Anonymous wrote:Well, I read the Jean Auel books in 5th and 6th grade. Oops.

It was fine, I skimmed the explicit parts. Boring.

+1
The first in the series was assigned for incoming 9th graders at my high school. So I was 13 when I read it. I wasn't scarred or warped by it.

Totally normal and probably developmentally healthy.

I'm another in the "it's fine" camp. My parents had a zillion books around the house. When I was 12 or 13 I was checking out their books because I was out of mine and I found one book that looked interesting. I read one passage about a man sitting in his closet masturbating for a whole day, and then I read that chapter over and over and over. And also re-read several times a few chapters with sex later in the book. I think it's fine.

Oh yeah, and Flowers in the Attic, as others have mentioned. (And I didn't sleep with any members of my family after reading it.)

I read that stuff at 12, too. I was never promiscuous.

Anonymous wrote:If it is not porn, who cares? Were you not curious about sex when you were 13?

+1

Anonymous wrote:I read Flowers in the Attic in 7th grade when I was 12. I think books that are erotica are not okay but books with sex scenes are, because ... people have sex. I am fairly certain by 9th grade I was reading my mom's Danielle Steel books with her blessing.

That book is seriously disturbing!

Anonymous wrote:It's bound to happen sooner or later. Be thankful they're reading about it as opposed to watching porn (which is also bound to come sooner or later!). Don't mention it - let them explore.

They have likely already seen porn on the web, even if by accident.

I just caught my 14 year old reading a very very erotic book she found online, we were both very shocked, and embarrassed but she has always refused to talk to me about anything to do with boys, she freaks out and plugs her ears, for the first time I was actually speechless, and actually stuttered and just left the room with her phone, later she did tell me she was curious and I explained I was not mad just this is way new to me and I am still trying to figure out if there should be a punishment, this was last night.

Did nobody else read Anne McCaffrey and Mercedes Lackey?

(Where the scenes also involve telepathic dragons and telepathic horses, respectively; but like the PP, I never went and acted them out.)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was reading Harlequin Presents, Christine Feehan, Linda Howard and similar authors when I was 14. Looking back, I think I would be uncomfortable with my daughter reading that level of sexual content at that age, but at the same time, I think it's better then going out and being sexually active and in the end, it's reading.

Btw, I was never sexually active in high school, so reading these books doesn't equate to going out and acting out the scenes lol.

but i am sure you used the literature as a masturbation? or not?

Yeah, and I certainly hope you are telling your children that masturbation causes blindness.

It is time for you to realize your children are growing up. Have you not discussed birth control with them yet either? Many of this type of book teach you that sex is often followed by emotional heartache. Why would you not allow your children to learn that? As if you have a choice.

Anonymous wrote:I was reading Harlequin Presents, Christine Feehan, Linda Howard and similar authors when I was 14. Looking back, I think I would be uncomfortable with my daughter reading that level of sexual content at that age, but at the same time, I think it's better then going out and being sexually active and in the end, it's reading.

Btw, I was never sexually active in high school, so reading these books doesn't equate to going out and acting out the scenes lol.

but i am sure you used the literature as a masturbation? or not?

I was reading Harlequin Presents, Christine Feehan, Linda Howard and similar authors when I was 14. Looking back, I think I would be uncomfortable with my daughter reading that level of sexual content at that age, but at the same time, I think it's better then going out and being sexually active and in the end, it's reading.

Btw, I was never sexually active in high school, so reading these books doesn't equate to going out and acting out the scenes lol.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Clan of the cave bear isn't too graphic, but the sequels are pretty much just soft core porn.

OMG yes they were! I think I read them in 9th grade ... so I was 14. Wow, I still remember those passages!

Yup, remember the term "first pleasures". I'll never forget Jondalar.

Yes, indeed! I have to admit, these books probably led me to have somewhat unrealistic expectations about what it would be like to be with a man....

I think a little smut in literature is just fine, even beneficial. I mean, do YOU want to be the one telling your daughter what to expect with that level of detail? I don't. I'll give her the safety/ health/ respect information, but the pleasure is for her to discover. Maybe try to steer your kid towards the better-written stuff that you know shows healthy respectful relationships.