4 today, 14 tomorrow

My children are growing up way too fast. I really understand now what adults used to tell me then: that time moves quickly and I should enjoy the present without wishing I was already living my future.

Today, I read this article about teaching sons to retain their sexual purity. I realize my children will reach an age when their hormones are raging and they'll want to experiment. I'm blissfully glad that I do have a few years left before that happens (keeping in mind that time is rushing past me quicker than I can blink and that in the end, when my son is 14, it will seem like just yesterday he was 4). But, I also believe it is possible to raise kids to understand that our actions, all of them, have consequences. I'd like to teach both of my children that holding on to sexual purity until they are emotionally ready to handle the consequences is a much wiser, although seemingly more difficult, choice.

My husband and I are already teaching our daughter that her body is a special gift that she may one day want to give to someone. And that it should be given to someone very, very special, for it is a gift that can only be given once. Laying the foundation now will hopefully make the conversations to come less frightening to face.