Just like you when you were an adolescent, many of today’s teenagers can’t wait to be grown. They’re out here trying to see, do and experience the best “grown up” life has to offer, not realizing that it’s ok to slow down and appreciate these carefree moments before they really learn what it means to be an adult. While your child is learning and growing in who they’ll become as a person, make sure you find time to impart these words of wisdom.

1.  If you can’t talk about sex, you may not be ready to have it.

There is one word that perfectly describes adolescence: awkward.  Hormones, peers and the media are placing tremendous pressure on your teen’s physical self to do things that their brain and emotions may frankly not be ready for.  So I can’t say that I’m too surprised when I am teaching a class of sexually active teens or furthermore, teen parents, who are still extremely shy and nervous about discussing sex.  Many teens can’t even fathom the idea of condom communication and conversations about intimacy and sexual responsibility with their partner (in fact, that can be challenging for many adults) but that’s not stopping them from having sex. We all know that sex without communication can be a dangerous game.  Try to facilitate an environment where talking about healthy sexual relationships is natural and not intimidating.  The more a teen feels comfortable discussing sex and relationships within the home, the easier it will be for them to confidently express their sexual values when dealing with the outside world.