One of my Sheroes, Rev. Debra Haffner, has an excellent article on the Huffington Post -

Yes, Sex Education in Kindergarten!

The most important section is quoted below. Notice what Sex Ed is (and what it IS NOT).

Sex education in the early primary years sets a foundation for later, more in-depth education. It provides lessons on family roles, taking good care of your body and the correct names of body parts. It helps children feel good about their bodies, their gender and their families. To protect them against sexual abuse, it teaches children “no, go, tell” — say no, get away, and tell an adult you trust what happened. It promotes parent/child communication around these issues.

A primary school curriculum does not teach five- and six-year-olds about sexual behaviors, contraceptive methods, or indeed anything at all about what most people think of as “sex.” To suggest otherwise is a gross political distortion.

If you are interested in more of Debra’s take on raising sexually healthy children, she has several books out:

What Every 21st-Century Parent Needs to Know: Facing Today’s Challenges with Wisdom and Heart

Beyond the Big Talk: Every Parent’s Guide to Raising Sexually Healthy Teens From Middle School to High School and Beyond

From Diapers to Dating: A Parent’s Guide to Raising Sexually Healthy Children

I can’t say enough how much I adore etsy.com and the amazingly beautiful handmade creations available there. I have about 20 different necklaces in my “favorites” and when this one went on sale, I snatched it up. It’s funny to me how wearing something so lovely and delicate just brightens my day.

For fun, I probably should have purchased, instead, the fun “birds and bees” necklace and worn it for “Let’s Talk Month” when I’ll be educating parents on how to talk to their kids about sex!

The new McCain ad is stirring up a lot of talk, and for that I am glad. At least people are talking about sex education in the schools. However, I fear that people are going to buy into the FALSE and misleading accusations made by the McCain campaign.

Please read this New York Times article:

Ad on Sex Education Distorts Obama Policy

Obama supports age-appropriate sex education in our schools. He is not calling for condom demonstrations during morning snack time!

As a sexuality educator, I am appalled that McCain would create fear about sex education in our schools instead of supporting the need for better and more comprehensive sex ed.

HIV and AIDS rates among our young people are on the rise.

The US Office of National AIDS Policy has estimated that half of all new HIV
infections occur in people younger than 25 and that half of these occur among
young people between the ages of 13 and 21.

Let’s address these realities in an honest and intelligent way.

Never forget that once upon a time, in an unguarded moment,

you recognized yourself as a friend.

This is one of my favorite quotes from Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. My sister gave me the book last time she visited, so when it came time for her birthday, I thought it would be fitting to get the quote inscribed on a bangle bracelet for her.

I took the “Buy Handmade” pledge and I am really trying to buy gifts that are handmade (kinda hard to do when your kid really wants a gameboy for her birthday!). Plus, it helps me justify my etsy.com addiction!

By Diane Lockward
From Eve’s Red Dress, copyright 2003

Today I dress for you

in scarlet. I am

a tomato, plump

and luscious. I pulsate

with seeds.

Today I clothe myself

in yellow. I am

a peach, succulent

and ripe.

For you, I swathe myself

in gold. I am

all melons, oranges,

tangerines, nectarines.

I am a garden of earthly delights.

I am the red apple

you would fall for

a thousand times.

I am the apricot you would die for.

I am all strawberries,

blueberries, raspberries,

and cherries, all these and more.

Today I am royal for you.

I dress in a gown

of purple plum.

Come, lift me out of my skin.

Lindsay Lohan supports my views on sex education!

The actress also put out a plea to parents, saying they need to “talk to their children about the things that can result from being sexually active.”

Maybe I can get her to be my Let’s Talk Month spokesperson!

I can’t say it any better than MOAPP (Minnesota Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy, Prevention and Parenting) says it:

Another high profile teen pregnancy has captured our collective attention. While the eyes of the nation are on the Palin family, let’s keep in mind that Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston’s story is repeated almost 750,000 times every year in the United States.

Teen pregnancy occurs in all corners of society—young people from every race, class and family structure are represented in the U.S. teen pregnancy and birth ratesrates that exceed other developed countries by four to 11 times.

Bristol Palin is fortunate to have her family’s support, which can make all the difference in a teen parent’s life. When teen parent families succeed—when teen parents stay in school and make the transition to the work world, when their children are in good quality childcare and are ready to learn when they start school—we all succeed. Unfortunately, we don’t focus enough attention on public policies that support these families.

But this story demands another look at the federally subsidized “abstinence-until-marriage” industry—more than $200 million more will be spent again this year on programs that show NO evidence of working. Federal support for “abstinence” programs has created an ill-prepared sub-culture of young people who lack the tools needed to build healthy relationships, or navigate our sex-obsessed popular culture.

This is why I support comprehensive sex education in the home, school and community.

Those (few) of you who read this blog may not know that I also write two blogs for Sensovi, where I work as the Director of Education and Programs.

Get Talking focuses on equipping parents to talk to kids about sex.

Sensovi Blog (I haven’t been able to think of a good blog title yet!) is the blog I do to highlight sexual health news and events.

Please check them out and get the feeds if you’re interested.

Sensovi also has a Facebook page - Become a Fan!

A woman watches her body uneasily, as though it were an unreliable ally in the battle for love.

- Leonard Cohen

image by Kellya, found on etsy.com

Reading Eat, Pray, Love has got me thinking about pleasure. One of life’s greatest pleasures has got to be sitting down to a big bowl of pasta. Warm and creamy pasta.

I have been trying to find a local place that serves a specific pasta dish I have been craving. Nothing fancy, just cream sauce over tortellini with peas and proscuitto.

God Bless Rachelle Mee-Chapman at her blog Food Hero - where she posted a recipe!!! (She also has a lovely blog, Magpie Girl ).

I will be making this soon, and savoring every bite. I only wish this particular pleasure was less damaging to my waistline.