REVIEW FOR - TEACHING YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT SEX USING THE TEMPLE AS YOUR GUIDE - BY CHERRI BROOKS

pic and description taken from Goodreads

DESCRIPTION:

It’s time for “the talk.” Teach your children the truth about sexual intimacy in a world of shifting values and ideas. With expert advice and age-appropriate wording, you learn how to use the temple as a beautiful analogy to discuss with your kids the sacred subject of sex. Timely and clear, this book is a must-read for parents, teachers, and leaders.

MY REVIEW / THOUGHTS:

I don't even know where to start with this review.  I have always thought that I am a very open person and we talk about sex and sexuality in our home often.  I never want my kids to not be able to talk to me.  When I was growing up sex is somethinng that was never talked about.  When my mom sat me down before I got married and she told me her "sex" talk, I kind of just giggled.  At that point I had learned more than I ever wanted to about sex from everyone else around me.  There were so many things I wasn't aware of though when I got married, because it was such a taboo subject.  Now, as a mom of a girl who is in the "marrying" age I am determined not to let her go into it blind like I did.  I mean I knew the mechanics and what it was "suppose" to be like, but going through with it was a completely different thing. My parents are wonderful people whom I love more than anything, but they were brought up in a very different time, and when they were young sex was taboo also.  It carried onto their children.  Now I refuse to let it be a "taboo" subject especially in my home.  

I fear in the LDS community that sex is still considered taboo to too many people.  They are uncomfortable talking to their kids about sex and the feelings associated with it.  Even, though I thought I was teaching my kids helpful, and doctrinal things about sex, some friends still think I am way to open.  I think that I will have to share this book with every one I know.

If you want a guide on how to talk to your kids about sex, this book is so wonderful.  It teaches you age appropriate ways to talk to your children.  Most of all it taught me how to not "react" with anger or shame.  To always react with love, and concern for the child.  That was a real eye opener to me.  I know for a fact I have said things like "it's just gross, don't do it".  Now I know that is the wrong thing to say.  We are going to have a FHE about this book.  That is how wonderful I think it is.

Every child should be able to talk to their parent about their sexuality and sex.  If they cannot talk to you then who are they getting their information from?  Brooks does such a great job explaining, how to talk to your children, along with some questions and answers.    Brooks gives a ton of resources for you to go to in your time of need to answer a question you may not know the exact right answer to, or just helpful books to assist you in talking to your kids.

Brooks emphasis on responding with love and not shame is so wonderful.  I will now try harder to react the right way so there is not question that I love them, and that they should never feel ashamed of the feelings they are having.  I love my kids and will no matter what choices they make in their lives.  This book helped open my eyes to ways I can reiterate this love for them, especially in such a tender subject.

What I loved most is how Brooks brought the Temple in to every aspect of talking to our kids.  Teaching them how important our bodies are and how they are a Temple, put a whole new perspective on how to approach the subject from now on.  

I could go on and on.  There are so many wonderful things I could say about this book.  If you have any concerns about how to talk to your children about sex, not matter their age, this book is a wonderful resource.  It truly tought me so many things, and has opened my eyes a lot, when I thought they were already open.  Hmmm...Humbling experience reading this book!

Hands down the best resource book I have ever read!  

Source:  I received this book from the author in return for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any way for this review.  These are my own PERSONAL thoughts on the book.

MY RATING:

WHERE TO BUY:

    

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

pic taken from her blog

Cherri H. Brooks grew up in Centerville, Utah and attended Utah State University where she earned her M.S. in Family and Human Development. She is the author of the LDS Living Magazine article, “Talking to Kids about Sex.” Her blog is www.timelesstemples.blogspot.com. She lives in Clarksville, Tennessee, with her husband and three children.