DD13 (7th grade) just told me Wednesday she's been asked out 26 times (I don't think it's by 26 different boys). She still thinks sex is gross. Some of her friends have boyfriends, but we talk about how doing things meant for older kids doesn't make a kid more mature - it's actually a sign they're immature because they're not comfortable with their station in life and trying to appear mature by doing something older people do.

DD won't be sending any nude pictures of herself. But I could see her showing a nude pic someone sends her to her friends.

Anonymous wrote:I don't think phones are helping teens have sex earlier. There are some who have sex, and it sounds like they have issues or a history of abuse, just like the girls I knew 20 years ago who were having sex at 12 and 13.

Emotional issues facilitate sex at an earlier age.

That's certainly part of it, but not the only part.

Some kids simply have more opportunity than other kids.

I was walking up to our school the other day and there was a 2 pack of condoms that someone (I assume a student) dropped in front of the school.

The entrance is used for elementary and MS students. I am definitely concerned because clearly it is happening.

Anonymous wrote:I don't think a cell gone is facilitating sex acts at an earlier age. When I was in middle school, 25 years ago, some kids had sex. Not the majority, but it wasn't unheard of.

+1

Weird connection, OP.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I was in MS, some of my peers were having sex. This was 20 years ago and in a white, middle class area. I thought it was totally gross.

+1 I was also teased because I wasn't having sex so I ended up finding new friends. To this day it disturbs me that my two best friends arranged to loose their virginity on the same day and they were 12. One person's dad was a successful architect/builder, the other's dad was in a managerial marketing position for a Fortune 50 firm and both had stay-at-home moms.

When and where were they having sex? On the school bus?

I don't think phones are helping teens have sex earlier. There are some who have sex, and it sounds like they have issues or a history of abuse, just like the girls I knew 20 years ago who were having sex at 12 and 13.

Emotional issues facilitate sex at an earlier age.

^lose not loose

I don't think a cell gone is facilitating sex acts at an earlier age. When I was in middle school, 25 years ago, some kids had sex. Not the majority, but it wasn't unheard of.

Anonymous wrote:When I was in MS, some of my peers were having sex. This was 20 years ago and in a white, middle class area. I thought it was totally gross.

+1 I was also teased because I wasn't having sex so I ended up finding new friends. To this day it disturbs me that my two best friends arranged to loose their virginity on the same day and they were 12. One person's dad was a successful architect/builder, the other's dad was in a managerial marketing position for a Fortune 50 firm and both had stay-at-home moms.

No, because in spite of his best efforts, my middle schooler is solidly in"the friend zone" and will likely be there for the next few years.

I foresee at least a few more years of the dreaded "You're so nice (funny...smart...easy to talk to...) Let's just stay friends so we don't mess up our friendship" conversations in his future.

My DD is in 8th grade, getting ready to go to HS next year. She is in a magnet program and will be next year too. She has had an iPhone since 7th grade. We are close, we talk about everything, she knows I look at her texts but more often than not she shares them with me first. I know almost all of her friends and they are over here often.

That all being said, I have never seen any sexting, and I have never seen such an innocent set of kids in my entire life. I was watchful for it, but most of what I see at most is them discussing or debating their sexuality. Those that are actually seeing someone are doing so for the "romantic" element, not the sexual. Most of them have not even kissed anyone yet.

When I was in MS, some of my peers were having sex. This was 20 years ago and in a white, middle class area. I thought it was totally gross.

I'm more worried about sexting than sex. And by sexting I mean sending nude pics. Stuff that will be on the internet forever.

No. But my middle schooler doesn't have a phone yet.

Is this something you are worried about? I think cell phones and social media are facilitating sex acts at an earlier age. Do you feel like any of your kids or their friends are doing sexual acts.