By Annmarie Ivey, LPC-A Supervised by Dawn McFadden, LPC-S, PhD
A healthy relationship is something most people desire, so of course we desire the same for our children. However, you may be thinking to yourself, “Well MY parents never talked to me about this, so why do I have to talk about this with my child?” Good question!
Talking to your children and modeling healthy relationships can improve their lives.
First and foremost, it is never too early or too late to begin to talk or model healthy relationships. There is no one true correct way to do this. Every human is different, and it takes patience, commitment, openness, and accepting that mistakes are normal part of being human.
Healthy relationships go beyond intimate connections. Healthy relationships include ALL relationships, not just romantic ones. The relationship you have with your children will serve as a model throughout their lives. Create a space with them that fosters open communication and encourages them to come to you FIRST with questions.
Youth have a desire to be seen, heard, and validated by adults. Show up and listen, no matter what they’re talking about. Kids may find it easier to speak about their friends or characters and that can allow them to begin to feel as though they are heard. If you’re available for the small stuff, your kids will be more likely to think you’re available for the big stuff.
It’s okay to feel uncomfortable and awkward Your kids probably will too. Show them that it’s okay, and even important to talk things through, even when it feels weird
Sexist and gendered language can find their way into our everyday phrases. It important to pay attention to language and avoid victim blaming.
Some examples…
Caregivers can learn a lot from kids. It can be extremely helpful to be not only open to learning from youth but to also do our own research as well. Learn about how young people are connecting these days. Now, more than ever, young people connect through social media and online dating apps. Ask your kids about their social media usage Most importantly, support and believe them – at the end of the day, it is about them and their experience.
This article included highlights from a feature length article written by an HCWC counselor. The full-length article and a list of related resources will be made available on HCWC’s educational website: www.stopthehurt.org in the future.
We are committed to providing free, safe, and confidential services to victims of dating violence. If you are experiencing dating violence, please call our HELPLine 24/7 at 512-396-4357. HCWC’s Counseling & Resource Center has a counselor specifically focused on Dating Violence and our Prevention Educators are available for presentations and education about dating violence.
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Hi girls,
Here to teach children the "new normal" ? Everyone needs a job.
Why not simply teach children just how crazy adults are these days?
You could start by teaching young boys they should never listen to an adult who
tries to tell them they are not young boys, and they are not male. Likewise, you
could teach young girls they should never listen to an adult who tries telling
them they are not young girls, and they are not female.
You know, as opposed to you what you do now, that is, teaching young children
that these kind of ideas are wrong only if the adult "abuses" a young child in
order to make them believe they are no longer male or female. As opposed to
an authority figure who passively achieves the same thing without "abuse."
We heard the transsexual males gave your outfit a real run for the money.
We also hear that by the time they reach adulthood they're beyond all help.
Thanks for all the good work.
Janna, you should take the time to actually get some trans people.
They are not trans because when they were children some adult told them they were the opposite sex.
No one is saying you can't preach your transgender rainbow nazi theory to adults, Kenneth. We appreciate how "regular" homosexuality doesn't get some people the attention they deserve. However, if you try taking chances with my children I will take my chances with a jury, and you should understand where that will leave you.
You have quite a bit of hate in your heart for people you know nothing about. No one is preaching anything to kids.
Gender Dysphoria is a real condition, it is not created in children by adults telling them they are the opposite sex. And no one "becomes gay" for attention.
dude so what made you gay, someone slapped you? john wayne say mean words about pantyhose? drag queen story hour predator go cringe somewhere else
There is no place for teachers and adults to encourage kids to change their gender and this is what is happening. Also, those who have changed their gender and changed it back verify they got these ideas from social media. These videos are all over YouTube. What an entitled generation with nothing better to do but exclaim their made up "preferred" pronouns. If only kids in Ukraine had nothing better to do but wake up one day and craft a ridiculous pronoun. The impact on women's athletics is heart breaking. Men competing against women claiming they are women are cheaters.
Oh good lord, no one is encouraging kids to change their gender.
Retransitioning is rare, and even rarer in people who have undergone reassignment.
That is why years of therapy is often required before Doctors will even consider surgery.
Surgery is never done on children.
There is not one single case of a man pretending to be a woman just to get an athletic advantage.
Lookup Mack Biggs, that is what transgender exclusion policies do to girls sports.
Look up Lia Thomas, the story is trending. Look up Hannah Tubbs that story is also trending.
The Hannah Tubbs story is about a criminal whom I hope gets whats coming to her, nothing to do with being trans.
I know the Lia Thomas story.
Mack Biggs is the several year Texas state girls wrestling champion. A female to male tranistioning. Mack takes testosterone, but is required to compete against girls because of the rules in Texas.
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2694635-transgender-high-school-wrestler-wins-regional-title-amid-pending-lawsuit
How is that saving girls sports?
Hannah is a man. Not a "she."
The Loudoun County boy who sexually assaulted young girls is also not a she.
"the mother defended his acts ast those of a heterosexual teen" [sic] (LINK REMOVED)
The school board is more concerned with pronouns the safety of its students.
Why not create divisions for all transgender competitors.
Then they would not be able to cheat.
Males who claim they are females who compete against genuine females are cheaters.
This demand for attention on pronouns is working out great. It detracts attention from the border crisis, inflation, cost of gas, Afghanistan, and now Ukraine.
The US has an entire generation of entitled brats for free expression if you agree with their ideals. If not, they will cancel you.
These folks are arguing with a monster about imaginary rules controlling an
imaginary WORLD WHERE MEN ARE WOMEN AND NOTHING IS REAL.
Correct, nothing is real except for the rules written and enforced by monsters.
So . . .based on their rules, what's your next "logical" defense
Correct, they have already come for your children. So ?
Oh but that's only if the child is WILLING. We aren't monsters ! (see Rule No. 1)
Kenneth Monster's sermon today is on morality.
He doubles down at those who don't understand pedophiles and calls them criminals
How encouraging. Todays sermon is on "It's All Good" for your children.,
The teaching moment involves men who impersonate women for purposes of criminal activity who Kenny says should nevertheless be referred to as female.
(Monster Rule No. 2 ---keep repeating insanity and demand compromise).
and see: (Rule No. 3 --normal does not exist, so either reject normal or accept compromise).
God is Truth. A godless society cannot recognize truth, let alone value it.
Just look at the tranny thing. That’s the most obvious. These people are claiming – all of these people are claiming – that if a man chops off his pee pee (or pretends it's not there) he becomes a woman. This is abject lunacy, and yet it is brutally enforced as policy which must be accepted as truth. Certain people will say “I believe the trannies have a right to be trannies, but they shouldn’t be allowed to play women’s sports.” Why should they be allowed to be trannies? Oh because they only suggest that children should do the same thing in order to attain the happiness of a tranny-- who according to their own bliss have attained the highest percapita suicide rate in the nation. Just how much sanity are you willing to concede on behalf of the suicidal blueprints provided to the children of our nation by these people, first as victims of their own design, and secondly as the new savior of our confused youth.
Why? Because this who we now are. Our values. What we fight for. Democracy in action.
America, behold your new god.
Every argument used against Trans people is almost identical to arguments against integration.
One of the arguments against integrating schools was that it would be unfair to white athletes.
All of you have shared a bathroom with a transexual person, all of you have called them with their preferred pronouns.
Do you check the privates of everyone you meet to make sure they are using the proper pronouns? Of course you don't.
There is no scientific proof that gay or trans people are more likely to be child molesters.
You claim you want to protect women, but you are okay with biological women competeing against trans men and boys who are taking testosterone, as a matter of fact, you want to require it by law.
I just don't see the logic in your reasoning.
dude, get over it you'll never be femaie and talking like you got PMS won't change it
why not go to the river talk to the ducks and learn who you really are