Underage Sex

I get the feeling that a lot of people are squicked by 'underage' sexuality. There are folks that get fired up over Spawn, and folks that are disturbed by HP fiction involving teens shagging each other silly, because they don't like to think about people under the age of 18 as sexual beings. With chagrin, they mention the existence of children of their own that are the same age.

I get it. I would just as soon pretend my parents aren't sexual beings, which is even more disconnected with reality. But in a way, it's really too bad (no, not about my folks) It's too bad 'cause even my babies grope their genitals, with a rather astoundingly vicious enthusiasm I might add, in clear preference to other areas of their bodies. I can remember crushing on guys, and girls for that matter, as early as the first grade. I can remember very sexually explicit, if clearly ignorant, folk tales passed around at sleep-overs and summer camps as early as the 3rd and 4th grades. I can remember feeling like there might be something wrong with me because I was interested in sex. It's sad to make kids feel their sexuality is something to be ashamed of.

I can indulge the pretense that my folks aren't sexual beings because I am not responsible for nurturing healthy and responsible sexuality in them (thank god). But that's fully my responsibility to my children. Even if my idea of healthy sexuality in teens or the un-married were restrictive nearly to the point of non-existance, I could't begin to address this very important responsibility if I'm pretending it doesn't exist.