Bonus Episode: The Conversations Every Parent Needs to Have (But Doesn’t Know How to Start)

Today’s episode is such an important one—especially for parents.

We’re talking about the conversations that so many of us know we should be having with our kids… but don’t always feel confident starting.

I’m joined by two incredible guests, Mary Flo Ridley and Megan from Birds & Bees, an organization dedicated to helping parents navigate conversations around bodies, boundaries, and other topics that can often feel uncomfortable but are so important.

Mary Flo has spent over 30 years equipping parents with the tools and confidence to have these conversations in a way that is age-appropriate, healthy, and rooted in connection.

This is something that is really important to me as a mom—because I want my kids to always feel comfortable coming to me, and I know that starts with creating open and honest communication.

💛 In This Episode, We Talk About:
Why these conversations matter more than we think

The biggest mistakes parents make when approaching these topics

When to start talking to your kids (hint: earlier than you think!)

The one conversation every parent should have sooner rather than later

What to say when your child asks something that completely catches you off guard

🧠 A Few Takeaways You’ll Love:
You don’t have to have all the answers—you just have to be willing to start

These conversations don’t have to be one “big talk." They can happen in small, everyday moments

Creating a safe, open environment is more important than saying everything perfectly

🎟️ Join Us in Covington!
We’re so excited to share that we’ll be hosting Mary Flo Ridley for a live Birds & Bees presentation right here in Covington—and it’s a night you won’t want to miss.

Here is the link for tickets
 https://theschoolofstyling.thrivecart.com/birds--bees-seminar/

✨ Birds & Bees: Oh Help Me, Please!
📅 Wednesday, May 6
⏰ 6:00 – 8:00 PM
📍 Tchefuncta Country Club
2 Country Club Park
Covington, LA 70433

This event is for:

moms

dads

grandparents

caregivers

Because these conversations shouldn’t fall on just one person—they’re something we all play a role in.

During this live event, you’ll walk away with:

practical tools to start these conversations

more confidence as a parent

a clearer understanding of how to approach different ages and stages

If you’ve ever thought, “I don’t even know where to start with this…”—this is for you.

👉 Tickets are available now—check the link in the show notes or my social media for details.

💫 Final Thought
You don’t have to do this perfectly.

The most important thing is that your kids know they can come to you—because that connection is what matters most.

If you found this episode helpful, be sure to follow the podcast and share it with a fellow parent who would benefit from this conversation.

And as always…
✨ Keep showing up, keep learning, and keep being the Haute Mama you truly are.

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:02

Welcome to the Hey Hot Mama Podcast. I'm Jen Peralt, founder of Hot Off the Rock and Hot Mama Collective. And I'm Liz Gridatti, Jen's mom, also known as the OG Hot Mama.

SPEAKER_03 0:11

We're a mother-daughter duo having real conversations about motherhood, health, life, and finding more joy in the everyday moments.

SPEAKER_02 0:18

And Jenny is known for her positive outlook and daily gratitude practice. And together, we're here to share stories, perspective shifts, and plenty of laughs along the way.

SPEAKER_03 0:27

Because at the end of the day, we all deserve to feel like the hot mamas we truly are. Welcome to the Hey Hot Mama podcast. I'm Jen Peralt of Hot Off the Rack and Hot Mama Collective, and we are so grateful to have Mary Flow Ridley and Megan Michelson from The Birds and Bees here with us today. And I'm personally so excited to have them because I've been following them since my first kid, since my first kid was born. And actually I had something happen recently, very innocent situation. But because I was following you guys for so long, we felt prepared for it. My friend told me about you years ago. And before then, I would always want to default to letting my husband explain things to them because they're boys. I'm a girl, right? And I'm like, I don't, I don't know about this stuff. Like, ask your dad. But I'm like, no, no, no, you can do it. Say the words, you know, tell them what you need to tell them. And it was because of you guys that I was able to do that. And I'm so glad that this was just a minor, very innocent situation that happened with my kid and that he was able to explain that to me. So I just wanted to let you guys know that. And that's why I'm so excited to have you, as well as bringing Mary Flo to Covington to give a presentation on May 6th. And before we talk more about that, why don't you guys tell me what inspired you to start the Birds and the Bees and to talk to parents about these topics?

SPEAKER_01 2:02

Well, I started um Birds and Bees in 1986. And I did it really um because my child asked a question, mommy, how is that baby getting out of there? And even though I knew the answer to that question for the first time in her childhood, I didn't feel like I could answer her question because I grew up in a house where none of these things were discussed or explained. Lovely childhood, happy parents, everything was great, but in a blank page on this topic. And so it left me wondering, how in the world am I ever going to explain this? But I thought I had like a decade to think about it because she was only four years old. So a four-year-old asking a question, I thought, I'm just gonna say the doctor helps me. And that was it. That was my whole answer. But then along came a challenge for me as a volunteer with the Dallas Junior League to present something to parents about how to talk to your kids about sex. And that's a whole story in and of itself because I definitely did not want that assignment. Um but the assignment include travel. And I do love to travel. And so they were gonna send me to Washington, DC to get trained. I went, I didn't agree with the underpinnings of the training, with the assumptions that they were going under. And so I came back. I knew that the league was asking me to do a um a workshop. And so I said, I'm not gonna do what I was taught, but give me six months and let me think how I would do it. So that was a challenge to me. And yet over the next six months, I came up with the curriculum that we still use today. It was just a gift from God. That's all I really can say. It was just a gift. And so um it was just breaking down, basically, it was breaking down the idea of the talk and the and the information they get in the talk when we think of the talk in quotes, and eradicate that idea and instead replace it with lots of little conversations that you have with your children as you walk along the way, as they're growing up, as they come home and tell you about something that happened with their friend, to open it up to children when they're young, impressionable, curious, and they're listening to their mommies and their daddies. So it was just um it was a shock to me that it was as effective as it was, and it kind of caught on as a um a popular kind of let's have Mary Flo come talk to our moms group sort of thing. And then um it grew. And then many years later, Megan, who was someone I'd always admired as one of my daughter's best friends, um, came and heard me talk and I let her continue how it how it is what it is today. So I'm sorry it's a long story, but it just No, this is so interesting.

SPEAKER_00 4:49

I didn't realize that's how it started. Yeah, well, I mean it's a long story because it started a long time ago. Right. So then I was after college, I came back to Dallas and I was teaching middle school. So I was teaching um predominantly sixth grade, but fifth through eighth ish. But anyway, seventh, sixth and seventh grade was the main. Um, and I would just I love my students. I didn't have children of my own yet, and I was just um in their world, but I was and I loved them, but I was also kind of overwhelmed a little bit about how sexualized their conversations were, their worlds were. Um, because in my head, I was like, they seem so young. Anyway, so that was kind of going on in my brain, and then I get this flyer that was passing out to the kids one afternoon to send home to their parents, and it said, Parents, learn how to talk to your kids about sex with Mary Flow Ridley. And I had grown up with Mrs. Ridley. Um just like this lovely mother who made cakes. Um, and she does, and they're delicious. But I did not know that she had this like secret job. And so I told that flyer, I was like, what? And so, because of my curiosity with my situation with my students and with my history with Mary Flow, I thought, I've got to go hear her talk. And so I went that night or that week, whatever, and I signed, I sat in the back and signed in all the parents and just sat there and took notes. And I just left blown away. And I left thinking, every parent has got to talk to their kids about sex in this way. It could change middle school, it could change marriages. Like we are just not talking about this topic in a healthy way. I mean, everybody has to hear this. So that was the beginning of my interest. But of course, um, stories always take a long time to unfold. So years go by, I have my own child, I hear her again, and I same thing. Everyone's got to hear this. I took all my notes on a girls' trip I went on a few weeks later, and I made all my girlfriends like, everyone sit down, get a glass of wine. I've got, I've got to read you this stuff. Um, so I was just like on this mission to share this information. Right. And then years go by, I'm pregnant with my second, and I run into Mary Flow's one of her daughters, who's a friend of mine, and she's like, Yeah, my mom kind of wants to step back a bit, but I don't want to take over, and neither does my sister. And I was like, I might want to. And I just kind of said it off the cuff, and then that led to a conversation with Mary Flow, which led to both of us just feeling like, I think this is right. And so I started training under her right after I had my second child, and I would just go around town and listen to every speaking event she did, and just sat in the back and took notes and notes and notes and notes and just listened and listened. And I felt like I was an apprentice, you know. I was just learning the ropes and uh learning the questions and answers and all that stuff. And then flash forward um probably a year or so after that, we rebranded and became birds and bees. And then I would start, I started speaking on my own. She would continue to speak, and so we kind of just divide and conquer speaking. Um, and then when COVID hit, it shut down speaking. Obviously, people get together to go to parent education events, and so um that was a pivot in our work, and that is when we really stepped into social media. Um, reluctantly at first, that was not a place I really wanted to dive in and become this like talking head on this topic. Um, but I also just felt such a calling of like this is some information that I have that I want to share with others, and so I kind of just got over it and dove right in. And it's been a really fun adventure for us. It's been really fruitful to be on social media. We're able to reach parents all over the world, right? Believe it or not, this is a universal issue. Um and everyone is struggling about this. How do we talk to our kids about this? What can I say? What should I not say? Um, everyone comes to the table with their own issues and baggage when it comes to this topic. How do we detangle that from our children and their conversations and their knowledge? So um through Instagram, I feel like now with Birds and Bees, we're really able to reach um a really large audience, which is exciting. And then over those during that time window, we recorded our talk that we give in person. So we have an online course that people can um access without having to come to one of our programs. But um we still speak publicly. We love doing that. That's always a fun way to connect with parents. But the online course and Instagram has allowed us to really connect and educate uh parents um in such a wider range we ever thought possible. So now we are birds and bees and we're kind of just having five.

unknown 9:07

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 9:08

This is I love that story so much, and that's really cool that you really started on social media in 2020. That was actually the birth of my first son in 2020. And it wasn't long after that that y'all had blown up so much that my friend heard about you and was like, Jen, you need to go follow them. Like they're gonna tell you how to do it because I was telling her, I'm like, I'm a girl. Like I grew up with girls, like I don't know how to talk about boy stuff, you know? And not that I'm not that I would be fantastic about talking about girl stuff, but like I can relate a little more, you know? And I I just used you guys as such a resource. And like you said, yes, you can reach people online, and but a really big reason why I wanted to bring you guys to Covington is because as a community, I want all of us as moms to feel like we're on the same page, like we're in this village together and we all have this information to help each other. And so I really appreciate y'all coming out. I'm really excited to do that. And speaking of having these conversations with your kids, I I see all different ways that you recommend to do it. But what about what age should we bring certain things up, or maybe the biggest things? What do you think about that?

SPEAKER_00 10:25

Well, that's everyone loves okay. Go ahead. Well, I'll let you jump in because I was just gonna say one quick thing is that everybody wants so desperately to have like a time, you know. I think as parents, particularly proactive parents, if you're listening to this episode, you're obviously um a parent who wants to try hard to do what's best for their kids. So we we all have this like desire to do it right, which is, you know, way to go. That's a that's a good place to start. But what we always say is there's not a perfect age. So we will give you some specific, you know, ages and some ideas, but overall we have a general philosophy of there's no perfect age. Sooner is it's probably sooner than you think, but we always say later is better than never. So start soon. But if you're listening to this podcast and you're thinking I have a 12-year-old and I've said nothing, we're also big believers in later is better than never. So, Mary Flow, when would you say like some of the early conversations can start?

SPEAKER_01 11:19

Well, I would say the earliest conversations start almost when they're on the changing table with identifying their body parts. And it's it's so nice if you can just get it in your mind from the time you have a baby that this is something you are going to be talking about so that you can drop information in when it's appropriate instead of just holding off and thinking, I need to wait a long time before I bring this up. Um the thing is that instead of asking the question, when is the right time, ask the question who's going to tell them? Because when they go to first grade, if you have a firstborn first grader, there's nothing in their world that goes beyond first grade. But they're sitting next to someone in their class who's the youngest of four. You can't tell. They don't put it on their t-shirt, you don't know that. But they live in a 16-year-old house and they hear 16-year-old words and tell 16-year-old jokes and get them. And so you are your children are actually going to school with the oldest sibling of anyone in that classroom. They are bringing all that information to the classroom. And so it's hard to understand that when your first when your oldest is only in first grade. But when your youngest is in first grade, you you kind of get it because they have older sisters and brothers in middle school and they are in that world. So it just, you know, the earlier the better. Plus, they don't see your awkwardness. If you are talking to a 12-year-old, they see it all over you. But when they're little and you kind of mess up or you get embarrassed or you splotch because you're embarrassed to say those words, they they are not paying attention to that. They're just getting information from you. So I think the younger, as Megan said, the younger the better, but it's never too late.

SPEAKER_03 13:06

Yeah, I think that's so true about feeling more awkward when they're 12 because they can see it on you, versus if you had started those conversations when they were younger, it's not as weird when you say that word in front of them. Exactly. Because they've heard you say it before. Uh and I will say I still struggle a little bit because I'm such an inappropriate laugher and just in general, you know, or like I have to like look away for a minute and then like go back to what we were talking about. Um, but I I definitely agree that starting those conversations early and and not even just a conversation, but using certain terminology with them is helpful. And that being said, I hate to say that any parent is making a mistake. So let's not call it that. But what are some things that we should avoid doing with young kids when it comes to conversations about this?

SPEAKER_00 14:08

So I think one of our overall goals with these conversations, we just talked about how starting early helps you as a parent feel comfortable and helps them see like, oh, this is something my mom talks about, or oh, this is something my dad always brings up. So I think ultimately one of our goals is to not make these topics taboo. And so I think that is something you can really start at such a young age. And so mistakes or things to avoid, I think, is shushing or shaming, um, you know, kind of shutting down a conversation. You know, we say often like our shock can lead to their shame. So they have a question about a body part or a question about um something they saw or a question that somebody they saw on TV or words they heard or anything like that that might be alarming to us because we know the real definition or we know why something someone's reacting like that, or why we know why that felt good or whatever. Instead of being like, What are you doing? Or why'd you say that? Or we'd hear that word. I mean, our reactions can really immediately shut down these conversations because our kid who doesn't really know anything in this realm is all of a sudden sensing from mom and dad, like, oh, that's bad. Or oh, we can't talk about that, or I shouldn't ask my mom about that again. Or that must be a bad word because I said it in front of my little sister and she's you know, so I think something to avoid for parents would be the shock, um, or kind of the shock and the shishing. Um, I think that's ultimately, excuse me, ultimately, I think that just kind of shuts down communication. And that is really what we don't want to do. Um, because our kids are, I think it's important to remember as we're having these conversations with our little kids, um, because we're all about 10 and under and just setting the stage for so many future conversations. And we have to remember when our kids are that young, they're not hearing the information the same way we are as a post-pubescent hormonally charged adult, you know. So we're we're coming into these conversations over here, and our pre-pubescent child is over here not making, not connecting the dots, you know. So they are asking something because they're just curious. They have no idea that it has to do with this big fear, you know. So we have to kind of remember that. And just so many of our your tone of voice is so huge, kind of to go back to that question of what to avoid. I think a very serious, emotional, heavy voice um kind of paints this picture of like, this is really serious, and we can only talk about this when we are sitting down, and I have all these books right here, and I have a lot to tell you. You know, it's like that doesn't make it a very approachable topic. And so what we really want to do is have your tone of voice be very matter-of-fact and conversational. Again, the goal is for things to not be taboo and the goal is for you to be a safe place.

SPEAKER_01 16:49

That that's such a great answer. I would just add to that by saying, be prepared that you're going to want to have that reaction. Like I remember thinking, I'm gonna be petrified when my child says, How did that baby get in there? I just know my facial expression is not gonna be right and my tone of voice isn't gonna be right. So we actually encourage parents to come up with a predesignated opening line, a pre-designated facial expression to the questions that you think are probably gonna be the hardest. And so one good question that we offer up, or one good response we offer up, is that is a great question. I'm so glad you asked. Instead of going directly to the answer, just hit the pause button for a second, affirm for them that they've come to the right place, that you're happy they they came to you. That's a great question. So you're encouraging them to come back. I'm the right person, you came to the right person, and um, and then smile. Just try to say, oh, that is a great question. I'm so glad you asked me that. And that gives you just a moment to kind of re-retrack in your brain what you were going to answer that question with. So it's sort of a a stalling technique that with purpose.

SPEAKER_03 18:04

Yeah, that's helpful. And actually, I have a a recent time where I could have asked you guys this. So, and I'll ask you right now. So we were walking into Chick-fil-A, and Beck starts asking me this question. I kind of don't really remember the question that it was, but either way, I just like didn't want to answer it right there in Chick-fil-A. And so I said, I was like, ooh, like I want to tell you all about that, but not while we're walking into Chick-fil-A. Should I have just like on the cuff answered it? Or do you think it was okay to say, like, not while we're walking in here? Really, it was because like there's like all kinds of people around. And I'm like, I don't want to answer this question.

SPEAKER_00 18:44

I think that's fine. I mean, something we say a lot at Birds and Bees is we want parents to be purposeful, not perfect. And so we have a concept we talk about a lot, which is called circling back. And that is just to empower parents of if a question comes and you didn't give your best answer or you're thinking, oh, it's super loud and distracting right here, I'm not gonna be able to focus and say everything I want to say, to give a quick, short answer, you know, that lets them feel heard and then circle back later and just say, sweetheart, earlier today at Chick-fil-A, you asked me a really good question. And I just didn't get to tell you everything I wanted to because it was so crowded and there was so much going on. So I'm gonna answer you now. And so to kind of just empower parents to think, instead of thinking like, I've got to nail this, I'll do it perfectly, I can't mess up, just to say, we are gonna mess up, we're all gonna mess up these questions or miss an opportunity or say the wrong thing or kind of panic because we're around a lot of people. So just circle back and just go back, you know, they they're in our house all the time, they live with us. Right, hit glass and just say, Hey, sweetheart, that was a great question, and I'm gonna try again.

SPEAKER_01 19:43

Okay, I like that. And since you said, can we talk about it later? I would just do it as soon as you can. Got it. You know, because otherwise he picks up, oh, I'm not gonna get that answer.

SPEAKER_03 19:55

Yeah, yeah. That's good thinking. Um, so what is something that uh today's parents need to approach differently that you may have been teaching over the years, or has nothing really changed? Have you kind of kept everything consistent with your presentations, or is there something about today's generation that you've had to shift?

SPEAKER_01 20:18

The thing that's changed in our presentation is the conversation about pornography. Um the biology is the same. So how we explain how a baby's born, how a baby's made, um, the terminology that we use, um, that's that none of that has changed. And so um that didn't doesn't need to be changed. But uh screens have changed a lot of things. So screen safety and pornography, instead of it being a part of the preteen conversation, we've brought it all the way down to the five year old because not that we're gonna talk about porn with a five-year-old, but we're going to begin the conversation. And that's really what I want my parents to hear. You're not gonna talk about sex with a five-year-old, you're not gonna talk about porn with a five-year-old. You're gonna start talking about the design of reproduction with a five-year-old, and you're going to talk about screen safety. We have to be careful around the screens. So the goal of those early conversations is so that eventually you can talk about sex and you can talk about porn, and but they will have grown up knowing they needed to be careful around screens and that this is the design of reproduction. So that's that's the difference. People think they don't need to talk about it until it's an emergency. And actually, the sooner you can kind of introduce some of the concepts, the easier it is.

SPEAKER_03 21:40

Definitely. So with that being said, what's one topic that parents to should talk to their kids about sooner than they realize? Would you say it's this?

SPEAKER_00 21:49

I would. I think so often parents it the topic of pornography is so um heavy and dark that I think parents really don't want to think about it. Because it's just so like it's just dark, it's very heavy, you know, and to think like, oh, not my kids or not us, we're good people, you know, or whatever. Um, but the statistics show otherwise. You know, the average age a child first he's porn is 11. Some studies say eight. Um, and we we know these things to be true just because we're raising our kids in this crazy technology world and also this sex saturated culture where it's just everywhere. And you might have like a screen-free home, but it could take one kid's friend saying, Hey, look at this. You know, so it's we have all these things that we can do to kind of lock down devices and external filters, but we believe that these conversations we can have to prepare our kids create internal filters, and those internal filters can go with them wherever they go. So the phrase Mary Flo mentioned earlier, I think is a really great place to start. And so when you say talking to your kids about pornography or protecting your kids from pornography, I would think the average parent is probably thinking, okay, that's a good thing to do, like around 12, maybe 10, you know. Um, but that's I think way too late. So I would say way back when, like around three or four, whenever they're, you know, you're handing in the iPad to watch a movie while you take a shower or whatever it is, or even turning the TV on, you know, say, oh, mommy types in the password because we got to be really careful with what we see. We got to be really careful around screens. And so what we're doing is just setting our child up for this idea that there are some good things we can see, but there are also some bad things. So we have to be really careful with what we see. Um, and so again, breaking this down into the same way that we talk about any other dangers in their lives, like a hot thing on the stove. You know, we don't have a one sit-down conversation about third-degree burns and tell them one time be really careful in that kitchen. Yes. No, we say it casually, we say it when they walk in the kitchen, say, Oh, remember, be careful, mommy's got that stove on, so don't touch that. Be really careful. Um, same thing or crossing the street. That's not something we teach them once. You know, we break it down to age-appropriate phrases and we repeat them often. Look both ways, hold mommy's hand. We talk to our friends about it. Hey, can you hold his hand to help him cross the street? I'm gonna get the baby out of the car. Like we're we're just talking about it and putting safeguards up. And so our kids know I need to be careful around the street. And so I think that's what when does that start? I think that can start as young as three or four. You gotta be really careful around screens. Um, and so those are little conversations that build. And of course, we want, you know, there's this whole concept of good pictures and bad pictures. And there's a great book with that title that we recommend families to have. But ultimately, these conversations they build as your kids get older. So obviously, we don't think you should be talking to your 15-year-old about bad pictures. By then, it's appropriate to have a conversation about pornography. And that that conversation is much more robust than be careful around screens. But when does that start? I think as young as three or four, you know, four or five, um, to kind of put that idea in their head of we got to be really careful with what we see.

SPEAKER_03 24:52

Yeah, I think I definitely agree with that because uh we have a lot of younger/slash older kids in our lives that are always around my kids and they're so great and helpful. And they always want to let the kids like hold their phones to play a game. But uh lately I've been telling our moms, like, hey, like whenever whenever we're not around, like, hey, don't let the older kids give our kids the phones because these are teenagers, they don't remember to exit every browser out, you know. Like it takes a swipe for them to, you know, see something. And uh, but I like that you're saying be careful, be mindful around screens. Like I wasn't using that phrase. Um, I usually try and monitor everything that I can, and I'm like, oh, you can't watch that because XYZ. Uh, but I've never really used that term, like in the same way that you say, like, oh, we're careful in the parking lot, like you stay by mom, you know. I just I like that answer a lot.

SPEAKER_00 25:52

And uh it's a muscle that you're building in your kid. It's kind of this muscle of discernment. Um, you know, so one time one of my kids, he's now 10, said something maybe a year ago, mom, I saw a bad picture, you know, and of course in my head or my heart, I'm like, oh God, what was it? And it ended up, I think, being like a commercial for like the movie Twisters or something, you know, it was just scary. Um, so he was probably nine at the time. Um, but you know, it's like I'm I'm so glad you told me, you know, whatever. So it was very positive for the way he shared that information with me because what I really wanted to do was affirm that that muscle of discernment of I saw something that I didn't like and I'm gonna look away, or I saw something that made me feel scared or uncomfortable. And so I'm gonna look away and tell an adult. And that is the muscle we're building with all of this, you know. And that's we as adults have to do the same thing. Like, oh, you know, I know myself, I'm really sensitive to what I see, so I've got to be careful with what shows or movies I watch, or you know, I mean, not to act like you can't watch or see anything, but like just to know what how your brain is wired and how that's like a that's a muscle of discernment that I think we can start building with kids is when they're young, and that just grows stronger as they get older through these conversations.

SPEAKER_03 27:07

You know, we all parent differently, right? But this I feel like is a really good standard and is a way that I like to keep things really positive and I like that this is a positive message that y'all are sending. And speaking of positive messages, what's some of the best feedback that you've gotten from parents?

SPEAKER_00 27:29

You know, I think two things. One, I want to harp on that positivity because I think I'm a positive person too. And so I never want people to come to our talks or our Instagram and feel like it's fear-based. Um, because we do deal with some heavy topics and there is some fear involved. And like, yeah, we should be aware of what's out there. But I never want to like scare parents into doing what we tell them to do. Right. Um I'm hopeful that that's not the way we come across because I don't think being fear-based is healthy. So that aside, but what are some positive things people have said? I think it's always the um success stories that parents share when they come back, you know, 10 years later, because this work has been around a long time. We have the fruit of seeing parents say, you know, now my daughter's in high school and the conversations we're able to have um is so wonderful. And I just I credit to the way that we were so open for 10 years before, you know, she got here. Um, and then of course the stories of protection I think are really powerful. Of um, and this is where it does get heavy, but with abuse, sexual abuse, and pornography exposure, I mean, those are really heavy, dark topics. Yeah. Um so the stories we get from parents from protection, um, those are really powerful for us.

SPEAKER_03 28:47

Yeah, well, knowledge is power, and I feel like that's a part of this positive message is that you're it's a positive resource to prevent these negative things.

SPEAKER_01 28:59

And many parents try to protect their children by giving them no information. They really do, and they sincerely think I want to, I don't really want my children to have any information about sexuality. I don't want them to be thinking about it or know about it. And so they try to protect their children from any sexual messages. And they are equating ignorance with innocence. They think if my child knows nothing, they're they're innocent. But actually, that innocent child who has no information is vulnerable and um and they're now wide open to anything the world might might tell them tell them. But if their information is good information and it's coming from parents who really love them, then that information is power. And that information is protection. The protection that parents are looking for for their children is found in the conversations they've had with their parents. So you know, starting to be the expert at an early age is the way to go. That's what I think parents come back and tell us is if I hadn't started these conversations, I don't know what would have happened. Because they they tell us what happens. My child was able to come and tell me, or we were able to have a conversation about that. So we're knowing, we're learning, we've learned all these years that the most powerful conversations you have are with you and your children once once you start sharing with them.

SPEAKER_03 30:32

If there's one thing that parents could take away from this conversation today, what would you say that is?

SPEAKER_01 30:40

I would say start early and keep talking.

SPEAKER_00 30:45

I totally agree. I think that's that would be the takeaway today is just starting. Whether you have a baby or a four-year-old or an eight-year-old, just look for opportunities and start talking and move towards your kids with this information and let them know that you are a safe place. So start talking, keep talking.

SPEAKER_01 31:02

And and on the back side of that, when I said start early and keep talking, that's ideal or that's what, you know, that would be nice. But some people are listening and and are frustrated thinking, oh, I didn't start when they were on the changing table. I didn't use the vocabulary. I I have so much catching up to do. Do not lose heart because they're still in your home. They still live with you. Just start somewhere, start somewhere in the action and um and then own it a little bit. Just say, you know, this topic probably should have been brought up sooner in our family, but for some reason I kept thinking I would bring it up and I didn't, and you didn't. So here we are, we're a little bit stuck, but we're not gonna stay stuck. We're gonna start talking about some things. And we'll start with birth. I never really fully explained birth to you because birth gives you the chance to tell a happy story usually and um with lots of good vocabulary words.

SPEAKER_03 31:54

So I love that idea. And if you're not sure where to start and you live over here on the North Shore area or you want to travel to Louisiana, we are gonna have Mary Flo come and speak on May 6th in the evening, and we'll have more details to share. But will you please tell us what people can expect from this presentation and what kind of things they can take away from it?

SPEAKER_01 32:20

Well, first of all, thank you for inviting us. I'm so excited to get to come and to come to Covington. I just know it's a special place. I love Louisiana. Um what we'll do is we'll take you from preschool to preteen and we'll walk you through really some of the even steps before that, steps you can take as a parent to prepare the family message you want your children to have. We'll go through the vocabulary and protection of your children when they're young. We'll talk about the birth, the reproduction in all living things through seeds and eggs. We'll talk about screen safety, we'll talk about conception, how did that baby get in there? And then a lot of good cues for continuing the conversation. Now that we've got the foundational information down, where do we continue the conversation? Maybe with periods or thinking about their future, or once they know sort of the basic biology, how do we continue the conversation for what this will mean as a powerful part of their life going forward? So we we start out with little children, but we we continue the conversation. So we pack it all in.

SPEAKER_00 33:32

And I might add, oh please, I think you're gonna have fun, you know. Oh, good. Anytime there's a live event, like you're sitting here thinking, well, okay, I want to go because I want this information. And Mary Flow is going to talk about birth and bodies and babies and birth, you know, all these fun things, pornography periods, like but I promise it's so much more fun than you think. And you're gonna laugh a lot. You laugh a lot, you learn so much more, and you just leave. We always say our favorite part of a live program because we get to be part of it, is we see parents come in so nervous and intimidated, and then we see parents leave, like high-fiving each other and like so fired up of like we can do this. So come here, Mary Flow and May. If you are thinking about it, go because it really is more fun than it sounds. Yeah, it's a blast.

SPEAKER_03 34:18

And then is there a certain, is there a certain age um that a certain age of kids that parents would really benefit the most from? I don't know if I'm saying that the right way. Uh, what ages would your kids be for you to benefit the most from from this presentation?

SPEAKER_01 34:34

We kind of target 10 and under, preschool to preteen. Okay. That that we feel like is of the most benefit, but honestly, you can come with any age child if you you'll pick up some pointers, but I think it mostly benefits parents preschool to preteen.

SPEAKER_03 34:52

Awesome. And I did mention that we like to promote a lot of positivity here. And I'm so glad that you said this presentation is really gonna bring that and that people are gonna leave feeling motivated and inspired to have more of these conversations because that's exactly what we like to promote here on this podcast. So I really appreciate having both of you. We look forward to May 6th, and thank you to all of our listeners. Don't forget that so much of the joy you experience in life is often the joy you choose to see. And go soak up all those little moments and show up as the hot mama you truly are. We'll see you next time.