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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Teenage sexuality

14 replies

Juliette27 · 22/08/2020 08:44

Hello all. I just confirmed today that my 15 yo daughter (16 next week, but this apparently started months ago) Is sexually active, and I feel so disappointed and full of despair. We’ve had so many conversations about making good decisions. It is not that I expected her to be a 40yo virgin, but I really thought she would wait until she was a little older.
I did not freak out (even though I wanted to cry and yell) and tried to focus on her safety and well being. She has what I call the triple A (adopted, ADHD, anxiety) which I feel all contributed to her decision. I feel so sad because I know the stats on girls who become sexually active at an early age, and one of them is that they are more prone to depression later in life. I also wonder what role the adoption played as adolescence is such a tough time and there is such a yearning by adopted kids to feel accepted and loved. My husband and I love her to pieces, but we’ve learned that’s not enough to combat the adoption wound. She has constantly tried to act older than she is, and it does not help that social media and her friends have her convinced that EVERYONE is vaping, doing drugs, and having sex, etc. She is strong willed and parenting has been exhausting at times.
I know it’s not the end of the world. I am just trying to figure out where to go from here? My husband and I are vigilant parents. When dd started dating this kid, I met his mother and explained that he couldn’t be at our house when there wasn’t a parent at home and vice versa. Doors had to be open. I feel betrayed by his mother because she obviously was not supervising. Probably not as important to her as it was to me...I feel like it’s ridiculous not to allow her to go over there anymore (the damage is done), but that is really what I’d like to do. I feel confused about the rules in general— which I never am. I haven’t shared this new info with my husband, partly because I don’t want him to be as heartbroken as I am. I would appreciate any thoughts...

OP posts:
BarbedBloom · 22/08/2020 15:05

I was having sex at this age and have no regrets, nor have I ever suffered from depression. I made a choice about my body and was careful about protection - doubled up.

We weren't allowed to be alone in each others houses either so we have sex in parks and behind buildings. This is why i would be okay with my 16 year old having a boyfriend or girlfriend in her room. They will do it anyway and I would rather them be safe.

You can't go back in time and she will be sixteen soon and legally able to make the choice. It isn’t only bad kids who choose to have sex at 16 and by that age most kids in my school had. That was back in early 90s.

Just keep a dialogue open.

VioletCharlotte · 22/08/2020 15:15

I think you're being rather over dramatic about this. She's almost 16. Having sex is pretty normal at that age. I think you need to take the emotion out if it, if you want an open relationship with her, don't make her feel ashamed or embarrassed about something that's perfectly natural. Have a good chat with her and make sure she understands about contraception. I would encourage her to look into getting an implant to protect from pregnancy, as teenagers can be really bad at remembering to take the pill. Talk abut STIs and why it's important to use condoms as well. Most importantly, talk to her about consent and remind her that she should never feel pushed into doing anything she's not comfortable with. And let her know that she can talk to you about anything.

iklboo · 22/08/2020 15:17

I was sexually active at that age. While I do have depression and anxiety that's work entirely related.

ChaChaCha2012 · 22/08/2020 15:22

Having a melodramatic mother is more likely to lead to depression than having sex at 15 years old.

OnSilverStars · 22/08/2020 15:23

I had sex at 15 with a boyfriend I cared about. We're both now normal, well adjusted happy adults with successful careers and families. No regrets. Just make sure she's using protection and can come to you.

It's had literally no negative effects on my life. I felt like you're making a lot of assumptions on very little evidence.

Aquamarine1029 · 22/08/2020 15:27

I think you're overreacting. What's done is done, and the issue you know have to be very proactive about is making sure, to the best of your ability, that you get her to use reliable contraception. Hopefully the pill/implant along with condoms. If anything will impact her mental health, an unplanned teenage pregnancy will be it.

As for telling your husband, please don't. This is not your news to share, and will be a total betrayal of your daughter's trust and an invasion of her privacy.

jessstan2 · 22/08/2020 15:36

I wonder how old you were when you first had sex, Juliette. I'm seventy now but I was exactly 15 the first time and most people I knew were 15/16.

As long as your daughter knows how to take care of herself, don't make a big thing out of it. She will calm down when she is a bit older.

Aria2015 · 22/08/2020 15:49

I think 15 is a tad young to be having sex but it's not that bad given the age of consent is 16. The number one thing is that she's been safe and protecting herself against STDs and pregnancy.

She's made her choice and it's done now. Unless she's been pressured into sex, I see no reason why she should feel any regret about it in later life.

I think it's really important to make sure she doesn't feel judged or ashamed (she's done nothing wrong after all). I'd keep conversations around this limited to safety and contraception options. The only other conversation I'd have is about things like sexting and photos. Not something that was around when I was 15 years old but now it seems to be something that happens and of course it's important young people realise that once they put stuff out there in the form of online messages etc... there is a danger that what they intended for private use, won't stay private.

premiumshoes · 22/08/2020 16:29

You had me until the 'triple A' crap Hmm

Rollergirl11 · 22/08/2020 16:49

What an overreaction! Somehow you have managed to make this all about you. How disappointed, betrayed and heartbroken you are. Get a bloody grip. I really hope you managed to hide your sour disapproval from your poor DD.

Andi2020 · 22/08/2020 16:57

As long as they are using protection
You can not be babysitting them 24/7
My dd first had her bf to stay on her 17th birthday and they had it all planned for their first night together and she stayed at his the week after.
17 is the legal age in our country
Both where 17 in the same week
I really don't know what they are going to do when school starts back in September
Both starting Alevels. Spent all their time together since lockdown ended
At 16/17 you can only advise them not lecture them as they will do it somewhere if you dont allow it in your home.
I want my dd and her bf to feel comfortable and that it is something natural when you are in love rather than making out it is something bad and disgusting.
They got their GCSE results on Thursday and had a party in a marquee for a few friends ( which now couldn't happen with covid19) and he is so nice to her he asked her permission as they where celebrate results could they go to bed before he went home. I thought that was a really kind thing rather than just assuming.
I went out and cleaned the marquee and left them to have their own time as results day is a special day
His mum wouldn't allow him stay that night didn't give a reason which kind off pissed me off as I host the party and cleaned up to 2am was his curfew and she could go to bed and I left him home.
She messaged me at 9 hope party going well didn't offer any help😡
She said my dd was so lovely and they are a lovely wee couple.
She knows they are sexually active as when my dd got in the bar she asked her about it and let her stay in his bedroom overnight when she was at home.
I would rather they stayed together for the night after they have sex to not have it a quickie and off he goes home. I'm not keen on that and neither are they but might be only way if his mum not letting them spend night together it will only want him to be here more and at his own house less
So that is giving you example off what will happen if you dont allow them be intimate in your home they will GO ELSEWHERE
I have very open relationships with my 3 kids about this so they can come to me my other 2 are younger but I do advise them

Juliette27 · 22/08/2020 17:31

Thank you all for your responses. I just needed a minute, and I appreciate all of your comments—which helped me put things in perspective. I was a late bloomer, for sure, but I do feel these kids are so much more vulnerable than we were. We have had many talks about consent, and she has been on birth control for a few years to treat her acne. I also reminded her yesterday about condoms preventing STDs. I do think I have done a few things right, but I will try to get the melodrama in check. Thank you all for sharing your stories and offering support. Juliette

OP posts:
jessstan2 · 22/08/2020 17:51

I definitely do not think kids are more vulnerable than they were when I was one. Nobody told us anything! There were plenty of predatory men around and drugs.

I expect your daughter knows all about how to prevent infection and about contraception but it's good that you will be talking to her about it; better safe than sorry.

Juliette27 · 22/08/2020 17:52

And Aria, you are right about the sexting and photos. She has assured me that she has never and would never send nudes or take a video of private moments. I didn’t think she would, but I was relieved to hear it.

Thank you all, again, for the excellent advice.

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