so it's not that new to them).
You have to remember also that they know nothing about it and it's a major step into puberty, then adulthood for a boy to discover what happens with his penis when he has sexual awakenings. If they don't have the right information, and don't feel comfortable asking parents/carers about it, then when it happens it can be REALLY scary! Compare it to the old days when girls weren't told that they would bleed vaginally when their period started - I've lost count of how many women I've met/read who've said how frightened they were when it happened.
And think about when you had your first child - did you want to find out everything you could about what was happening to you through pregnancy, and different birth scenarios? When you did learn about it, did it make things easier for you to accept and understand, and take away some of the uneasy feelings you may have had about what would happen during hte birth? I know it did for me.
When we did the sex ed class at school, the presenter was wonderful and made them all laugh when she said "this amazing thing called ejaculation causes sperm to leave the penis at (don't quote me here!) about 200km an hour"! It lightened things up and they all had a good laugh about it, but boys being boys, it did make them all puffed up to think that their bodies could do that.
All kids need to know is that they are "normal" and what is happening to them happens to everyone of the same sex, and learning about it with their peers is a great way of helping them understand and ensures everyone is armed with the same facts, not fanciful "opinions" and misinformation that kids often get hold of.
In arming our son with these facts, it has helped him talk to us about what is happening with his body and (without going into too much detail) makes it so much easier for us to answer questions if and when they are asked.
Just relax, and try not to show him when you feel uncomfortable because this can make him in turn feel like he shouldn't be talking to you - and it would be a shame for any child these days to not be able to be open with their parents about the changes their young bodies are going through.
One great bit of advice the presenter gave us at the info night was - when you are talking to boys about serious or deep issues, remember that they don't like to make eye contact as this is confronting for them. Let him fiddle with something so he can feel a bit more relaxed while you are talking, or have a chat when you are cooking dinner and he can just hang out with you - it's much more relaxed. I also find the car is a great place to have these chats, as I am driving and not having to make too much eye contact, so he is more comfortable too.
She also said that, surprisingly (or maybe not 
) there are quite a lot of men who are not comfortable having these info chats with their boys! So often it is left to the Mums.
I really hope this helps - it's a learning curve for all of us. I had two step daughters first up, so had only had to do the "girl" talk until recently, and it wasn't easy! But I do feel his ability to talk open and frankly with me as well as his Dad has strengthened his trust in me, and in some ways made us closer than we already were.
Sorry this is a bit long winded, but there are so many things to consider - especially if your son is your eldest and this is the first time you've had to do the sex and puberty talk LOL
Good luck; I hope it all goes well for you!
Sharon
(October 2008) (
