Talk to kids about sex
Parenting is said to be the toughest and most rewarding job one could ever do. Parents generally view talking with their children about sexuality as one of the toughest parts of that job.
We were reminded, when a report released this week declared that one in five adolescents engage in sex before their 15th birthday, that it is also a crucial part of parenting.
The report released by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy also showed a correlation between engaging in sexual activity and behaviors such as smoking, drinking and taking drugs.
I’m sure that these facts are alarming to many parents, but I hope that they also reinforce the importance of their role in their children’s sexuality education.
The good news is that there is evidence that upholds the common sense belief that parents who have close relationships with their children and openly communicate with them about sexuality issues can have a positive impact on their choices.
Family Health Council has always believed that parents should be the primary sexuality educators for their children and that it is never too early to begin.
In 1993, to support parents in their efforts we developed Family Connections, a series of age-appropriate guidebooks that help parents discuss issues such as pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
Since that time more than 75,000 parents have requested the books and used them to help educate their children.
Talking about sexuality can be tough, but there is help available.
Three different editions of Family Connections have been created.
One for parents of children ages birth to seven years, one for ages eight to 13, and one for ages 14 to 18.
To request a free copy of Family Connections, call Family Health Council at 1-800-215-7494 or visit us on the web at www.fhcinc.org.
Cheryl Reidmann
Uniontown
The writer is a peer education supervisor with the Center for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention, Family Health Council.
Watch out for prom dress pitfalls
Shopping for a prom dress for my daughter should have been fun.
Since it has been many years since my own prom, I forgot the rules of prom dress shopping, or maybe the rules have changed.
I was unaware that once an ordered dress is paid for, even if it never leaves the store, there is no refund. If and when the dress arrives and it does not fit properly, there is no cash refund or even credit given.
If the dress is too short, suggestions are made to wear a fancy flip-flop type shoe to make up for the length.
Or better yet, the store owner yanks on the dress while it is being worn, attempting to make it appear longer.
I was told that even though the ordered dress was shorter than the identical store-owned dress, the manufacturer would not accept a return.
The store-owned dress was not initially purchased because the only two people who could zip the dress were the store owner and the seamstress. Should not a $265 dress zip up with significantly less effort? I asked for credit to be used on future purchase.
I was told that was not possible because now the owner would have two identical dresses that would probably sell on the reduced rack for $50 each.
I offered to let my dress remain on the store rack so that it might be sold to someone who it would better fit. I was told that if anyone was interested in that style dress, the store-owned dress would be sold first.
I was also offered to exchange the dress for any of the already picked over dresses that remained in the store, none of which were acceptable to my daughter or to me.
I now had two weeks before the prom and my daughter with tears in her eyes standing in a dress that is too short. I have spent not only $265 for the dress but $60 more on costume jewelry at this store – no refund, no credit.
This was my only daughter going to her only prom; I could not let her go in this dress. Despite the additional expense, I purchased another dress.
I have since heard many prom dress and, I might add, wedding dress horror stories. For all future novice prom dress shoppers, here are some rules:
Put the minimum payment down. Before making a final payment be absolutely certain that the dress fits you to your satisfaction.
Even though the ordered dress is the exact same size as the store-owned dress, it may have a variation of size – shorter length or tighter waist.
Find out if the store has a good reputation for doing alterations and what their charge is. Some stores begin at a minimum of $50, no matter what the alteration may be.
Try to purchase a store-owned dress. In addition to an improper fit, ordered dresses sometimes arrive just days before the prom, leaving little time for any alterations, or worse, little time to shop for another gown.
Ask around; check the reputation of the store.
Don’t always believe the owner’s opinion of a dress; they want to make a sale.
And finally, there is no cash refund/no credit given – all sales are final.
This experience has been emotionally and financially draining. However, I was fortunate enough to be able to purchase another dress.
If I had known how final my purchase was, I would have shopped at several stores, asked the appropriate questions, and purchased the dress off the rack.
I hope my story will help prevent any mother and daughter from making the same poor choices that I made.
Mary Kubitza
Uniontown
Find a real job
I just loved the political ad in your newspaper where all the same old political hacks from Fayette County are saying what a hard-working politician Bill Lincoln was.
I can’t see where anyone or anything benefited in Fayette County when Mr. Lincoln or anyone of the other politicians listed in Mr. Lincoln’s ad. Maybe they gave Fayette County these dubious distinctions, number one in welfare, number one in lost jobs, number 66 in job creation, number 66 in roads.
What we need in Fayette County and Harrisburg are young men and women who are entering political life for the right reasons, such as doing what’s good for your county and not how much money can I rip off from the taxpayers.
Politicians don’t know what hard work is and never will live in the real world. Pennsylvania politicians, over-paid, under-worked, under achievers.
David Gardner
Uniontown