I really wanted to write this article about this because for one I think it is made to be a taboo subject so easily and for two it is a natural and normal part of life so we need to squash all the myths when it comes to our teens and we need to tell them that this is not dirty its natural..So here it is my take on the taboo subject....

Masturbation...

From an early age a child discovers that touching their genitals gives pleasure...It is normal and natural for a child even as young as one in nappies to touch themselves...Once they have discovered the pleasure this gives it will be not as often when they are kids but as they grow into teens and hit puberty most teens will do this on a regular basis...

Here is what happened in my house a little while ago..we have two bathrooms and I was downstairs talking to one of my teens...There was a bit of a chat and then they walked away from me...In the process to go away from the subject on hand at the time...This child then opened the downstairs bathroom without knocking and walked in on one of the other teenagers in the bathroom masturbating...Okay I can see some of your faces right now...Some will be laughing...Some will be in shock...I had to deal with this situation right there and then as this was then something that needed to be talked about as the "caught" teen ran to their room embarrassed and ashamed...

I approached this one of my teens and explained to them that there was nothing actually wrong with what they were doing it is just that they need to pick their place where this is done...In an unlocked bathroom in the middle of the day is not suitable...I then went on to tell them that this is a really normal part of being a teenager and it is nothing for them to be ashamed of at all....If you do catch one of your kids doing this the way you deal with it will be the thing that sticks most in their mind...Remember that...

So many times we hear all the things like masturbation will send you blind...Hehe yeah right...That if you do you will grow hairs on palms...How many guys hands have you shaken with hairy palms...Masturbation can give you a lower chance of having kids...Hmm where that came from I have no idea....All of these are false...

Did you know that in most articles and places I looked on the internet about masturbation it is the general consensus that around 98% of adults have done this and admitted to it...And alot of the places read said that the other 2% of the polulation are liars LOL...

I think we all have to make this sort of information available to our kids when they hit puberty and tell them that this is not a dirty practice and one that all other teenagers do...We have to make them not feel dirty about their body and the pleasure they can give themselves...Our aim is to raise our teens into well adjusted adults not people who have problems that they then take into their marriages and pass on to their kids...Masturbation is a natural part of discovering ones body and if you don't know your own body how can someone else get to know it when you are in an intimate relationship...

This is just my thoughts and feelings on something that I wanted to share with you all...

Have a great day
Cheers
Angie