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Tackling the Tough Stuff
How to Talk to Your Teenage Son By Shel Franco
Also, know that boys may simply cut the conversation short. And if a parent is just too embarrassed to talk about some of these topics, so be it. Talk with your kid about other things. Keep good communication in place because that sets the stage. Talk about fun stuff, interesting stuff sports, cars, clothes, movies, music hang out and listen to music. Whatever just talk. And listen!
Remember: It's the parent's job to hook their boy up with the information he needs to stay safe and healthy. This does not mean that it all has to be delivered in the form of conversation. The Guy Book is a resource a backup. If a parent reads it first, which is what I recommend, he or she could say, for example: "Check out the section about how HIV is spread and if you have any questions, I'll try to answer them. If I don't know the answers, I'll try to help you find them."
And keep this in mind: The Guy Book is full of reliable hotline numbers so that a boy and/or his parent can get additional information about many of the more sensitive topics.
iP: Do you think talking about tough issues with a boy is more difficult than talking about those same issues with a girl?
MJ: I think it depends on the boy and the girl and the parents involved. I do recognize that there is more of a tradition of a parent (a mom, usually) discussing information around puberty with girls, since girls start having periods at some point. Obviously this needs to be explained and it needs to be explained in the context of human reproduction (and sex). Girls are the ones who can become pregnant, not boys. So parents have always wanted to be VERY sure that their girl understands how that all happens!
