What does it mean to be a sexually healthy adult? The characteristics are broader than you may think. And, they encompass all aspects of a person’s life – behavior, relationships, sense of self, sexual health, and of course, sexual behavior. According to SIECUS (the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States), there are 37 different ways in which a sexually healthy adult lives their life.
Characteristics of a Sexually Healthy Adult
Some of the characteristics of a sexually healthy adult include:
having good communication skillsbeing respectful (romantic and non-romantic) relationshipshaving a healthy self-esteempossessing knowledge about sexual health and their bodytaking steps to keep themselves sexually healthytaking responsibility for their own sexual behaviorexpressing love and intimacy in appropriate ways
See, there is actually a lot that goes into it. And most of us don’t get a lot of intentional guidance around it.
The good news is that your kids don’t have to go through those small but very important milestones by themselves! You can be there for them. You can learn to be that supportive, loving adult they talk to.Emi Canahuati
Most of us learn by accident or we learn by making a lot of mistakes. Mistakes that could have been avoided with timely and welcomed guidance. Some of us don’t get a choice about how we learn about it and have traumatic experiences around our sexuality.
Being the kind of parent you needed as a kid…
So imagine what a difference if would have made for you to have a supportive adult in your life. You know, someone to discuss this “stuff” with!
How did you feel about not having an adult to talk to openly about what was happening to your body during puberty? Or when you were questioning your identity? How would your childhood have been better if you had someone to talk to about having your first crush?
What might have been different if you’d had someone to talk to about how far you wanted to go sexually that first time? How many of us would have benefitted from having someone to help us figure out how to express our gender identity, or someone to confide in when feeling ashamed about our changing bodies and how that made us feel?
The good news is that your kids don’t have to go through those small but very important milestones by themselves! You can learn to be that supportive, loving adult they talk to. You can raise a sexually healthy adult!
What do you want for your children?
When we picture our children as adults and what we want for their lives, we picture a satisfying career, a lucrative job, and a solid support system (among a huge lot of other things). But, the one thing most of us don’t think about is their sexuality. We don’t think about what it means to be a sexually healthy person or how to help them become one. But I bet you if I asked any parent, they’d say yes, they want that for their kids!
Imagine a world where it is possible for your kids to feel just as comfortable coming to you about how to tie their shoes as talking to you about how to deal with their first crush. Or about wanting to be sexual with someone.
When it comes to sexuality, you as a parent are uniquely qualified! No one has your child’s best interests in mind as much as you do.Emi Canahuati
Our kids need just as much, if not more, guidance around these issues! They can easily access help elsewhere for a lot of the other areas in their lives because they are not as taboo as sexuality. When it comes to sexuality, you as a parent are uniquely qualified! No one has your kids’ best interests in mind as much as you do. No one is going to look out for them the way you will. So why leave this very important and potentially beautiful part of being human out of your relationship with your child?
So, now, are you wondering how to get started? If so, check out my online class on 7 Essential Tools For Raising Sexually Healthy Children. I will give you just what you need to get you on the path of having (mostly) comfortable conversations with your kids about sex and sexuality. Join me!