Adolescence is a critical stage in a child's growth and development, and the sexual behavior and experience of adolescent boys will change accordingly. Self-soothing (popularly known as "masturbation") is common in adolescent boys, but as a mom, seeing your child engage in this behavior can leave you feeling confused and overwhelmed.
First of all, to be clear, self-soothing is a natural and healthy physiological behavior. During puberty, boys feel an awakening of their libido due to an increase in the secretion of sex hormones. Self-soothing is a way of satisfying sexual desires and exploring one's own sexuality, which is a normal part of biology for boys.
However, as a mom, seeing your child engage in this behavior can cause you some emotional distress. Here are some suggestions to help you understand and deal with this issue:
1.Stay calm and rational: First, stay calm and rational. This is a normal physiological phenomenon and should not be seen as abnormal or humiliating behavior. Although you may feel embarrassed or overwhelmed, try not to show anger or disgust at the behavior.
2.Respect privacy and personal space: Although as a mom, you care about your child's health and development, also respect his privacy and personal space. Self-soothing is a very private act that he may wish to do alone. Don't try to break through his privacy, and don't cause him unnecessary embarrassment or shame.
3.Provide the right sex education: As a parent, you should take responsibility for providing the right sex education to your children. Sex education should be an open and honest topic, not a taboo. At the right time, you can talk to your child about sexuality, the health and safety of sexuality, and the responsibility of sexuality to help him better understand and deal with his sexuality and sexuality.
4.Encourage healthy sexual attitudes: In sex education, healthy sexual attitudes and values should be transmitted. Help him understand the naturalness and normality of sexuality, while also emphasizing the importance of sexual responsibility and respect for others. Let him understand that sex is not just about satisfying one's desires, but about being responsible and respectful of each other.
5.Encourage communication with a professional: If you feel that you are not able to handle the problem well, or if you think your child needs more in-depth guidance and assistance, consider encouraging him to talk to a professional, such as a doctor or counselor. They can give him more specific and professional advice.
In conclusion, as a mother, it is important to understand and accept your child's self-soothing behavior. Staying calm, respecting privacy, providing proper sex education and encouraging healthy sexual attitudes will help you better understand and deal with the problem. Remember, it's important to establish open and honest communication with your child, who needs your support and understanding.