When growing up I learned about sex through a graphic novel. My parents literally handed me this book with two oversized people moving through the motions of having sex from foreplay to the ultimate finish-a baby!
Oddly, something about the book turned me on, too.
And this is not the point of this article.
I learned about the sexual mechanics from this book and through school's education. I learned about the key words used to describe sex positions, body parts, and certain steps along the way from my friends and older relatives.
What I missed was everything else, such as answers to these questions:
· What does sex really mean?
· What happens after sex?
· How does sex change a relationship?
· How do I truly turn on a girl?
There are plenty more. My father never had these types of discussions with me, so I was left to explore this through trial and error. And explore I did. Some of my errors stuck with me for many years as I navigated my way through this important relationship interaction.
So, how does this relate to money?
I learned about money in school classrooms, on the playgrounds, and by watching my parents interact with their money. I learned a lot of false assumptions about money and some truths. However, I missed lessons which could have answered these questions:
· What does money really mean?
· How does a person earn money?
· What do I do with money?
· How do I respect money?
Again, there are plenty more questions to be answered. This is another relationship in life that is crucial in our society.
Both sex and money are still taboos in our society, especially for teenagers. Schools are not teaching about sex nor money in a practical "How do you relate and use this in life" way. While many schools are teaching the mechanics of supply and demand, and sexual response and outcomes, they miss the person in their lessons. In other words, how do sex and money relate to the individual?
When asking this question, it becomes quite apparent that each individual would have their own answer. This is true, which is why schools cannot teach to this level.
Well, with parents being busy trying to make a living because they never learned about money as it applies to them, and schools unable to teach to the individual due to time and resources, then how do teenagers learn about these important topics in life?
They learn usually by trial and error.
So, what can you do? How can you help teenagers?
You can mentor a teenager and share your gifts. If you are reading this article you already know about some of these truths, and therefore you can share your awareness. Share what it means for you when talking about sex or money. This offers a great perspective for teenagers to evaluate and compare their dreams to your life.
The second powerful action you can offer is to ask questions and listen. Essentially, if you show you care and you spend the time to listen, teenagers will bounce ideas off of you and begin to form their own reality, which is useful for them. Take your time and invest it in a teenager. You will benefit from the interaction as well as the teen.
Find more great mentoring tips at Rules of the Road: Money, Sex, Life for Teens.
Matthew Kuehlhorn is America's Mentor for Teens. He has created the Relationship Building System for Teen which is delivered in a compelling, illustrated novel, titled, "Bully."
He invites you to take advantage of an amazing offer for the Relationship Building System online at http://www.rulesoftheroadforteens.com/.
Matthew teaches the "Rules of the Road: Business, Finance, Life" to teenagers who are ready for the "keys" to their life! He offers mentoring programs, online and published resources, and locally organized "Success Clubs." Learn more by visiting his website above.