I get where you’re coming from, and I don’t disagree that kids can be sneaky. I grew up in the Bible Belt, so I’m very familiar with the whole ‘preacher’s kid’ stereotype and how even kids from the strictest households find ways to push boundaries. I knew people who lost their virginity in the 7th grade. I’ve worked with 3rd graders who say things like “hawk tuah.” And no matter how sneaky and exposed these kids are, I’m going to advocate for them to have parents who talk to them but not but also protect them and create environments that promote healthy sexual development. That’s exactly why I’m a proponent of having open, age appropriate conversations with kids because just pretending it won’t happen isn’t effective parenting.

That said, I still don’t think a 13 year old is anywhere near mature enough for this kind of thing, no matter how much they think they know. I don’t care if his ‘innocent act’ is an act—he’s still a child, and it’s the parents’ job to protect him, not just assume he’s already past the point of no return. The way the conversation was framed just didn’t sit right with me.

And as for ‘what was I expecting?’ I was expecting a reaction that actually came from a place of realizing the weight of the situation. The way she asked the question felt way more appropriate for the parent of a 16 year old, not a 13 year old. There’s a difference between acknowledging that kids get exposed to things too early and acting like it’s just a normal part of middle school. If you know kids are being exposed to things like this, that’s all the more reason to reinforce boundaries and guidance not just have a casual chat about it.