Hello again! April was a busy, exciting month for me. (And, yes, I realize that May is almost over too!). There's been so many moments in the past month and a half where I've had the thought that what is happening is something awesome to share. Here's a couple of the awesome April-May events of my life...
I got to see Peggy Orenstein speak. Some of my co-workers presented at a really cool event on supporting teens. We did workshops on healthy relationships for teen participants and It's That Easy workshops for parents/caregivers. Peggy Orenstein was the keynote speaker at the event, which I was really excited about. I have read two of her books, Cinderella Ate My Daughter and Girls and Sex. Both were insightful and compelling reads that I'd recommend, especially if the socialization of female-bodied folks is not a topic you've explored much. The points and stories she shared in her talk resonate with what I have experienced, seen in my research and in classrooms. We need to really assess the messages we are sending to all young people around sexuality. If you haven't read her books, heard her on public radio, or seen her TEDTalk, you should check them out.
I've been doing a number of parent/caregiver workshops myself, which have been such wonderful experiences. As I mentioned above, we use the It's That Easy approach for these workshops. I really view my role as a facilitator to do just that - to pose questions, lead activities, and provide responses that support participants. I have felt so honored to hear the stories, concerns and questions from the parents who have attended, honored that they have trusted such a personal part of their lives with me and my coworkers. Parent and caregivers play an enormous role the sexual decision-making of young people, but that doesn't mean that it's easy for them to have conversations with their children about sexuality.