Now that my son is in a constant romantic fog at age 16 and my 13 year old daughter is talking frankly about more adult situations (what she would or would not do in any given situation she has yet to face), I’m just glad that I more or less know what is going on and what they are thinking.
Yes, if we all knew then, what we all know now. If that was the answer I wouldn’t have silly situations like a few of my past blog posts try to explain. Then again, I came from a different time when parents didn’t really talk to their kids about “those things.” Some parents still don’t.
Love, sex, relationships aren’t to be hushed up or feared. They aren’t to be jumped into like one is skydiving. They aren’t something to be flippant about. But it is part of life, and a part of life we shouldn’t tell our teens to completely avoid. Young love can be sweet if your kids are smart and informed – and if you are informed.
I told my daughter that when I was a teen I never told ANYONE about who I had a crush on. Not even my best friend. Sure we’d giggle about boys and talk about who was cute but I’d never tell a soul who my special someone was.
Of course being a Vampire teen one has other issues like donors and hunts and that just confuses things. Don’t confuse romance and food. I mean, there is a certain romance to food, but that is food on a plate that you fix in the kitchen with vegetables and fish. Never make your crush your main course. But back to the rest of the world…
You can be one of those fools who encourages your kids to pursue every single crush and get serious about their high school sweethearts and ruin their lives by pushing them over the abyss of young love. You can be one of those parents who get so hung up on virtue that your child lives in fear of love or they resent you for your cold views on love. Or you can be like most of us and be open and honest and be the parent with good sound advice based on the fact that our kids are teens. They are totally and completely social animals. Let them love and learn – but guide them into doing it with their brains as well as their hearts.
That first time your kid gets a broken heart it will break yours too – or you’ll sigh with relief.
No, life isn’t like a romance novel, but that doesn’t mean we can’t all have our moments. Talk with your teens about it (not to them, at them but WITH them). They’ll be a lot more open than you think and they’ll listen to you (really) even if they don’t act like it.
~ Juliette aka Vampire Maman
Vampire Maman 
Ahh, wish my parents had been a bit more forthcoming. We didn’t talk about ‘feelings’ – and most of my ‘education’ came from the adult magazines I stole from my brother-in-law! (No internet back then.)
I think almost every boy had a few of those around…under the bed…in the closet. It is hard to talk to kids about those things. Gave me more resolve when I had my own. Thank you for coming by my blog!
I have to laugh, J. There are just a lot of kids out there who know more about “those things” than their parents could/would explain or discuss with them. Growing up on the farm, a lot of “those things” were pretty self evident and it didn’t take too much imagination to figure out that humans weren’t that much different from the other animals – we had the same equipment. Young loves and broken hearts were a different story though. The only way to learn about that is “on-the-job training. And the best thing we can do is to be there to help pick up the pieces and get ready for the next time. (and talk to them about it).
Paul
Unfortunately there is no instruction manual for falling in love for the first, second or third time. On-the-job is right!
Hello- Just wanted to stop by to let you know that I nominated your blog for “Blog of the Year 2012!” http://fictionalmachines.com/2013/01/14/blog-of-the-year-2012-seven/ Keep up the great work & enjoy the day! 🙂
Wow. Thank you. I am honored to be in such good company.
You are very welcome, Juliette! Enjoy the weekend over there!
When I was a teen, I wasn’t allowed to have “feelings” for another boy. So I blog about it!
Being a teen is so hard sometimes and it seems like nobody will ever understand. You have a great blog! Glad you dropped by mine.
I didn’t like to talk about my crushes either when I was a teen. My 9 year old is very private and I suspect he’ll want to keep these things private too. But I hope we can manage to have the important talks. It’s painful to have so many hopes for another sometimes.
9 is such a cute age. But it is painful to have so many hopes but rewarding too. xoxo