MetroFamily Magazine September 2020

more open, whereas her husband’s parents were more of the don’t-discuss-it-at-all type. Butts said coming from two different backgrounds has impacted the way both she and her husband have approached the topic in their home. “He wanted to be very careful with the words he used, he didn’t want to make him uncomfortable, whereas I was like you might as well make him uncomfortable because it’s an uncomfortable thing to talk about,” said Butts. “There is no way to talk about it without being uncomfortable for anyone involved.” Wright said parents and guardians have to lean in to their discomfort, meaning they need recognize that they may feel uncomfortable, but that does not mean they cannot handle the discussion. “Knowing that you’re going to be uncomfortable is really a huge step because now you can work toward being more comfortable,” said Wright. “Know that when you really push past that discomfort, there’s something so beautiful on the other side of that because now you can actually have conversations with your young person. It’s a temporary discomfort and it’s absolutely worth it.”

WRIGHT ADVISES PARENTS TO LEAN IN TO THEIR DISCOMFORT IN TALKING WITH KIDS ABOUT SEX, RECOGNIZING THAT UNCOMFORTABLE FEELINGS DON'T MEAN THEY CAN'T HANDLE THE CONVERSATIONS.