--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We've fallen down on our responsibility…" description: "\"We've fallen down on our responsibility to our children by somehow creating this world where they're surrounded by images of sexuality; and yet, we as ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aaa/laurie-halse-anderson-623_about_we-ve-fallen-down-on-our-responsibility_585405.png" --- # We've fallen down on our responsibility to our children by… ![“We've fallen down on our responsibility to our children by somehow creating this world where they're surrounded by images of sexuality; and yet, we as adults struggle to talk to kids honestly about sex, the rules of dignity and consent.” quote by Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aaa/laurie-halse-anderson-623_about_we-ve-fallen-down-on-our-responsibility_585405.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aaa/laurie-halse-anderson-623_about_we-ve-fallen-down-on-our-responsibility_585405.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aaa/laurie-halse-anderson-623_about_we-ve-fallen-down-on-our-responsibility_585405.png) > “We've fallen down on our responsibility to our children by somehow creating this world where they're surrounded by images of sexuality; and yet, we as adults struggle to talk to kids honestly about sex, the rules of dignity and consent.” [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Adults avoid honest sex talks, leaving kids to learn from pervasive sexual imagery. **In simple terms:** Adults shy from honest sex talks. Key Takeaway Foster open, respectful dialogue. Themes sex education media influence parenting Mood serious hopeful Type advice educational When to use this quote - family meals - school curricula - online safety Key Concepts consent dignity communication Questions to Reflect On - How can families normalize consent talks? - What resources aid honest discussions? A Different Perspective Cultural taboos hinder conversation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults/) [Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Consent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consent/) [Creating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creating/) [Dignity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dignity/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Rules](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rules/) [Sex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex/) [Sexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sexuality/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Should one be for or against pornography? I prefer to propose images of sexuality rather than to analyze the pros and the cons of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pipilotti-rist/should-one-be-for-or-against-pornography-i-prefer-to-propose-images/) [Pipilotti Rist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pipilotti-rist/) > [Adults...struggle desperately with fiction, demanding constantly that it conform to the rules of everyday life. Adults foolishly demand to know how Superman can possibly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-morrison/adults-struggle-desperately-with-fiction-demanding-constantly-that-it/) [Grant Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-morrison/) > [Studies indicate that most of young adults struggle to grasp even the most basic financial principles that will allow them to manage money and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-lewis/studies-indicate-that-most-of-young-adults-struggle-to-grasp-even-the/) [Ron Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-lewis/) > [Being a grownup means assuming responsibility for yourself, for your children, and - here's the big curve - for your parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-wasserstein/being-a-grownup-means-assuming-responsibility-for-yourself-for-your/) [Wendy Wasserstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-wasserstein/) > [You take responsibility for your children but you're not always the taxi driver and that doesn't make you a bad parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karren-brady/you-take-responsibility-for-your-children-but-you-re-not-always-the/) [Karren Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karren-brady/) > [You should never take responsibility for more children than you can give attention to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-redfield/you-should-never-take-responsibility-for-more-children-than-you-can/) [James Redfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-redfield/) > [All humanity share a common future, and we must work to try and shape it together. This is our duty, and it is our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reuven-rivlin/all-humanity-share-a-common-future-and-we-must-work-to-try-and-shape/) [Reuven Rivlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reuven-rivlin/) > [The greatest responsibility is your children. If my children turned out badly, I'd feel that nothing I had done was worthwhile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-kennedy/the-greatest-responsibility-is-your-children-if-my-children-turned/) [Jackie Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-kennedy/) > [Perhaps we have been misguided into taking too much responsibility from our children, leaving them too little room for discovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/perhaps-we-have-been-misguided-into-taking-too-much-responsibility/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I love dogs, but they are a big responsibility, and with four children, having one would be too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ant-middleton/i-love-dogs-but-they-are-a-big-responsibility-and-with-four-children/) [Ant Middleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ant-middleton/) > [I believe it is my responsibility to do what I can for children and people with Down syndrome as well as in my native…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pujols/i-believe-it-is-my-responsibility-to-do-what-i-can-for-children-and/) [Albert Pujols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pujols/) > [“It’s a mistake to believe that they (parents) are responsible for their children’s best future. This responsibility is on their children, and that’s the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lukasz-laniecki/it-s-a-mistake-to-believe-that-they-parents-are-responsible-for-their/) [Lukasz Laniecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lukasz-laniecki/) > [I believe that the fight against crime starts in the home. Parents must take responsibility for their children and show them love and guidance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blanche-lincoln/i-believe-that-the-fight-against-crime-starts-in-the-home-parents/) [Blanche Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blanche-lincoln/) > [All persons who bear the blessed title of parent have the personal responsibility to see that their children are growing up fully appreciative of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-edgar-hoover/all-persons-who-bear-the-blessed-title-of-parent-have-the-personal/) [J. Edgar Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-edgar-hoover/) > [the people of one nation alone cannot save their own children; each holds the responsibility for the others' children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-people-of-one-nation-alone-cannot-save-their-own-children-each/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) ## More by Laurie Halse Anderson > [“The word ghost sounds like memory. The word therapy means exorcism”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/the-word-ghost-sounds-like-memory-the-word-therapy-means-exorcism/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [Censorship is the child of fear and the father of ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/censorship-is-the-child-of-fear-and-the-father-of-ignorance/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [“I have this halfway place, a rest stop on the road to sleep, where I can stay for hours. I don't even need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/i-have-this-halfway-place-a-rest-stop-on-the-road-to-sleep-where-i/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [I can see us, living in the woods, her wearing that A, me with a S maybe, S for silent, S for stupid, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/i-can-see-us-living-in-the-woods-her-wearing-that-a-me-with-a-s-maybe/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [Eating plain toast will detonate her. "I'll have some honey." When the bread is done I scrape on a microscopic layer of it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/eating-plain-toast-will-detonate-her-i-ll-have-some-honey-when-the/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [Cutting pain was a different flavor of hurt. It made it easier not to think about having my body and my family and my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/cutting-pain-was-a-different-flavor-of-hurt-it-made-it-easier-not-to/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [I am learning how to be angry and sad and lonely and joyful and excited and afraid and happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/i-am-learning-how-to-be-angry-and-sad-and-lonely-and-joyful-and/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [“Leaning against my father, the sadness finally broke open inside me, hollowing out my heart and leaving me bleeding. My feet felt rooted in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/leaning-against-my-father-the-sadness-finally-broke-open-inside-me/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [I like cheeseburgers too much to be a model.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/i-like-cheeseburgers-too-much-to-be-a-model/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [I am getting better at smiling when people expect it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/i-am-getting-better-at-smiling-when-people-expect-it/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [“All that crap you hear on TV about communication and expressing feelings is a lie. Nobody really wants to hear what you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/all-that-crap-you-hear-on-tv-about-communication-and-expressing/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [I doubt trees are ever told to 'be the screwed-up ninth-grader.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/i-doubt-trees-are-ever-told-to-be-the-screwed-up-ninth-grader/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [“It was the most eloquent silence I ever heard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/it-was-the-most-eloquent-silence-i-ever-heard/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [I've dealt with depression my entire life, on and off, which makes me the perfect author for teenage readers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/i-ve-dealt-with-depression-my-entire-life-on-and-off-which-makes-me/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [“What did it feel like to die? Was it a peaceful sleep? Some thought it was full of either trumpet-blowing angels or angry devils.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/what-did-it-feel-like-to-die-was-it-a-peaceful-sleep-some-thought-it/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) [Explore all 437 Laurie Halse Anderson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) Browse all 26,122 About quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We've fallen down on our responsibility to our children by somehow creating this world where they're surrounded by images of sexuality; and yet, we as adults struggle to talk to kids honestly about sex, the rules of dignity and consent.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Laurie Halse Anderson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/we-ve-fallen-down-on-our-responsibility-to-our-children-by-somehow/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "About" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/we-ve-fallen-down-on-our-responsibility-to-our-children-by-somehow/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aaa/laurie-halse-anderson-623_about_we-ve-fallen-down-on-our-responsibility_585405.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aaa/laurie-halse-anderson-623_about_we-ve-fallen-down-on-our-responsibility_585405.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aaa/laurie-halse-anderson-623_about_we-ve-fallen-down-on-our-responsibility_585405.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We've fallen down on our responsibility to our children by somehow creating this world where they're…” — Laurie Halse Anderson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Laurie Halse Anderson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We've fallen down on our responsibility...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/we-ve-fallen-down-on-our-responsibility-to-our-children-by-somehow/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/we-ve-fallen-down-on-our-responsibility-to-our-children-by-somehow/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```