Whoa Nelly!

As early as the 4th grade, I remember my classmates having boyfriends and girlfriends. For the most part, elementary school relationships were pretty innocent. Couples would hug and hold hands. Then in junior high, these couples discovered what kissing was, and people started bragging about who they got to make out with. Pretty soon, high school started, and the making out escalated into sex. Parents no longer had to chauffeur their kids to the movie theater or to dinner. By this time, teenagers could drive themselves to their desired destination, and hormones were raging.

I guess I was a late bloomer when it comes to relationships. Up until the middle of high school, my love life was pretty much nonexistent. Of course, I still had crushes on boys and daydreamed about being in love. But I was not and am still not ready to give it all up to a guy. Call me a prude, but I just believe that sex should always wait until a person is both physically and emotionally ready.

Please note that I am not here to preach against sex before marriage. I merely want to make it known that being physical with someone before being sure and ready is not a good idea. A person’s body is something to be cherished – not used and worn out.

To this day, I feel that there are certain things I am not emotionally ready to handle. So when I hear about kids from junior high “sexting” or just outright having sex, it baffles me. How can girls who are so much younger than me be comfortable sending naked pictures of themselves to a bunch of boys? I know everyone matures at a different rate, but to say that a kid is emotionally mature at 12 years old is ridiculous.

Boys and girls, you will not die if you don’t have sex. Please put your clothes back on and have some self-respect.