Kids age 12-19 in certain California counties can get 10 free condoms and lubricant shipped to them each month, free of charge, in a discreet envelope. They do include educational materials with the package. The counties targeted are due to their high rates of gonorrhea and chlamydia among teenagers.
**I have purposely not given my opinion.**
You can read the full article HERE.
I'd like to hear from my readers who are parents - how would you feel if your 12 - 19 year old was able to discretely order condoms online without your knowledge? Is this something you'd like in your county or do you think it may be sending the wrong message? What do YOU think of this? {Please stay respectful to others with your comments. There's no right or wrong answer.}
One random, lucky commenter will win a prize!
if they don't feel comfortable coming to me i would rather they protect themselves from STDs and unplanned pregnancy.
ReplyDeleteI think is good, but bad. It is good because if they have sex then they are protected. It is bad because it is like it is encouraging them to have sex.
ReplyDeleteI think it's great - wish they had it in more states!
ReplyDeleteI think it's fine. Honestly, your child an buy a box of condoms without your knowledge. Ordering them online may help a "couple" who is willing to have sex but is to ashamed to buy condoms. I'd rather not deal with an unwanted, unplanned pregnancy.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I think it is a great idea. Don't take me the wrong way, I don't condone or agree that teenagers should have sex, but teenagers have and always will have sex (with or without our knowledge). It would be better for them to have safe sex rather than end up pregnant or with some sort of STD. My kids are little right now, but when they are teenagers, I will gladly provide them with condoms (and let them know that even though I don't condone it, if they choose to have sex, to do it safely). Kids and teenagers also need to be aware of the dangers of having sex. They are more likely to do this behind your back when they don't have knowledge about it, so I recommend everyone to talk to their kids about it. And, I may have some people argue with me about this, but this is just my opinion. :)
ReplyDeleteMost places will give them out for free (planned parenthood, alot of public schools, hospitals, etc) but many kids are scared to go somewhere and ask for fear of being caught/ are embarrased. I know when I was in school they had them in the health center for people to grab if you wanted, but even then I know alot of people didnt because they didnt want to be seen. I dont necessarily think kids should be having sex, especially at 12, but these are more likely the ones who are too scared or uninformed to ask for protection, so it might be a good idea
ReplyDelete12? Much too young to even be thinking about any of this! 19 I can understand somewhat...
ReplyDeletefrogz60@hotmail.com
Oh and one other thing, even if you do talk to your kids about it, they still might not want to talk to you about it and express the need for birth control, so having this option gives them another way
ReplyDeleteI think that this is terrible. Schools have no business passing out condoms in school and promoting sexual activity. Parents have the responsibility to train up their child correctly and talk to them about waiting until marriage. I know that it is hard to stay a virgin until marriage, but it is possible. Maybe if parents actively knew the friends and girlfriend or boyfriend of their teenager and spoke to their teenager honestly about remaining pure it would help. Encourage your teen to only be with their boyfriend or girlfriend when someone else is around. Be honest with them about how hard it will be to wait but also tell them about the benefits.
ReplyDeleteSorry. My Facebook name is Rebecca Xavier. I forgot to write that in.
DeleteIm on the fence about this topic, I cannot choose a yes or no answer. I do not agree with teens having sex. I pray my children wait till they are married or in a long term relationship atleast. But I do think teens need to learn about the different dieases out there and know how to protect themselves from getting them too and condoms are a great choice if abstence isn't what these teens want to do.
ReplyDeleteCalifornia LOOOOVVESSS giving away free stuff don't they? I'm so glad we won't be moving back there. First, if they can't afford to go to walmart and spend $6 on condoms, they shouldn't be having sex. And second, if the parents are all for it, like the article says, they should buying the condoms for their kids instead of having the government do it. This whole thing is just ridiculous. Makes me mad as a parent, and a taxpayer.
ReplyDeleteLet's face it, life is not the same as it was 20 years ago, wether we as parents like it or not the kids these days are having sex younger and younger! I am the parent of a 14 year old daughter and I talk to her all the time about sex! Not that I am giving her permission but when the time comes for her, I want her to be able to come and talk to me about it first! I have made the choice to make sure condoms are available for her when ever she needs them, like I said I am not ok with her having sex and she is still a vergin but when she decides she is going to do it I want her to be std and baby free! The more we talk to our kids about this issue the less kids will go out and do it. This is just my experience with my child, it is different for every family. Our kids should not have to go behind our backs to get condoms, it is our job as parents to be there for our kids no matter what. I think its a good idea for kids that don't have parents they can talk to about things like this.
ReplyDeleteI have mixed feelings on the subject. On one hand, no I don't think they should be promoting sex like that. But then again, kids will do it no matter what. At least this way they are safe? I also don't think the government (Cali is broke!)should be giving more away for free. It is the parents job to teach about sex and more parents need to step to the plate. Get our government and their agenda's out of our children's and our lives as much as they are.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jessica about being on the fence. They need to be taught about all the std's too. Saving yourself for marriage is a wonderful thing.
ReplyDeleteThere are worse things in the world my child could be doing. If she doesn't feel comfortable talking to me about condoms and safe sex I would hope something like this was available to her. I mean, sure it would suck to find out my sweet is having sex but if she is protected I can only hope she doesn't wind up pregnant.
ReplyDeleteSarah Banes
ReplyDeleteI think 12-15 is really to young, but I know that kids these ages are having sex! I talk to my kids all the time about sex and what they need to do to protect themselves...I dont want them having sex at their ages 15 and 16 but Im dont with them 24/7 so if they still didnt think they could come to me and ask for birth control and condoms then I guess I would have to say this is a good thing even though im not impressed with it! I know alot of people think its telling kids to go have sex and I can agree with that as well but I would rather my kids be protected then get a STD or preggo at a young age! I was young when I had my kids and I know how hard it was to raise my kids but we did it and Im very proud of how my children are growing into mature adults! :)
There are kids in the highschool that my girls go to that already have 2 kids!!!! I couldnt believe my eyes when I was dropping my girls off one day and seen all these girls taking there babies to the schools daycare! All you can do is teach your children to do the right thing!!!
I think that hopefully something like this will open up more communication among parents and their children. My mother always had open communication with us. She made it very clear that while she didn't agree with any of us having sex before we were married, she still told us that if any of us wanted birth control and condoms that she would help us obtain either. She didn't leave the conversation at just that either. She explained to us about being emotionally ready to have sex and the fact that no matter what "protection" you use you can still end up pregnant. I think if I lived in one of those counties I'd talk with my children and have our own education. Then let them know that if they choose to be apart of this program that I'd like to review the "educational" information that they get each month with them. I'd hope that I have the same open communication with my children that my mother had with me.
ReplyDeleteEducation is key in preventing unwanted pregnancys and stds. Kids are going to make the decision when its right for them to have sex and who are we to tell them that their decision was wrong. I have two children (only 2 and 4) but when the time comes I plan on being very open and honest with them about sex and the pleasures and dangers that come along with sex. I think far too often people are too quick to look down upon sex, its a natural part of life and we shouldn't teach our kids to be ashmed of it. Kids are going to have sex if they want to.. sure it should be up to the parents to teach them about it, but what if that parent(s) refuse to accept the fact that their "baby" isn't such a baby anymore. I would MUCH rather see kids protecting themselves and learning about stds ect from a form of government then have their parents ignore the fact that they are having sex and that child end up pregnant or end up getting a std (treatable or not).
ReplyDeleteDoes the lubricant protect against STDs? If not, including that just seems to say "Go ahead and have protected sex, and really enjoy it, at our expense!"
ReplyDeleteThis is hard for me to say whether I agree or not. My kids WERE raised to wait until marriage, and were repeatedly told why it is preferable (spiritual as well as practical reasons). Both lost their virginity at 14. Both had a pregnancy scare (blessedly, no grandbabies yet, and no STDs). Other than chastity belts (and the equivalent for boys - what WOULD that be?), I don't know what else we could have done differently, but society and peers have more influence than parents these days.
I hate saying "yes, this is good" because it does give the impression (I don't care how much 'literature' they include) that pre-marital sex is acceptable. But, as so many others have stated, it's obviously going to happen, with or without parental approval or knowledge.
I think it is a good idea that way there is going to be less teens becoming parents at a youmg age and not only that can pervent many std's
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