Some of the subject matter I teach is “sensitive.” In my Growing up Female series I speak openly about body parts and reproductive function. In the Growing up Male series I discuss the male body and I address sensitive topics including masturbation and pornography. And in my sexuality series I speak of body parts, body functions, sexuality, and sexual expression. I am putting some of my personal beliefs, which inform and influence my work, here for you.
If you wish to transmit these or similar values and teachings to your family members or to the people you serve then you will appreciate the services and products I offer.
I believe that:
- The human body is good.
- People deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.
- Girls and women benefit from coming together and supporting each other (This is why I lead mother-daughter workshops.).
- Families benefit from coming together and supporting each other. (A sense of solidarity and community develop when we gather together.)
- Girls need strong and loving women AND men in their lives in order to grow into vibrant and healthy women. (My Growing up Female learn-at-home packs speak to both moms and dads.)
- Preteen and teen boys also need strong and loving adults in their lives to help them adopt healthy habits and strong values. (I have recently added a Growing up Male workshop and a Growing up Male learn-at-home product pack.)
- Children WANT to be close to their parents and they want to know what their parents think and value, especially about sensitive subjects like sex, sexuality, and sexual expression. (Thus I teach parents how to talk to their kids about these sensitive subjects. In my live events I model how to do this and begin the conversations in order to break down the barriers so many have; in my learn-at-home packs I do the same but in recorded form.)
- Self esteem and body image are important issues for girls and women; both are easily damaged in the culture we live in. (My Growing up Female content builds girls and women up and helps them identify their own strengths and positive qualities.)
- Humans are sexual beings; sexual expression is normal and natural.
- Males and females are inherently different. By understanding those differences people can manage relationships and personal issues more thoughtfully and more successfully.
- Children are capable of understanding clear and honest explanations about sex, sexuality, and sexual expression and are not harmed by these truths when the content is delivered in a straight-forward, thoughtful and loving manner.
- Children can be damaged by the un-thoughtful, harsh, and crass delivery of messages about sex and sexuality that are delivered on a regular basis in magazines, videos, movies, TV shows, and billboards. Much of this exposure is unavoidable; parents can counter those damaging messages by addressing the subject overtly and teaching alternate messages. (Children are exposed to sexual content by their peers and by the culture at very early ages; children usually pick up messages about sex long before parents realize it.)
- Because the culture we live in bombards us with sexual content, parental silence about sex and sexuality can be damaging to children. Naiveté about sex leaves children unprepared for the social pressures which pervade school cultures – even in “nice” neighborhoods. Because of the pervasiveness of sexual messages in the media, even young children on elementary school playgrounds are at risk of being contaminated with harmful messages about sex. (I believe it is best for parents to start conversations about bodies, body changes, and sexuality while children are young. This is the best way to infuse YOUR values into your children.)
- Children in elementary school and middle school are far too young to engage in sexual activity.(Some children are becoming sexually active this young.)
- High school youth are increasingly pressured to become sexually active. They benefit from waiting, the longer the better. In order to postpone sexual activity, most young people need strong leadership from parents and other trusted adults.(They also need trusted adults to tell them the truth about sex.)
- Families need help. Parents are capable but most are ill prepared to discuss sexuality and sexual expression with children. They desperately want to transmit sexual values to their children. They just don’t know how. (I teach a parent seminar, Talking to Your Kids about Sex and have developed a learn-at-home product as well with similar content.)
- Most parents feel unprepared and many are afraid to broach the subject of sex with their children.(In my Growing up Female, Growing up Male, and Talking to Your Kids about Sex learn-at-home packets I open the conversations. In these packets I address sex, sexual expression, oral sex, masturbation, pornography, and a host of other topics. By addressing this conversation to children AND parents together I help parents get the conversation started in the comfort of their own home, or car!)
- Parents can get past their fears and their feelings of inadequacy and learn to converse with their children about matters of sex and sexuality. (I have personally watched this happen, countless times. Parents find it satisfying to pass on their wisdom and values.)
