DEAR HARRIETTE: I'm concerned about my 15-year old son. While most parents are scrambling to keep their kids away from sex and relationships, he seems to have no desire for any of it. He doesn't seem to be attracted to anyone. I don't want to assume my child isn't straight -- not that there's anything wrong with that -- but I just wish I knew where his head was and what's going on. Should I try to talk to my son about this, and if so, how? -- Should Consider Myself Lucky, Detroit
DEAR SHOULD CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY: Every child develops at his or her own pace. Your son may be slow to enter puberty, which is when children often become sensitized to their physical bodies and to each other. What you can talk to your son about -- which hopefully you have already been doing -- is growing up, sex in general (not specific to him), safe boundaries for intimate behavior and how to protect himself. Chances are, he will not want to talk about this at all, but you can weave it into conversations bit by bit.
Work on talking and listening to your son about his life. Learn about what he enjoys in his spare time. Find out about who his friends are. If you build a rapport with him, you may be able to discover what is occupying his thoughts. From there you can figure out how to support him. Know that not every teen is sex-obsessed, even when puberty hits.
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Yes, but she doesn't say anything about him being interested in other males either. My son's didn't have their first girlfriends until 11th grade. Prior to that, they didn't much care about it one way or the other. I didn't date in high school either.
Yes, but she doesn't say anything about him being interested in other males either. My son's didn't have their first girlfriends until 11th grade. Prior to that, they didn't much care about it one way or the other. I didn't date in high school either.
I know--and she doesn't directly state it--but I just think it's pretty clear she is thinking that.
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