When Football becomes a Sex Ed Class

. . . You know there’s a problem!!!!  This may be a little bit of an unusual “Life With Boys” post, but I think it is relevant anyway. 

As my faithful readers are aware all of our older boys are very much in love with Football.  They love to watch their favorite team play, but something that surprised me recently is that they seem to enjoy watching just about any football game and as it comes on they will all choose who they are rooting for. 

This being the Playoff part of the season, there is much excitement and anticipation around here, especially during the weekend.  I’ve never thought anything of it, I mean after all these football games are mostly on local stations during the day, how bad can it be . . . right?????

I have been quite shocked recently to find that during every single game there is an E.D. commercial.  Since when should a simple football game create a situation for families that forces them to turn it into a S*x Ed class?  We believe in talking with our boys as the time approaches and giving them only the appropriate amount of information.  So when anything comes along that creates a ripple in our little pond of teaching it can be a bit disturbing!

Even at school we have taken a stand as parents to dictate how much information our children are allowed to receive from them.  They have a certain amount of “Health” education, one afternoon per week for one month in the spring of 5th grade.  There are probably plenty of children who are not getting any information at home, so for that reason they are “required” to present this information, but for us much of it is too much, inaccurate or even inappropriate information for where our sons are at and what they are ready for. 

Yes, children will talk, they will hear things from their peers, and we do need to be very proactive at home.  But they do understand that they can come to us with any questions or concerns they may have and there is an open line of communication available to each of them whenever they want/need it.  

I have spoken about the influences of media on boys just a bit in the past, but I never dreamt that it would come to this!  It is highly unfortunate that my sons can’t enjoy a football game without feeling uncomfortable.  Thankfully we can mute all commercials and monitor it that way, so since we know what we’re up against we have a solution. 

Thank goodness Life With Boys is usually a little more lighthearted.  But honesty is what it’s all about . . . and tools, lots and lots of parenting tools!