To think it is unusual for a 10 year old to announce she is bisexual?

[PotteryLottery]

My Y6 child came home saying that 10 year old classmate who has previously identified as a lesbian with a girlfriend, is now saying she is bisexual.

She had to explain the terms to my child.

Is this normal playground talk nowadays?

I have no problem with any child's sexuality but I'm just wondering if I should mention it to the school in case she has been exposed to something inappropriate for her age? I know the girl has teen siblings.

How does that work on a day to day basis, though?

You'd go through quite some convolutions to avoid announcing your sexuality.

I think for teenagers, it's just about working out who they are. Some people don't need time and space to talk things through; others do.

You'd go through quite some convolutions to avoid announcing your sexuality.

What I mean is, I never sat my family down or just randomly announced "I am bi/I think I am bi". It might come up in another way, through a natural conversation about crushes, in which I mention a female. I suppose the word "announced" makes it seem quite dramatic or like it's an event.

Oh, I follow you.

Yes, I think it's much nicer if it just comes up as a topic in an organic way. But we're all different - I understand why some teens might build it up to be a big thing.

@BrokenMumTeenDD - I just saw your last. I don't quite know what to say. You sound as if you want to be kind and thoughtful. But ... well, maybe don't keep characterising your DD trying to talk to you as 'starting an argument'.

It's possible she is just straight. But honestly, what child wouldn't hide their sexuality if a parent sees them trying to talk about the topic as 'arguing'? Especially if it's obvious that parent doesn't want them to be gay.

My parents were like this. They made themselves believe there was always a reason why my feelings were 'too young' or 'clearly just making an argument' and they convinced themselves 'oh, now she's tried having a boyfriend, we were right all along'.

They never though, hang on a minute, why wasn't I supportive in the first place? They never thought being homophobic as wrong, because they never thought they were being homophobic. They just saw it as perfectly reasonable to insist the conversations were not 'too young' or 'too emotional' or whatever.

Sarah, you don't know how to read properly, listen & see another point of view do you, not even when you have no clue about any of the people involved. You read between the lines to paint the dark picture you have in your head based on YOUR experiences onto others. I'd suggest examining that if I were you, because it's a very unpleasant trait. Otherwise, I'm out, you can't ague with... & I CBA to even try

I really don't think there are kids who think it's uncool to be straight.

There most certainly is. There's a certain girl teen culture where it's cool to be gay, bi, pan, trans .... anything but straight. I know because my child was there. Practically all of her friends identified as something other than straight. About 80% of them are now in relationships with men.

I can read. I just disagree with you.

I suspect that if you got 100 gay people in a room, about 80 of them would tell you their parents also came out with the 'you're too young, don't announce it to the world, now you're just getting upset ... now, see I'm sure you're straight' line.

I react to it because it is so familiar, and to so many people.

It could absolutely be the case that your DD is straight and perfectly happy (and I've said this before). I have no idea. But I do believe it is wrong to make children feel they are too young to say they're gay. It's only a word. It doesn't infect them.

My daughter when 12, told me she was 'Part time' she liked boys and girls and had a girlfriend.

She is 23 now

But I do believe it is wrong to make children feel they are too young to say they're gay

You really can't see anything other than your own projected agenda can you

Nobody said she was too young to say they are GAY, but too young for any sexuality decisions to even be an issue to worry about. SHE agreed. The rest of it is because of her condition. She agrees with that too. 🙄

My year 6 ds recently used the word bisexual in error as he meant unisex when referring to names. I dont think he had a clue what it really meant.

There most certainly is. There's a certain girl teen culture where it's cool to be gay, bi, pan, trans .... anything but straight. I know because my child was there. Practically all of her friends identified as something other than straight. About 80% of them are now in relationships with men

Absolutely this ferrier our friends with older kids have seen it too & like yours, all bar one is hetro, the one who isn't, we all knew really on too,it didn't need discussing, it was just accepted. Here it spills over to the boys too.

It's young but I know others who knew they were gay by 10, bi (or actually pan) sexual is quite the thing among my DD's' friends, it seems at least half are or have experimented (university aged now but from around 15 they were all declaring it, boys and girls.)

Again, you are clearly trying to convince yourself, not me.

I've read your posts and seen what you've said, and I drew conclusions. I get that you disagree, but I don't see why you think I'll stop thinking it's wrong to tell children what you told your DD, just because you paraphrase it slightly differently.