Being a teenager is all about school, friends, boys or girls (pick your preference) and, what we later realize as adults, is the beginning of our social climb. Finally having a little bit of freedom mixed with a whole lot of hormones can makes for some sticky grown up situations.
By the time that a teenager reaches their senior year about half of their graduating class will have had sex. Luckily enough most teenagers will limit their sexual activity to one specific partner. Ironically enough, in the culture that sells sex in most major ad campaigns, this particular fact has improved with each generation.
Regardless of age or experience sex is something that should not be taken lightly. As a teenager you are beginning to explore intimacy, arousal, and emotions. As a parent you are attempting to figure out how to ease your baby into adulthood while still holding on tightly to their innocence.
It is important for a teenager to understand a few things with regards to sex, relationships, and family communication. For a teenager who is has begun having sex there are a few important things that become a priority. For instance young women will need to start seeing a regular physician.
It is important to consider the type of relationship that exists between sexual partners. As a teenager, strong emotional connections are made and having a mutually caring relationship should be a priority for both parents and teens. Healthy relationships will allow a teenager to experience a positive development into adulthood. Negative emotional relationships can lead to negative sexual relationships which can cause further emotional issues in life.
A parents priority should be, above all, a support and information guide. Teenage years are emotionally complicated and often scary enough without the added insecurity of letting down parents. It is important to stress that a teenager needs to feel comfortable talking about sexual issues or concerns, parents are often the first line in proper sexual education. With a proper education a teenager can make good informed decisions.
