MJ Thomas Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> We should give our offspring every encouragement
> to enjoy their childhood with all its mysteries
> and fantasies, not take it away from them simply
> because it suits us adults.
> Angst-riddled matters of sexuality and adulthood
> arrive in our lives soon enough. I see no sense in
> speeding up the process.

I agree!! To remind or simply point out how quickly this happens in childhood, my son is 9 years old and coming home with "new" knowledge of this sort from school. I've always encouraged open communication with him so he is only a little awkward about saying what this person said or that. It's really uhh...enlightening? He is 9. I expected these kind of conversations at maybe age 11 (as if that is some magically different number or age), lol. The school he attends is small so 4th graders may be hanging out with 7th graders so that could be why I was off with the expected age. Or 9 could just be the age where things change. Irregardless of why, 9 still seems so young so I agree wholeheartedly with your statements above.

> I should point out that my wife and I do not have
> children, so my opinion here is, in some ways,
> somewhat unqualified.

You were a child once, too. I think that makes you qualified still.

Stephanie




In every man there is something wherein I may learn of him, and in that I am his pupil.--Ralph Waldo Emerson