The case for taking your kids to a sex-ed class to supplement their learning

After nearly a decade of sitting in the therapist office as a marriage and family counselor, I’m pretty comfortable talking about sex. And I’m pretty comfortable talking to my kids about sex as well. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that they are comfortable talking about it, too. We have frank and open conversations in our house about all things human sexuality, from puberty to consent. But the kids are still very squirmy about it . . . and often try to cut the conversation short.

There is an organization in Orange County called Birds and Bees Connection that exists to help parents in having these conversations with their kids. hey have classes for all ages and genders, including a series on sex.

My daughter and I are took a puberty class with Birds and Bees Connection on Saturday morning. She was initially NOT THRILLED but Leslie Dixon, the teacher and founder, was so dynamic that she ended up having a lot of fun with the other girls.

The format was brilliant – it was set up as a mother-daughter tea and the girls were invited to read and participate. I found that India knew a lot of the information, but it was hugely valuable to hear it from someone else and to be in a group of peers where these topics were normalized. Her anxiety about puberty went way down after this class.