Can I be open with my son on his question regarding puberty or should I hold back?

[Anonymous]

My 12 year old son came to me with a puberty related question like at what age did I achieve puberty and what all changes I went through during puberty. Can I be open here or should I hold back?

[Boromir]

My suggestion would be to be as open as you can. You can very well talk about all these changes in a matter-of-factish tone. Him being at ease enough to come to you is a great thing and it’s better he learns the correct things from you than the wrong things from his class mates.

there’s a scene in orange is the new black where a girls doesn’t even know that you can pee with a tampon in and a trans woman explains her the difference between a vagina and a pee hole.

If his dad is there too you can point to him for the more male puberty thing like shaving and first ejaculation things.

[Asker]

Thanks for the suggestions, it’s helpful

[Anonymous]

Yes you need to be open about it and have a really meaningful conversation on it. He should know the physical as well as mental changes that his mom underwent from being a girl to a woman during puberty. You shouldn’t feel awkward about it as he has turned to you for guidance rather than a third party. All the best with i

[ushagomez]

Just be completely open with him. You are the most trusted and best person to provide him with all this information. Don’t make a big deal about it. Choose a time when he’s not distracted by anything else. Let him know you’re happy to answer all his questions as it is important that he should learn about puberty in girls. Don’t make it a monologue, let him think and ask the next logical question.

[Anonymous]

wow... i'm surprised your son (an almost teenager) even came to you with this. you should be proud for being so caring that he'd feel comfortable enough to be open about it with you. hopefully he won't go through that teenage phase where they ignore their parents and cause havoc (guilty).

[Tamera952]

Open, open, open.

[Smashingdoozy]

He's 12 and doesn't know about puberty? You should have started the conversation from age 8! At least. Ideally just talking about it through his whole life. Now you have to traumatize the poor kid by dumping all the information on him 😭

[AviatorTom]

You should always be open with your children. The key thing is just answer the question, don't go into a lot of unnecessary detail.

[Dargil]

I would be honest. It's also time to introduce him to what it mean to be a man.

[Drumlin2001]

Why hold back? It's a good opportunity to bond.

[goaded]

Be open, but age appropriate.

[goaded]

The best way to achieve that is to ask what he wants to know. It will probably start with "is it true that...", and that shouldn't be hard to answer.

[goaded]

Finally: you should be proud that he'd ask you. I would never have asked my mother (who was really great).

[helva]

I would be open

[Eliiiiii]

Educating would be better. He's gonna find out eventually but that source might not be reliable

[Nikki1989]

I would be as open as possible.

[DerekC321]

Yes, tell him everything. Be as open as you can.

[hbkfan]

The earliest you give him the talk the better you don't want him sexually confused do you?

[Kelly6]

open and honest

[Kelly6]

@Jennyblock true i was always open and honest

[MasterKS]

Yes talk with him openly in decent way, its your role as a mother.

[MasterKS]

I hope it will go well.

[riverrat3]

Give honest answers

[Cherkez]

Yes you should

[Anonymous]

Be open and show him how to have good sex! Show him how to get a condom on and to make sure the girl is on the pill!

Teach him that porn is bad sex! Don't watch it and to make love in bed not just sex!