JANE: What to do when it is that time in your girl child's…
““JANE: What to do when it is that time in your girl child's life: 1. Sit down calmly and explain sex to her? 2. Buy her a book, video, or CD that gives her the details? 3. Buy her condoms and put her on the pill? Or do as many mothers before you did—just stick your head in the sand and hope she joins a convent. Of course these days your child may know more about sex than you did at her age, what with in-school health lessons, and out-of-school R-rated movies easily accessed on the TV, not to mention the Starr Report! In the days of fairy tales, sex was dangerous because so many women died in childbirth. Today sex is again dangerous because of diseases like AIDS. So what do we say?””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Parents face conflicting advice on how to discuss sexuality with their daughters, balancing openness with protection.
In simple terms: Parents must decide how to talk about sex with their kids.
Key Takeaway
Choose honest, age‑appropriate conversation.
Themes
parenting
sexual education
communication
Mood
concerned
thoughtful
Type
advice
educational
When to use this quote
- family dinner
- school health class
- online safety
- medical appointment
- peer discussion
Key Concepts
developmental psychology
risk perception
cultural norms
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you gauge the right level of detail for your child?
- What resources help maintain openness without overwhelming?
A Different Perspective
Balancing honesty with age‑appropriateness can be challenging and may cause discomfort.