Last Saturday, I was recording the talk show, "Talk It Out", on the channel Mom-on-Demand with Mio TV. I was the parent "expert" on the progamme. I was excited to meet the presenter, Susanna Kulatissa. With her cue, it was much easier for us to flow with the programme.

She is really charming, professional and very reassuring. As it was the first time to be on-air  for many of us, she kept encouraging us and told us to focus on what we can do to help other parents.

Different issues were discussed. I was asked to comment on the most common mistakes parents tend to make when it comes to talking about sex with their children. Personally, I feel that most parents don't know how to broach this subject and often times, they are embarrassed. Importantly, parents need to reflect on the values they want to instil in their children. If we as parents don't know, how can we start talking to our children about this. We want to let our children know that sex is beautiful, natural and important. Otherwise, they will not be there in the first place. Sex is not something "dirty" or "taboo". Another thing is the issue of morality. What do we teach our children? Safe sex? Abstinence. Personally, I aim for the ideal, ie. abstinence because that will be 100% safe! The myth that parents believe in is that all teenagers will have sex anyway and it's better to teach them to be safe. BUT that's not true! Yes, we can't be there to "police" our children but we can lay the foundation for good character so that when it comes to the crux, they are able to make the right decision and know that there are consequences to their decisions.

Parents, we need to help our young people to have a vision in life. If they know what they want to be, for example, they want to be a pilot when they grow up, then they must take steps to work towards that goal. When they hold on to that vision, regardless of whatever obstacles before them, they are better able to make wise decisions.