You Won Your Race

A Note for the Parents: Our society has gone through several significant changes in the last fifty years. With these changes come new challenges, and we must find a way to address them all in their own right. When I was growing up the United States, the average age for a child’s first sexual encounter was about thirteen years old. Now as my wife and I struggle to raise our three Autistic children, we are faced with addressing issues that I never imagined would be presented to ten- and eleven-year-old children.

Recently, we learned of three eleven-year-old girls in my son’s school who all tested positive for pregnancy. Combine that with a child who came home talking about things that were way outside his age category. We decided that it best to educate our children with the truth than allow them to be educated by their peers. Finally, I got a phone call from my two oldest boys at 2 a.m. while I was deployed to Kuwait and Iraq, and of all the things, I get asked, "Dad, what is masturbation?" I have had a lot of coffee in my life, but to be honest, nothing will sober you up faster than hearing this question from your eleven-year-old son. What follows is the explanation I gave them at that time. It has served very well for my children and some other parents who I have helped in the same situation.

The topic is mature, but it has been fashioned in such a way that children can understand it clearly. The verbiage and terminology is also mature. Some of you may find this alarming, but if you don’t teach your children, someone else will. The best way I have learned to avoid tragedy and heartache is through education, and as such, I offer this tool. I wish you the best of luck because if you are looking at this book, then you understand the problems our children face. I advocate that you sit and read this with them. Take this opportunity to bond over a simplified version of a complex topic. If your children learn you are open and approachable about their challenges in life, you will find that when real problems come their way, your advice will be the first to be sought.

-- Matt LaCoe