Have you ever gone out for a walk, jog or bike ride only to find yourself caught in the rain? If you happen to get wet, is it a big deal? Perhaps it depends on how much rain is falling or how quickly you can find shelter.
Why am I talking about the weather in a blog about pornography?
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The truth is, we know that any child could be exposed to pornography at any time. Frequent and sudden encounters with inappropriate content is now the rule more than the exception. How parents and kids manage their emotions when something shocking catches them off guard is definitely something worth talking about.
It was actually an experience I had with my dog Mandi that inspired this motivational moment. To find out more, watch the video below or continue reading:
But Mandi is only a year old and I know she needs the exercise. So even though I prefer the comfort of a dry home I will get her out to run in any reasonable weather condition.
On a particularly wet morning I decided to switch my schedule around. I heard the promise of sunshine and held off for a bit. Sure enough the sun did make an appearance later that morning and I took full advantage of it …thinking that I was so clever.
You can’t predict the weather
I’m sure you can tell where this is going. Yup! We got just past our midway point and the rain came back. And not just a drop or two. Enough rain to make sure we were both dripping by the time we got home.
As my very permeable outerwear got wetter and wetter, I started thinking about all the things we do to protect our kids from getting pulled into pornography:
- Install filters and parental controls (especially when kids are young),
- Create an Internet Safety Contract together,
- Define pornography, etc.
It then dawned on me that even when we do everything in our power to walk only in the sunshine, it doesn’t mean we won’t get caught in a sudden rainfall. In other words, it’s highly unlikely that our kids will grow up and not be affected by pornography in some way or another.
Even though they’ve been prepared. And even though they know what pornography is and why it’s harmful they may still get caught off guard. Without condoning pornography at all, how do we remain calm, understanding that pornography could touch our kids in some way?
Caught off Guard
Reflecting on my walk, I think it’s worth noting that as soon as I saw the sunshine it never occurred to me to put on a raincoat or carry an umbrella. After all I was just going for a short stroll to the park and back.
When the rain did come and it persisted, did I panic? If I’m completely honest, then yes, for a split second. But almost immediately I started calculating how far away I was from home. As soon as I realized I was close, I kept my focus on a steady pace and the rain didn’t get me down at all.
Home as a refuge
Now here’s where I relate my little experience of getting caught in the rain back to kids and their experience with pornography. Our homes can be a place of refuge. Not just where kids find shelter but also where they find comfort in communication. Is your home a place where your kids can unburden thoughts and feelings about what they’ve experienced—especially when they’ve been caught off guard?
It took me a while to understand that was my responsibility. I needed to learn how to bring up tough subjects like pornography on a regular basis. When I started to do that, my kids started to realize I was approachable. And that no topic was off limits in our home.
It’s impossible to control what our kids will see on the school bus, in the cafeteria, or at their friend’s house. But we can make sure that when the rain comes suddenly, they know exactly how close they are to home.
Join the Parents Aware community
Parents Aware is a little organization with a big heart. We consider pornography a public health crisis. Our mission is to have solution-focused discussions about the harms of pornography that relate to everyday parenting.
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- Radio Station Promotes Pornography: 3 Easy Ways to Take Action - September 24, 2019
- Teens Screens Connection & Happiness - September 3, 2019
- How to Get Your Kids Talking (About Stuff that Matters) - July 26, 2019
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