Times have changed since the days when sex was a private matter. Even more so however, they have changed since a time when sex was mainly introduced into life during the mid to late-teen years. Middle school children are having a great deal of sex currently and personally, I think it’s alarming. Between them and the morals their parents have been preaching (or lack there of), they are helping to breed a frightful generation. Some probably considers sex to be no more important than brushing one’s teeth.
Short of locking the youths up in chastity belts, something logical should be done. Maybe some good parental influence mixed with less abstinence only sex education would do the trick. Telling children from a young age not to do something like have sex before you’re married isn’t exactly a deterrent. As for parents…they should be more involved. Elementary and middle school students are heavily influenced by the world around them. With that being said, parents should try to provide an environment in the home capable of influencing the youngin in a positive manner. Monitor what they watch or see online, know who their friends are as well as their parents, and most of all, act like respectable adults when around them. Watching one’s language is always helpful.
Another problem that could stem from this is an abundance of teen parents. Some feel they’re mature enough to handle having a child at a young age but in reality, it could quite possibly ruin the rest of their lives. Teens might try to force put the responsibility on their parent’s heads to take care of an infant. That isn’t fair to the elder parents. If the teens decide they want to have the child instead of getting an abortion, they are the responsible for that child. That probably means dropping out of school, getting a job, etc… Not really the beginnings of a bright and happy future if you ask me. For teenage women, abortion is the only sensible step to take while one is faced with pregnancy. Think about it, giving up an education and future for a child who one could rightly have later in life and be more capable to raise if one so chooses. Also, think about the man’s position. He might have not wanted a child and when that child is born, there is a good chance he’ll not only have to drop out of school as well, but he’ll be tied to the girl and her child for a minimum of eighteen years. For you teens who think having a child now is a great thing full of rewarding experiences, think again. Once you go down that road, you can never really come back and take another.
Sex isn’t just some toy one can play around with when they feel. States have a set legal age for a reason (even though that doesn’t mean that once one reaches that age, they are ready and mature enough to handle it). One thing is certain, our better future has to include less teenage parents or society may just fall apart.
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