Kids These Days...

On Oprah today were two fourteen year olds discussing why they thought they were ready to have sex. They were flanked on either side by their respective mothers while Oprah and a sex therapist questioned them about why they think they're ready, do they know how to use a condom, what if you get pregnant, etc., etc. I kept thinking about myself at fourteen and that made it difficult to watch because, had that been me, I would have died. The second I was asked on national television if I'd ever performed oral sex on anyone else because if so I need to be tested for STDs, I would have turned such a bright shade of red that my face would have exploded. And I would never have been able to look at my mother again. Or go back to school ever again. Or be naked ever again.

On the one hand, I guess it's good that at fourteen you're open and honest enough to have such a discussion, but on the other hand, when the hell did fourteen year olds become so comfortable with sex that they can just talk about it like it's no big deal with no blushing or stammering or embarassment?

I firmly believe fourteen year old girls should still be so innocent that they giggle uncomfortably every time they hear the word "penis." The same way a certain 28 year old man I know still giggles every time he hears the word "balls" or "poop." (I won't name names, but it starts with a J, there's an O in the middle and it ends with an E.)

I suppose this makes me a prude but c'mon, sex at 14? That's just too young, way too young. And yes, I realize I've just gone on a rant about "kids these days" and yes, I too, am horrified by everything that means about my hipness level. So please excuse me now because I have to go put up my feet, drape an afghan over my legs and watch my stories.

Update: Shortly after this post was written I left my house with what I assumed was my cell phone in my left hand. Turns out it was the remote control. Apparently, I am aging rapidly.