Issue Date: June 25, 2006
Talk to sons, too, about sex
No matter where you think the truth lies in the recent Duke lacrosse team rape scandal, I believe that at the center of the sordid story is a bunch of boys behaving badly. For parents, the incident underscores how critical it is to talk to our sons about sex.
Teen boys need to hear:
Love and sex go together.
Sex must be consensual.
Always use protection.
|
Unfortunately, there's an epidemic of silence on the subject -- particularly with boys. Studies show that teens whose parents talk to them about sex are more likely to delay intercourse and to use protection. But more moms talk to their daughters than to their sons about sex, and dads don't pick up the slack.
As awkward as they may be, these discussions are critical, especially in the summer, when research shows adolescents are most likely to lose their virginity.
It's never too late to start the dialogue. Broach the topic now and often -- while you're driving together, making dinner or watching TV.
He'll be more likely to heed your advice and come back with questions if you do two things during these talks:
Ask what he thinks, and genuinely listen to his point of view.
Try to explain as clearly as you can the reasoning behind your opinions.
Ann Pleshette Murphy is ABC's "Good Morning America" parenting expert and author of "The 7 Stages of Motherhood."
Go to top
Heat up your Fourth of July cookout
Beans pack more protein than any other plant food, plus fiber, zinc, potassium, magnesium, calcium and iron -- with plenty of antioxidants and little fat. Warning: This baked bean recipe isn't for the timid.
Fiery baked beans
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 Tbs. maple syrup
1 Tb. Dijon mustard
1 Tb. plus 1 tsp. canned chipotle chile peppers in adobo sauce,finely chopped
2 16-ounce cans no-salt-added navy beans, drained
1 cup ketchup (no salt added)
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
Salt and pepper, to taste
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients. Coat a 7-by-11-inch shallow baking dish with cooking spray. Add beans and then bake 45 minutes.
Serves 8
Per serving: 149 calories, 7g protein, 31g carbohydrates, 1g fat (0g saturated), 0mg cholesterol, 7g fiber, 79mg sodium
Go to top
Solar power on the patio
When most of us think of solar power, we picture bulky rooftop panels. But thanks largely to collective angst over fuel prices and global warming, new uses for sun power are emerging in clever and practical ways, from iPod chargers to watches.
One of the best of the crop: a solar patio umbrella by Hampton Bay ($99 at The Home Depot) that lights up your outdoor dinner parties for up to four hours. The 9-foot umbrella looks like its conventional counterparts with one difference: four stainless-steel solar panels on top that soak up the sun. Once dusk sets in, the umbrella's stored power bathes your barbecue in free, cordless light.
Go to top
Never get lost again
Now these high-tech compasses get more affordable.
|
Elaborate global positioning systems (GPS) long have been used by the military, pilots and boaters to pinpoint locations. Now inexpensive handheld models are available -- and perfect -- for hikers or city strollers. Mark your location, go off for miles, and the unit will direct you back. Get two units, and meet someone on the beach or another place without landmarks.
Jeremiah Driansky, of the Good Housekeeping Institute, tested models in open fields and on city streets for reception, battery life, memory and accuracy. He also assessed any special features.
2 Top picks
Magellan eXplorist 210 ($179.99) aced all the tests and easily fits into a pocket. Pay $100 extra for the MapSend DirectRoute software, and you can import maps from your PC to display on your GPS.
Garmin GPS 60 ($179.99) also performed well. This easy-to-use unit comes with software that can transfer map data from your PC, although it has less memory than the Magellan to display fine detail.
|
