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Contraception and Your Kids- Are Plan B Vending Machines Too Much?

Posted on February 10, 2012 - 03:22:19 by

Melissa Chapman

Melissa Chapman


I am the type of mother who is very open about sex and has, much to the chagrin of my daughter, explained in very graphic, but honest detail what sex is, what it isn't and the various sexual acts that are considered part of the intercourse spectrum. No, it's not like we're sitting at dinner, passing the rolls, and I'm giving my kids a blow-by-blow account of an oral sex procedure and what it entails. Our discussions about sex are much more organic than that. I've simply told my kids that any questions or ideas that pop into their heads in regards to certain images they see in the media, perhaps a phrase they've heard or just their general curiosity can be quelled by me, their mama. Nothing is off limits or too uncomfortable, and my kids know this. Or at least I hope they do, I hope that by starting this open dialogue when they're six and 10, that when they're 13 and 16 I will be the person they can confide in if and when they felt ready or pressured  to have sex.

 

 

Of course my hope is that my kids would abstain from sex until they were both old enough and mature enough to sustain a sexual relationship with someone that they felt connected to both spiritually and emotionally . But I'm also realistic about my expectations, and the world we live in, where girls as young as 13 over in the U.K. are been getting Nexplanon; contraceptive implants inserted under their skin at school, without parental consent.



Here is my feeling on contraception and my kid. My kid knows all about contraception, why, because I, her mother, have already given her the 411 on what it is, what it does and why people use it. As a parent I think education starts at home, I think it's up to us as parents to educate our kids. Unfortunately I don't think many parents are taking the position I have, perhaps because it's an uncomfortable conversation, or they feel it's not necessary to have the sex talk at such an early age.
Perhaps they think; why introduce something that is not even on my child's radar. And my counter point is; 13 year old girls are getting contraceptive implants, condoms are being passed out at middle and high school fairs and there is now a Plan B vending machine where college kids can get the drug to terminate an unwanted pregnancy. In other words, this information is ALL out there and our kids are sponges soaking it all up; maybe they've heard the word condom, or part of the word Plan B. Maybe they have questions, but are too afraid to ask, maybe they are having sex or want to have sex, but would rather do it unprotected than get the information they need from their parents, because that's not the kind of stuff their parents talk about at home.

The bottom line is that kids are having sex, whether we want to know about it or not- and if as parents we're unwilling to do the work of at least educating them, well then maybe they should at least be able to get this information somewhere, and have the opportunity to do it as safely as possible. Is it ideal that they're getting it at a vending machine- no? And of course I would never condone anything being done without parental consent--like getting a contraceptive implant. However, if you have an open and honest relationship with your kids, hopefully you can be the one who is taking to the doctor for contraception, as opposed to them getting it from school or a vending machine. Sex education starts at home, and if it doesn't, don't our kids deserve to have access to contraception to protect themselves? Do you agree or disagree.