I did shelter my kids. I homeschooled them. My oldest from 3rd through 9th. She got offended in 2nd grade when some kids were acting out some adult movies they'd seen and was struggling in a few other areas. (Not academic). My youngest was going into Kindergarten then and I just didn't want to send my baby... I'd gone to a mommy & me preschool with her at 3 & 4 and when it came time for K she said, "you can come with me, mom." I loved having them home. My youngest was a natural reader and very independent. She stayed home through 5th and then went to elementary in Alaska in 6th grade. She got straight A's and started playing cello. Her report cards always said what a positive influence she was. She was elected the secretary of her grade and got a Presidents award for straight A's along with the Principals award because she was such a good example and always serving in some way. My oldest graduated with honors - I sent her to 10th grade once we moved here to Georgia. She didn't date much or any and went to school with "virgin lips" as they called it. That is actually valued at an LDS university, though. She had good friends (male) but just kept it that level. In college, she was ready and dated....Got married at barely 20. She's mature. My younger has kissed already. (Did at 4 technically : ) But she has a very strong conscience and they have it drummed in their heads from us and church. (She broke up with the boy who she kissed cause she was afraid she would be tempted to start making out. He was older and more ready to get serious than she was, too). The youth program is quite supportive and they have lots of guidance. I know with some kids (mostly guys) porn is still an issue even within the church. Its so readily available. They are encouraged to confess and repent if they do have those issues, though. The goal is to remain worthy of a temple marriage...but be morally clean regardless. It's always easier to stay clean than have to repent, but some seem to need to learn the harder way, too. There is a way back, but some lines once crossed do make it a lot more difficult. I agree, though, that on a whole kids are losing their innocence a whole lot younger. I think its due to the media, personally. And social mores have gone down the tubes. So they don't even need contact through schools.... I use to check out the music videos to stay up on what was going on and didn't like Brittney Spears from the start. (She was never innocent like originally claimed which, to me, was all the more dangerous for little girls to want to be like her). Anyway, though, parents have to be very proactive these days cause there is a lot of garbage out there. With the crap I'd been through, I was on it... BUT I am not a controlling person and was not overbearingly strict, either. More just supportive and there to talk to. The lines of communication with us have been very open.

Not saying all need to homeschool, etc., but with my kids I'm glad I did it. They've turned out well and are making good choices and, because their lives didn't, at first at least, revolve around their social lives, they are more themselves and secure. (They always had full social lives through church and neighborhood kids. I was very aware of those needs and the need for balance). I think you have to be open with kids, too, about issues. My girls are not prudes. Neither hang out with strictly "good girls." Or I should say, they aren't only friends with or nice to good girls. My oldest was one that the other girls turned to when they'd been hurt or whatever from their bad choices, but she never made them feel judged. She is a loving little thing. Both of them are. I've been lucky with my two.... I do know people who have kids who even when they did homeschool and have been raised in the church have had issues and messed up every way possible, but even in those cases I could see where the parents made mistakes in some ways. (Maybe just weren't aware or overly preoccupied with their own lives at the time or whatever. I have a couple of examples in mind). Kids, too, are individuals and have to make their own mistakes. I've been more stressed with raising my "son." (Husband : ) His mama wasn't there for him and I've had to be the one to go back and help repair some damage... He's helped me that way, too, though.

Hope I haven't seemed overly proud of my kids or myself. I completely dedicated myself to raising them, though, with my husbands support and he was a great daddy. We are reaping those benefits now. At the same time, though, now I'm heading into an empty nest and was out of the work force for a couple of decades so am starting over that way. Time for me again, but I am still hanging out with kids : ) I get a lot of satisfaction working with them and when I actually get to teach, love it. (A lot of times you either don't know the material or aren't expected to or are in a supporting position, but today I was able to help in Math and it felt really good : )

Wow - kind of hyper...sorry about that. Didn't mean to be so wordy.