How did your parents address the issue of sexuality when you were growing up?

Now that I think about it. I didn't really get "the talk" at all... The only thing my mom really said to me about sex is 'It's something people do it when they are in love' and 'Wait till your married,' yada yada. I didn't get any sort of talk about my body or being safe. Thanks to the internet, I've taught myself everything I need to know.

They avoided it

They never really gave me 'the talk'. Rather, they just didn't bother to tell me to go into another room when there was a full on sex scene in a film.

My parents pretty much didn't have a sex talk. They didn't try to keep me away from movies or anything, just didn't really bother to talk about it. It was pretty much, "Don't get anyone pregnant" lol

My parents basically explained to me what happens when men or women get aroused and that about covers it

They pretty much avoided to talking to me about anything remotely related to sexuality. When I began developing sexually, instead of talking to me about what was happening to my body and menstruation, they gave me a freakin' pamphlet! At that point, I realized I shouldn't even bother asking them about anything remotely sexual. I've always been an avid reader, so I just started researching the answers to my questions on my own.

They didn't really bring it up that I remember, but Mom made sure there was informative literature in the house that I could easily access, and when I showed interest in a sex-ed book in the local bookstore, she bought it for me. I was a big reader, so I got most of my sexual education through reading, but I always felt like I could go to Mom with questions when I needed to.

My mom is an old hippie/liberated second wave feminist. So her ideas about sexuality are very liberal... in a 1970 kind if way! There was a "birds & bees" talk, but then when I was a older there was the "morals" talk. It pretty much boiled down to this: There is nothing wrong with sexuality and all I had to do was say something and she would take me to the doctor for the pill. It's just a natural part of life. But oral sex is WRONG.

I never quite understood the logic of this. I just always figured it must be a generational thing. I was only around 14, but thought it was pretty funny!

My parents didn't even address the issue. They didn't make any prude comments, nor did they openly talk about it. It was as if to them it didn't exist.... may be why my father still sleeps on the couch.

My mom is Awesome she was very open....My dad just avoided it

I actually lost my dad before I started getting curious about sexuality and everything that follows. I think he would have been embarrassed by all the questions I asked my mom, but my mom on the other hand, was extremely open, communicative, and supportive.

She taught me that one of the best ways to teach safe sex or sex education in the home was by being there for your child when she has questions. Her philosophy was always about sacrificing a little discomfort that her "baby" had sex on the brain by knowing the conversation meant I wasn't going into sex or sexuality completely clueless.

My parents never mentioned anything about it.

My mom DEFINITELY avoided the talk of sex, sexuality, developing, you name it. I learned everything from a book my aunt bought me, loveline (when it was on tv) and sex in the 90's on mtv. So I am not sure that was the best way, but it got done. haha

My parents did not specifically sit me down and have "the talk" that I can recall. I could have asked them questions and they would have answered them, but most of the time I had the first born "I can handle this" complex going on. That said their reactions to sexual issues taught me that sex was normal and to be curious was not a bad thing.

I mostly learned what I knew about sex was from school and church. All I remember from school was a focus on STDs and that a male childhood friend and I opening up the book and looking at a picture of someone described to have gotten herpes from performing oral and my friend and I looking at each other and both saying the name of a girl back in elementary school who was a little too friendly with the boys in class. That and the teacher constantly dropping his pen to look up the skirts the cheerleaders in the front row

Church on the other hand was a better experience. Each year on the weekend before Thanksgiving, we would go as a youth group to camp and talk about our budding sexuality. It was essentially framed as "you guys already know about the plumbing, now lets get to the hard stuff". Alot of it was discussions on building intimate relationships without sex so that when both people were ready the experience would be something special and positive. After marriage was not pushed as the only way to achieve this especially since there were a few that were openly gay or bi in the group, including the associate pastor's son. It was stressed however that the more stable, balanced and long term the relationship was, the better it would be for both partners.

I was raised by my grandparents. To them, NOTHING sexual was talked about. Even when things like French kissing came on TV, my papa would turn it off. When I was 9, I started my period and my grandma gave me a flyer HER mom gave to her in the 60s and it didn't explain SH*T. Bbuutt I had already been teaching myself.

By 7th grade, my sex-ed teacher had ME leading the class discussions because I literally knew more than her. My high school life sciences teacher had me do the same thing.

My grandma caught me masturbating once and it kinda freaked her out. Then *I* sat her down and explained how masturbation creates better self esteem and a better knowledge of ones self. Not to mention the increased health benefits and stress relief!

Now-a-days, I am constantly telling her she needs to do it, or get my papa back in the bedroom (they haven't "done it" in 35+ years!)

**Odd side note, my grandpa was (still is) so anti-sex but I have caught him watching porn and found his stash of magazines (which I "borrowed"). Funny how older people can be lol