I want my children to love themselves and God enough to trust themselves to make good decisions. I want them to be smart and thoughtful and engaged. As a doula, I have many opportunities to talk to my kids about where babies come from and how they get in there...they know a lot more than their peers. I take the stance that I will always answer their questions, even if it is uncomfortable for me, or if I feel like lying might be an easy way out. 

A mother told me a story from first grade, when the child asked her mother where babies came from. Her answer was that you pray to Jesus and have a baby. This  is ignorant and ultimately dangerous. Explain to your child that she simply did not have enough faith to get Jesus to bring you a baby? No thanks. 

I will tell them anything and everything they want to know about it. But I will also make sure they know that from our spiritual standpoint, sex is best inside a committed marital relationship, where there is total trust, confidence and love. I want them to understand it's not just "because the Bible says so," but because God sets up standards to protect us. Just like I say don't run into the street. And just as sometimes running into the street won't kill you, neither will premarital sex. 

But it's also a feminist issue for me. I want my kids to learn how to avoid objectification. I want my daughters to know they are valuable because of all facets of them not just their appearance. And I want my son to know that hot chicks aren't just hot chicks. (He's 5 so I have some time). I want them all to be proud of who they are and what they can do and I want them to treat their bodies in a way that shows the respect it, even if others don't. 

Okay, backing away from the keyboard.