Complex subjects necessitate complex answers. Bear with me here, Git Real. One single caveat: what follows is simply my opinion. My two cents from a guy with a pocketful of change.

Complex subjects do indeed necessitate complex answers. I would say that most of the issues today cannot be addressed because nobody is willing to get past the sound bites and embrace the solutions that will ultimately solve these issues. I accept your caveat. I did ask you for "your" opinion and I thank you for giving it.

I'll skip the part where you address condoms, birth control, and abortion for obvious reasons. Neither of us will change our minds on this issue. I'd only hope to change your heart on abortion.

The long-term issue, modifying teenage behavior, is even trickier. We live in a much more highly sexualized society now than we did say, 20-30 years ago. It's virtually everywhere. Nothing short of outright censorship is going to stop it...and it's unlikely that America is going to adopt such a repressive attitude.

I'm really not into censorship or trying to tell someone what they should do behind their closed doors. I understand what you are saying and believe it or not I somewhat agree. But this is where I differ with you a bit: If our openly sexualized society is confusing our kids to the point of causing them to lose their moral compasses, diseasing them, and forcing them to make life and death choices with babies then why not fight to stuff that genie back into the cesspool it came from? Another words if the destructive influences are destroying our children then I say we repress it at whatever cost. Your and my kids are worth the fight. I'd rather fight the good fight and lose as opposed to doing nothing.

Let's put aside the scumbags on your side of the aisle and my side. We know who those sick, twisted predators are without even naming them. My two cents is that your side and mine need to unite to stand up to the freaks that force this decaying garbage on our young people. I know that's a clichéd sound bite but one could visit that subject all day long.

In my mind we're evolving into a two-tier society, and I don't have a solution.

I fear we are entering a multi-tier society and some of us that should be standing together are at odds with each other. For the most part I agree with what your saying. I would just add that I think it's so critical that we invest in our kids lives and equip them morally, spiritually and knowledge wise. They have to understand what consequences result from the bad decisions they make. They need us to take a more firm stand against certain behaviors that are destroying many of their lives. If we take a stand and they see it "really" matters that much to us they will respect us and appreciate us ultimately. Young people desire to know what the boundaries are. We have to firm them up and stop enabling, condoning and excusing them when they cross the line.

I recognize my little diatribe here is very short on proposed solutions. I am not so sure there ARE answers. There certainly aren't any easy ones.

Your diatribe was short and sweet and not without merit. The solutions are not easy ones. However, I do believe there are answers. I don't think we are willing to get out of our comfort zones and do what is necessary to resolve these and other issues these days. It's too easy to just sit back and bitch about it......

Thanks for throwing your two cents in.

At that point, we as parents hold our collective breaths and hope and pray we've done all we can in influencing our children's choices.

The above is wisdom based on reality. As a great grandparent watching my children and grandchildren wrestle with this problem - I'm grateful that 50 years ago my parents did not have to deal with an 'out of control' exposure to 'sex'. The 'soaps' seen on TV today would have been rated X in my pre-teen and teenage days. Ricky and Lucy had separate beds in their bedroom. What prevented 'us' from going all the way? The look of disappointment in our parents’ eyes. (For me - it was mainly my father's look) Parents who express confidence in their children; are honest about the 'choices' available - and their consequences have a better 'chance' of their children making the right choice. However - if a child makes a 'wrong' choice, the parent must be there to help the child learn the 'lesson' and move on with his/her life.

My concern is where will the parents of teenagers today get this 'wisdom' if their parents did not act as role models. I asked a question earlier and no one answered. Where in Fayette County can parents receive training with this issue?

I don't know what makes people now think that to continue the same old hell fire and damnation instructions to kids will do any more to prevent sex among some than it has for generations.
Catholic girls have known forever when they can and can not get pregnant, we need to teach that in school also.
What scares the hell out of some parents is pregnancy, not sex. They know sex will prevail at some point as it has with them.
The diseases require protection, however, or be choosey for goodness sake! (No that is telling them to have sex, isn't it?)

What scares the hell out of some parents is pregnancy, not sex.

Nope.... the sex part with my kids scares the hell out of me. If they can avoid it until marriage STD's, pregnancies, broken hearts, birth control, should not be issues that they will have to deal with.

The magical formula is: 1 Man + 1 Woman 4 Life = Cure For Aids

Antidepresant and alcohol use will go way waaaayyyyyy up.

Kevin "Hack" King

Like my investment manager tells me: "The best advice I can give you is keep falling in love over and over and over again. No matter how difficult it may be".

I don't think any of us get to avoid broken hearts, unfortunately. As far as the condoms go. I'm glad I had a parent that stuffed condoms into my jackets when I was in high school. I didn't have my first child until I was married at 31 years old. At 30, I had a real career and could actually support a home/family so I'm glad I was "protected".
Was that TMI?

The broken hearts thing was stupid. I'll gladly eat those words.

No one much will disagree with the shangrila thinking you have. Don't you want those who choose to have sex to be protected from STDs?
Will you be successful in changing things so that no teenagers, and none of the 65% who live with someone before marriage so that no protection is needed?
I would like to hear ONR sermon that says abstinence is the best, safest, and most religious way to live, but if you must have sex, protect yourself!
Like shooting guns: if you must, be safe and we won't kill tens of thousands every year.

I imagine you must think oral sex amongst teens began in 1998? Is Mark Foley the gay version of leaders gone wrong? Is Bill Oreally the single most culpable man for office harrassment? And what have our Georgia kids learned from Newt? Stay on message. This isn't a political blog. Bas asked a legitimate question about the role of condoms in high school.

I'll be interested to know what effect you think Pastor Haggard will have on church going teens throughout the country.

Kevin "Hack" King

"to what extent should we encourage or discourage sexual conduct among teens?"

My vote is to discourage.

My personnel solution is "EDUCATION".

Get off your ego's and talk with you kids. Tell them what the real world is like. You have a computer that can access the internet, your kids know it better then you do, show them the truth.

Quit doing the, "if I don't look, I wont see it", thing and "TALK WITH YOUR KIDS"! Not at them but "with" them.

Because mom or dad may feel uncomfortable about talking about sex with his/her teenage son/daughter is her/his problem. Don't make it your child's problem.

You're the primary educator of your children, don't blame the public schools because you're a wimp.

You're trying to save her/his life, get over it.

I agree with bad_ptc, there is nothing comparable in effectiveness than parent-child open communication. I dreaded "the talk" each and every time I had to give it, but that's the price you pay to be a good parent, and I did it.

You cannot rely upon the schools to educate your children about sexuality, particularly Georgia schools. From what I understand, they teach the Christianist-approved watered-down "abstinence only" curriculum.

Let me give you an example of the effectiveness of "abstinence only" education: I recently was talking to a very upset sixth grade girl. She was trying her best to keep her composure, but broke down sobbing in tears. What's the matter, I asked gently. She was panicking about her divorced mother "Mom...Mom has AIDS!" Oh dear Lord, how horrible! I replied. When did you find out, sweetie? "Just last weekend, I heard a noise downstairs and when I went to the top of the stairs I saw my Mom having sex with her boyfriend!" Wait a minute, I said, how does this mean she has AIDS? She gave me a withering scornful look and said calmly and slowly "She's...NOT....MARRIED!"

That poor kid had it drummed into her head that "sex outside of marriage = AIDS".

That's what we're up against in this day and age

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Cogito, I re-read my initial post and I did not propose any solution. I merely asked for people's opinions. Truthfully, I'm not sure how I feel about the issue.

I'll thank you not to put words in my mouth....that's Git Real's job.
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Close Relationships Between Teens and Mothers Linked to Delay in Sexual
Activity

Teens that have a close relationship with their mothers are more likely to delay the onset of sexual activity than those teens that are not close to their mothers according to a report on the September issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health. These findings came about from two studies at the University of Minnesota involving data gathered from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. The first study examined 3,322 boys and girls in eighth through eleventh grades and the second study looked at a sample of 2,006 14 and 15 year old boys and girls. All participants had never had sexual intercourse when the study period began. Researchers evaluated the associations between initiation of sexual intercourse, teens' perceived relationship and closeness with their mothers and the mothers' perception of whether their children were sexually active. The following are among the study findings:
• Eighth and ninth grade teens who reported a close relationship with their mothers were more likely to delay initiation of sexual intercourse. The tenth and eleventh grade boys who reported having a close relationship with their mothers were more likely to delay the onset of sexual activity. However, there was no link between a close mother / teen relationship and the onset of sexual activity among tenth and eleventh grade girls.
• Of those students in the eighth through eleventh grades who had had sexual intercourse, 50% of the mothers were not aware of the sexual activity among these students.
The researchers concluded that the strength of relationships between teens and parents - not solely discussions about sex - are the key to delaying the onset of sexual activity. (Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report - 9/5/02)

VILLAGE IDIOTS CLICK HERE

Once again, Basmati wants a Big Government solution to our problems.
Spend more, tax more and dole out the special interest cash.

No, I do not want Basmati, Hillary, or the Village Idiots handling my family affairs. Basmati may be a big fan of government funded abortions, Gardasil and rubbers (oops….I mean condoms) but most people are not. The answer lies with the two parent family. …..Not the Village Idiots.

What are we trying to stop? Sexual disease among high school students due to irresponsible sex.

What do the National Directors for Sexually Transmitted Disease Control say? On their website they say that it’s the two parent family. (“Close Relationships Between Teens and Mothers Linked to Delay in Sexual Activity”.

AGAIN…… VILLAGE IDIOTS CLICK HERE

It doesn’t take a Hillary Clinton Village Idiot like Basmati to raise my children; it takes two parents that love and care for their family.

But I think you're barking up the wrong tree here. I don't see where Basmati was saying the govt should raise your kids. I'm not sure where you got that idea. We certainly do a good job having govt control on our kids here in conservative Ga and Fayette County, don't we? Curfews, limits on passengers in their vehicles. We even control how they dress in school. The govt doesn't let them buy alcohol until 3 years after they have reached the "die for your country" and/or "vote" age. But here's where I feel your argument jumps the tracks. If two parent families are the answer, more than half of our kids are lost, aren't they. Even here in the bible belt. Let's drop our partisan name tags for a moment. Men and women walking away from their marraiges transcends race, wealth, stature, politics, and even religious preference. So we might be well served to address the over 50% of our youth that have fractured, blended, melded, or otherwise "non-traditional" home lives. Unfortunately all Americans don't have the home situations you and I have. So we must consider the teenage girl who has never known her father, who's mother is busy trying to feed the family, and who's teenage (or older) boyfriend will say anything to close the deal. We can't ignore these youths or their circumstances. Just a thought. G'Day and God bless!

Kevin "Hack" King

But, we gotta keep the hugging down.... I'm not into that sort of male bonding. I'm certain that after we realized what just happened we'd have one of those moments that Steve and John had in Planes, Trains and Automobiles when Steve realized that wasn't a pillow he thought he had his hand tucked into. Ick.

In his original blog the Bas said:

Should condoms be made freely available at school clinics?

What about public health clinics? Should students have access to free condoms there?

Why even bring that nonsense up? Like rubbers are the solutions to the problems our young people face today?

My question would be: Who is going to pay for this? Corporate Sponsors? Of course it would be the taxpayers. Passing condoms off on teenagers is not some hypothetical discussion to pontificate on. In many, many areas the schools and gumament health clinics are already making rubbers available giving teenagers a false sense of security and understanding of right or wrong. Not to mention the message we're sending them. "Go ahead and get some.... we expect you too."

I think the reason Bas threw that out there is because he plans on running for public office. You know...the position created to oversee condom distribution in the schools and health clinics. I think they titled the position the Fayette County Sex Commissioner in charge of the Bureau Of Condom Utilization. His responsibilities, along with condom distribution, will be to promote teen porn, issue same sex marriage licenses, teach sex from oral to anal, and to head up diversity training classes for instruction on how to promote the demise of traditional families. Oops, I forgot about promoting the societal benefits of abortion unwanted and unplanned children (another curse).

If two parent families are the answer, more than half of our kids are lost, aren't they.

Unfortunately many will be and already are.

Men and women walking away from their marraiges transcends race, wealth, stature, politics, and even religious preference.

Yup...welcome to the "New" American Culture. And we're passing that off to our kids as normal and acceptable??? We've cursed our children by making a mockery of marriage in an attempt to fulfill our desires for self gratification instead of honoring our responsibilities toward our families.

Unfortunately all Americans don't have the home situations you and I have.

A result of the consequences of our selfishness and pursuit of self gratification at whatever costs.

So we must consider the teenage girl who has never known her father, who's mother is busy trying to feed the family, and who's teenage (or older) boyfriend will say anything to close the deal. We can't ignore these youths or their circumstances.

I agree we must consider the teenage girl and her boyfriend who has no idea how to treat and honor a young lady. I know these kids well. I work with them on regular basis and I see and understand the circumstances and results of the "curse" their ignorant @$$ parents have placed on them. My desires are to see the curse broken and somehow restore the values and merits of the two parent family.

Please don't start throwing the "what abouts" at me. I think we're all well aware of the "what abouts". The majority of "what abouts" could have and should have been prevented by not abdicating our responsibilities and promoting the broken family as the norm in order to validate our own selfish motives and desires.

Wow....was today beautiful or what? I thought I was going to be able to go fishing this afternoon. Instead I found myself tying and baiting hooks all afternoon. Not to mention retrieving lures and bait out of trees, moss, brush and such. I didn't get to fish a lick. But my girls sure had fun trying.

Hug that adopted son of yours and I'll go hug my adopted child. Oh and I'll hug my other one. We're not sure where the second one came from.

I think your comment "Why even bring that nonsense up" encapsulates your wishful Christianist thinking in a nutshell, Git Real. Out of sight, out of mind.

I brought the topic up as an attempt to initiate a serious discussion on a subject that to my knowledge had not been addressed here previously, recognizing I'd likely get juvenile responses from you and your ilk. Plus, weren't YOU the one whining last week that there weren't enough "local" topics discussed here?

I think it's rather disingenious of you to dismiss the topic with a smug "promote family values". So people without a traditional two-parent home are left to fend for themselves? What are you proposing here exactly? Outlawing divorce? The problem with your "sound bite' philosophy is that it doesn't translate well to "real world" scenarios.

If you spent more time thinking about solutions and less time worrying about my motivation, who knows what you could accomplish!
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I think your comment "Why even bring that nonsense up" encapsulates your wishful Christianist thinking in a nutshell, Git Real. Out of sight, out of mind.

Coming from you I will from now on wear the title Christianist as a badge of honor...thank you very much. In regards to out of sight, out of mind let me just say that I and my family live in the midst of this issue and have experienced the consequences of it curse in many different ways.

I brought the topic up as an attempt to initiate a serious discussion on a subject that to my knowledge had not been addressed here previously,

Well excuse me and accept my apologies. I guess me and my ilk are just not accustomed to serious discussions with you. You have a proven record of attacking your opponents in a most vile and disgusting manner to which I personally have made it my mission to match your nastiness (juvenile responses) to which I can easily lower myself to do at most any time.

Plus, weren't YOU the one whining last week that there weren't enough "local" topics discussed here?

Yes, I whined.

I think it's rather disingenuous (spelled wrong) of you to dismiss the topic with a smug "promote family values".

Who cares if you think it's disingenuous (spelled right) that I bring up one of the most obvious and proven solutions to some of the issues our young people face. I would expect no response from you on this. You are that predictable.

So people without a traditional two-parent home are left to fend for themselves?

Nope. I didn't say that. I talked about preserving the "traditional family body" as the ultimate solution as an attempt to stop the hemorrhaging effects the broken family curse has had on our young people and their passing these destructive traits that cause the curse onto their offspring. We need to preserve and protect our marriages first in order to stop the onslaught of destroyed families that is tormenting our young people. If we don't then our society and it's civility, it's respect for the rule of law, and it's greatness will be destroyed. Secondly we need to invest our time and effort into these broken families and especially our young people to help them to make decisions that will help them make decisions in the future that will allow them to break the consequences of the curse.

Outlawing divorce?

Hmmm...that's tempting. God pretty much outlawed it, so there must have been some merit to the concept. But then again God has no credibility in your eyes so I will go another direction. Every successful major culture and religion around the world that has ever prospered and remained intact has protected, promoted and enforced the concept of the two parent family. This holds true for us Christianist, the Hindus, Muslims, Africans, and on an on and on. So again history has proved that overall it pays to promote and protect the two parent family even if it means tightening up our divorce laws and once again looking down on the concept of divorce.

The problem with your "sound bite' philosophy is that it doesn't translate well to "real world" scenarios

Huh? Why heck no it doesn't. Marriage has been "translated" into a sound bite to the "real world". You hit the nail right on the head Basmati. Until we restore marriage as an institution to be protected and promoted it will be nothing more than a "sound bite philosophy". I am here to say that we need to make marriage more than a phase in one's life to "procreate and move on". That will translate into real results in real world scenarios.

If you spent more time thinking about solutions and less time worrying about my motivation, who knows what you could accomplish!

I do more than spend time "thinking about solutions". I involve myself in other peoples lives where permitted and try to make a difference. It's easy to think....It's more difficult to act. Along with being a marriage and adoption (instead of abortion) advocate I work with young people in helping them work through some of the issues they are cursed with. What I've learned is the curse is strong and powerful and many of it's effects can't be rectified. I have also come to the conclusion that the ultimate answer is not treating the curse but severely reducing it's effects by protecting the institutions of marriage and the two parent family.

By us all being united in this effort "who knows what WE could accomplish.

In closing please do not fret. I do not "I do not worry about your motivations". I just grin and come back atcha.

Thanks for the civil dialog.

Hmmm, so you'd somehow 'protect' marriage as an institution? Sounds good in theory, but I don't see how that is at all feasible or possible in practice. The road to Hell being paved with good intentions and all that.

First of all, I think it's a tad inconsistent in your philosophy. To wit, when *I* propose mandating vaccines in order to protect children, you castigate me as being "big government Hillary supporter" etc. Yet how would you further 'protect" marriage as an institution without somehow getting the law involved? Would that be "big government Git Real"?

It's a slippery slope when you start meddling in marriage, methinks.

Would a child be better off in a home with two parents who loathed each other but could not get divorced? I will grant you that in today's day and age it's very easy to get a divorce, but is that truly a bad thing? I suspect you could tighten it up from a religious standpoint, but then you'll have a situation like the Catholic church has where people essentially go around the church's restrictions on marriage and opt for a civil ceremony.
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You started this blog and several have shared thoughts and ideas. I spoke from my heart regarding various causes and solutions regarding the whole STD and condom issues. You have legitimately questioned several of my points and I have answered.

I'd like to hear from you and what possible solutions you propose. Please don't post a bunch of links or cut and paste other peoples thoughts. I'd really like to hear and try to understand where you're coming from. Heck..we might actually wind up being on the same page on several thoughts.

Then if you want me to I'll come back and answer more of the follow-up questions you hit me with. But on the other hand you may not give a rip as to what I actually think. Later.

Here is the way it is: One must not speak to one's daughter about sex except to say NO, none is allowed and you will get pregnant if you do. Drop it there.
What really happens: Richer and enlightened parents get a doctor to supply birth control "in case she gets raped."
Others don't want their daughter carrying condoms, don't want her boyfriends carrying condoms, don't want to buy birth control, and hope for the best!
It doesn't work in some neighborhoods 70% of the time, and in others 50% of the time.
One in thre have an abortion.

Dollar, are you a parent? No, I didn't ask if you were a father. The boy my daughter had sex with is a father. I want to know if you are a parent. No, I didn't ask if you were "da baby daddy". I want to know if you married "da baby momma" before she was pregnant, or are you not a parent? I also am curious as to the source of these dubious statistics. I myself, can speak from experience on the subject of parenting, however, I refrain from giving or asking advice in these matters. I only wished to offer an example for the debate.

"The memories of a man in his old age, are the deeds of a man in his prime.You shuffle in the gloom of the sick room,and talk to yourself as you die."
(R. Waters)

Yes, I am a parent of three grown kids. First one was 13 months after marriage. Those were somewhat better days for this kind of thing. But it existed in substantial quantity under ground. Has since the cave man.

I just have to know dollar, where do you get all these statistics you quote, through my friends and my daughter I know a lot of high school age girls and I can guarantee you neither 50 or 70 percent of them are getting pregnant in school and 33 percent don't have abortions, but prove me wrong, give me the source of these magic stats you're always spouting.

I yam what I yam...Popeye

Why would you be allowed to know? You would just produce static!
The numbers have been published by more than one source. It is possible that they are prejudiced, as many forms of surveys are. However, there is no doubt that either birth control or acceptance is a necessary fact to keep this sort of thing anywhere near under control. If you are interested in one: try "pregnancies before 18)."
The minority who make it until "marriage" (another rarity going down, with all of the living together before marriage)doesn't help the majority who do not. Preaching doesn't help much. One doesn't give "permission" by taking precautions!

Just what I thought, you have no source, just your tiny little mind and large ego. What the Hell does "one doesn't give "permission" by taking precautions" mean? Believe me you produce more static then a off freq radio and make about as much sense.

I yam what I yam...Popeye

I have been told that movies are now made as if only 6th graders would want to see them. Now, I believe that is the status of people your age, after talking to you for awile.
I will explain in plain English for you one more time: If you tell your daughter or son to take precautions if they have sex, in spite of you asking them not to do so, then that is not the same as giving them permission to have sex.
I know, it is hard for you to mention dirty ole sex!

I have no problem talking about dirty ole sex, what do you need to know? If you had said that to begin with I would not have had to ask.I used your posts to scare my kid, I told her if she had unprotected sex she would become as incoherent as you. Here's a unsupported statistic like you use, there's a 98 percent chance that dollar is an idiot, but of course that might be wrong, It could be too low.

I yam what I yam...Popeye

You used dollars post to scare your kid?
Bless her heart. Is she okay?

Not really, I wouldn't even make dollar read dollar's posts, i think that would constitute cruel and unusual punishment, but if I ever think she's messing with drugs, then she has to read them so she can see what drugs can do to your brain.

I yam what I yam...Popeye

The kid might realize how to protect herself then!

By the way, did Southern Belle ever get enough donations to leave?

what I don't understand dollar is why you antagonize the only person on this site that ever had a kind word for you. Tug, if you can be nice to this fool you are indeed a saint

I yam what I yam...Popeye

Don't bother Dollar right now. He's busy watching the ant races on his TV. You know...the channel with all the static and ants crawling around on it. He really loves it......It's commercial free.

I do believe his arteries are getting a little hard.

I yam what I yam...Popeye

unless we lock our sons and daughters in the basement, (a crime I do believe) they will have sex, oral or otherwise. I do agree, education is paramount. However, if our school system is unable to teach them how to make change at MickeyD's without a computer, how in the world can they teach them the dangers of unrestrained, unprotected sex? Believe it on not, (and I have no source to quote on this matter) sex has has been around for a few years now, and the biological urge does not begin when a ring goes on a finger. Animals, which we are, are going to mate, propogate and fornicate. Nothing we do will stop this. We as responsible parents (thank-you Dollar, you are included in this) have an OBLIGATION to realize the enormity of this situation and educate our children as to the dangers and ramifications of their actions including, but certainly not limited to the sexual act. I feel (opinion inserted here) if the parents can't or won't do it, then the schools certainly must. Something has to done before our world collapses in on itself. Sorry, that was a little melodramatic, but, as you can assume, I feel strongly about this issue, thanks to ex-wifey and others solution of head-in-sand-burial 'til the problem goes away.

"The memories of a man in his old age, are the deeds of a man in his prime.You shuffle in the gloom of the sick room,and talk to yourself as you die."
(R. Waters)

Your story should be shared with every school board, parent group and religious education leader in this country. Meaningful parent education is needed before we even get a handle on this problem. Unfortunately - because of the differing moral beliefs regarding 'sex', this is not something that the public school can handle alone. Parents and churches MUST deal with this NOW! A child's life and their progeny depend on it. Today - a child's moral values appear to be governed by what they see on TV or in the movies. A child's moral values are developed early - by watching first the interaction between their parents; and if they attend a church; synagogue; etc. - by the way their religious leaders behave towards the opposite and/or same sex. As the child's 'world' enlarges, the pattern of behavior regarding sex is influenced by 'outside' sources (media, etc.) It is at this point in a child’s development that the parent, religious leader, etc. must have further influence and involvement in the child’s developing attitude towards sex. How many parents, religious leaders, etc. are prepared to do this? How many of these influential adults even know the how and why of this important task? Where can they go to find guidance for this responsibility? Of all the research and educational programs developed for the improvement of life and health - this issue should be at the top of the list! Are there such parent education programs available in Fayette County or the Metro Atlanta area? Are there churches that are dealing with this issue? Thanks for sharing the ending to your story. I'm sure it is encouraging to many.

you suggested the education of the parents as well. I guess we tend to forget ignorance begins at home. As for the religious leaders, I'm glad you brought them into this. I am reluctant to discuss religion as that can be more volatile than almost any other subject. I was raised Southern Baptist, so you can assume sex was never mentioned in my church. One aspect of our moral decay is that at least nowadays we CAN discuss the matters, although we still don't. We should all swallow our embarrassment and shame, get off our high-horse, pull our heads out of a certain orifice and GET THIS DONE.

"The memories of a man in his old age, are the deeds of a man in his prime.You shuffle in the gloom of the sick room,and talk to yourself as you die."
(R. Waters)

my daughter was a junior in high school when she gave birth, in March. When, soon after, she was able, she got a job, arranged childcare, worked full-time, went to night and summer school, finshed her 11th grade, went her senior year and graduated with her class on time. She only accepted W.I.C., at my insistance as I felt I was already paying for this so who better to get it. No welfare or any other dole. A few years later she met a man, who loves her and my grandson dearly and adopted him when they married. I now have a wonderful granddaughter as well. Obviously I feel my girl is the exception as she learned from her mistake and now is a great parent. (Proud father speaking)

What a great Dad you must be.
Your girl has a lot of courage. You have a right to be proud of her.

It's great being a grandparent, isn't it? My grandchildren are doing great, but sometimes I worry about peer pressure.

God Bless

I have often questioned my parenting skills and wondered if I should have become a parent. I look at my daughter and think I must have done something right. Oh, by the way, we were a two parent household until my daughter came to be of age.

Have you ever noticed the same few people ALWAYS turn any and every thread into a "pissing" contest? Or am I mistaken?

Thanks again, and lets keep this board on an adult level.

"The memories of a man in his old age, are the deeds of a man in his prime.You shuffle in the gloom of the sick room,and talk to yourself as you die."
(R. Waters)

Believe me, I have questioned my parenting skills many times. I guess we did something right. My children are now in their 30's, good parents themselves, and successful in their careers. Thankfully, their father was here to help me until they were grown and on their own.

I agree with you about some of the bloggers. I don't participate in the name calling. I have to admit I'm tempted to do so sometimes.
Most of the bloggers are really smart and kind. A couple of them are just mean. I don't read their posts anymore.

God Bless and have fun with your grandchildren!