BOOK LAUNCH: “Talking Sex: A Conversation Guide for Parents”

It’s here!! The day has finally come!! After months and months of writing and editing and many sleepless nights, my new book “Talking Sex: A Conversation Guide for Parents” is officially available!

Watch the video here of my unboxing my new book and the story of the delivery driver:

I am so proud of this resource and cannot wait for parents to get started/continue educating their kids about sexuality. I wrote this book with the aim of empowering parents to have many, many conversations with their kids about human sexuality, respectful relationships and consent - or HSRRC. 

Talking about these topics can be very difficult, especially because many of us didn’t receive this education or were taught that it was taboo or inappropriate. In reality, empowering our kids with knowledge about their bodies allows them to make informed decisions about their bodies and allows them to experience healthy, enjoyable, safe and positive relationships. 

Having these conversations has the added benefit of demonstrating that these topics can be talked about, it encourages communication skills not only  for their intimate partnerships later on, but also for when they too are parents needing to educate the next generation.

Human sexuality is complex and ever changing. I break down these topics so they are easier to understand and digest, and provide conversation starters on how you can discuss these topics with your kids. 

Children are getting a sexuality education every day from the world around them. But is it the one you want them to receive? Whether you like it or not, HSRRC education is your children’s right and your responsibility. One of your most important accountabilities as a parent is to be the main, trusted source of comprehensive, age-appropriate information, giving children the best opportunity for a safe, healthy and happy journey through life.

Sneak peek inside the book:

We have to ensure that children’s basic human right to knowledge is upheld via education that supports age-appropriate development and wellbeing for a lifetime. HSRRC education underpins a deep and empowered sense of self, as well as helping children foster relationships and experiences that are respectful, fulfilling, enriching, pleasurable, joyful, healthy and safe.

 According to UNESCO (2018), comprehensive and accurate human sexuality education can:

• increase adolescents’ confidence and ability to make informed decisions
• encourage respect, acceptance, equality and empathy
• delay the initiation of sexual intercourse to a later age
• help young people to distinguish between accurate and inaccurate information found online
• help prevent sexual abuse
• increase the use of contraception
• prevent unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• provide additional opportunities for young people to learn about and discuss relationships and sexual health issues outside their homes.

It’s also strongly supported by the majority of parents as shown in this important research. 

How will you ensure you are the first person to educate your children about HSRRC, before the media, advertising, popular culture, porn, online games, the internet and the schoolyard? When will you need to begin in order to be the first to tell them about each topic?

Sneak peek inside the book:

In my experience, most parents feel unprepared for these conversations, and uninformed by their own sexuality education experience — and therefore lack confidence in their ability to meet their children’s needs for knowledge around sexual health and wellbeing. Many adults tell me they never received adequate or accurate information around sexuality and relationships, yet they find themselves responsible for their own children’s sexual health, wellbeing and safety. They know they must provide their children with adequate, accurate information in a positive and useful way, but they’re not sure how to go about it, or when to start.

Many adults were brought up to believe these topics were not ‘safe’ to talk about. There may have been hushed tones or a complete lack of discussion, even about the basics of puberty. In most cases there was certainly no mention of pleasurable and consensual experiences or intimacy in relationships. We commonly carry that shame, fear and taboo, and resulting embarrassment, into our adult relationships. Many of us lack the ability to converse about these topics with our adult sexual partners, let alone talk to children about them. Parents play the biggest role in, and have the greatest influence over, this aspect of health, safety and wellbeing, yet important opportunities to make a difference are often missed.

Sneak peek inside the book:

I wrote this book to support parents in having these essential, life altering conversations with your children. My aim is to dispel the myths, misinformation and fears I hear from adults time and time again. Along with my professional knowledge I’ll share stories of my own experiences and those of other parents. You might recognise some of them as resembling your experiences; I often hear very similar stories from multiple adults.

Throughout the book I offer my thoughts, opinions and examples based on my knowledge and experience, current research and contemporary literature, and the tens of thousands of conversations I’ve had with adults and children about sexuality. I also give you contemporary alternatives to the language we currently use that no longer serves us (and often never did). However, all families and experiences are diverse, so please make space for your own opinions, values, parenting styles, faith, culture and judgements. At times you may disagree, but let's respect others' opinions, especially when publicly commenting online. My aim was to write a simple guide that empowers parents to support their kids to write their own unique version of their sexuality script for life. After all, sexuality is a core aspect of being human, from birth to death. I acknowledge that it is a huge shift to reject embedded, pervasive sexuality scripts and gender norms, but global evidence points to the benefit of rethinking these unhelpful and often harmful discourses. Our children deserve better, and we must get started and turn these inaccurate and damaging expectations around.

Sneak peek inside the book:

After all, there is one thing we can all agree on: ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of children. 

It’s never too early or late to get started! Talking Sex is available from: https://ambapress.com.au/products/talking-sex and online book retailers.

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