When I was young, around ten or so, I was at my neighbor's home across the street. She told me her parents had sex a lot. I told her my parents were Christians and only had sex three times! When my sons were young, one of them asked Ken if he had sex with me only four times. Ken looked at them and asked, "Four times this week?"
Thejoyfilledwife wrote me this about her childhood and what her parents
taught her about sex after I explained to her how we taught our children ~
I think that is SO crucial and important. How I wish I had that kind of influence from my parents. Most of the time, my parents went to bed separately, slept with their door open, or had one of my younger siblings asleep in their bed with them. I don't recall EVER seeing my parents show affection, except a small peck on holidays after they opened their gift from one another. That was very hard on me growing up, especially with affection being so important to me. My parents spent most of their time complaining to us kids about each other and I remember wondering throughout my childhood if I was going to wake up one day to find that my parents were going to divorce. I longed for a Biblical, affectionate marriage all of my life and I knew that I would have to go to the Bible and read a lot about how it takes to have one since I didn't have that example in my own life.
I remember spending time with friends who would say how grossed out they were that they overheard their parents late one night having sex. I never told them, but I would have gladly traded places with them, if for no other reason than to take comfort in knowing that my parents still desired each other.
All of her four siblings grew up to have very warped views about sex. They either became very sexually promiscuous or so overly conservative. She has told me that they will kiss on the lips, but that they think anything more than a peck is disgusting and worldly. Normal sex, traditional position, is acceptable, but every other form of sexual expression is sinful.
How do we teach children about purity before marriage and FUN after marriage in a sexually saturated society that views sex far from the ways of God? I will just tell you how we raised our children in this area.
After the boys asked Ken about how many times we had sex, Ken sat them down and explained the facts of life in this area. We were always open with our children. They knew if our door was locked, they were not to disturb us. We didn't allow our children to ever sleep in our bed with us. We weren't afraid to hug and kiss in front of them. They knew we enjoyed sex and thought it was a very good thing in marriage and a very bad thing outside of marriage.
We sent them to a purity camp. We NEVER spoke as if sex was sinful. We told them they needed to wait until marriage to have sex and we gave them boundaries in order to attain these goals. It didn't seem that difficult. Be open with your children when they ask questions. Explain to them all the terrible consequences of sex outside of marriage and the wonderful, fun plan of sex inside of marriage; enjoyment of each other and making precious babies.
Our children always knew that sex inside of marriage was never something dirty but a gift from God that was worth saving for their spouses. From the looks of it, they all appear to be VERY happily married. Actually, they have all told me they love being married!
Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love.
Proverbs 5:18,19
How do we teach children about purity before marriage and FUN after marriage in a sexually saturated society that views sex far from the ways of God? I will just tell you how we raised our children in this area.
After the boys asked Ken about how many times we had sex, Ken sat them down and explained the facts of life in this area. We were always open with our children. They knew if our door was locked, they were not to disturb us. We didn't allow our children to ever sleep in our bed with us. We weren't afraid to hug and kiss in front of them. They knew we enjoyed sex and thought it was a very good thing in marriage and a very bad thing outside of marriage.
We sent them to a purity camp. We NEVER spoke as if sex was sinful. We told them they needed to wait until marriage to have sex and we gave them boundaries in order to attain these goals. It didn't seem that difficult. Be open with your children when they ask questions. Explain to them all the terrible consequences of sex outside of marriage and the wonderful, fun plan of sex inside of marriage; enjoyment of each other and making precious babies.
Our children always knew that sex inside of marriage was never something dirty but a gift from God that was worth saving for their spouses. From the looks of it, they all appear to be VERY happily married. Actually, they have all told me they love being married!
Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love.
Proverbs 5:18,19
mvstephenson 44p · 558 weeks ago
blskas76 4p · 558 weeks ago
hiswife522 43p · 558 weeks ago
Deb · 558 weeks ago
Anna · 558 weeks ago
Parents all over the world allow their children to co-sleep and have no problems with having a healthy sex life. In most of the rest of the world, children sleep with their parents. :)
It's fine if you don't want them to. I just wanted to note that it doesn't have to mean you can't have a healthy, wonderful marriage and sex life even if the baby or child/children sleep with you.
Ken · 558 weeks ago
That is how God designs all His wonderful things, to be enjoyed by mankind, but in a way that He intends... not the perverted ways of the world. And Christians must not be bashful or ashamed of enjoying sex within their marriage and making sure that their kids know in their early teens how much more exciting sex can be when it is done in love and commitment, instead of lust and using another person.
LSCS_XO 28p · 558 weeks ago
Charlotte · 558 weeks ago
Children will be far more comfortable and happy seeing their parents express their love through their time together and displays of physical affection in front of their children. Specific knowledge that their parents still have sex and its frequency is unnecessary. As they age they will realize what is going on but when they enter relationships themselves they will be able to have sex be a natural part of their own marriages as an act of love and affection because they saw examples of love and affection growing up.
Jamie · 558 weeks ago
Pam · 558 weeks ago
I think it's very important that children see good marriages from their parents and other married couples. My sister commented that one of my nephews (who is 5) told her that he sees my husband and I kiss each other (no making out, just small, simple, quick kisses) while we're all at dinner at my mom's house. My nephew then told her that he "would like to see mommy and daddy do that once in a while." You see, my sister and her husband are happily married, but they don't show the physical affection like that. Kids can start to learn about physical affection (in age appropriate ways and levels) in marriages from a very young age -- which is great. If parents don't show/teach their kids about this, kids will most likely pick up the "worldview" on this, which is that physical affection and love dies in marriage, which definitely shouldn't be the case (nor has it been my experience)!
ChristyH · 558 weeks ago
One other thing, my daughter's fiancee even feels comfortable enough to ask a questions. His family was very hush hush and somethings he didn't know. He has a kind of mentoring relationship with us now knows we will give him straight answers. Although he generally texts his questions. ;0)