Married to Medicine's Mariah Huq Has to Have a *Very* Awkward Talk With Her 14-Year-Old Daughter
Oh yes, it's that time.
Married to Medicine's Mariah Huq has been open with just about everything when it comes to her family. Now, she's facing the most awkward parenting milestone ever — the birds and the bees talk. Mariah's daughter, Lauren-Taylor Huq, is now 14, and in a recent episode, she lets the uncomfortableness unfold.
The Daily Dish spoke with Mariah about "the talk," and here's what she had to say:
"Well I took Lauren to talk to Dr. Simone about growing up and the birds and the bees because Aiden and I had already initiated the ... first talk with her, but I think it’s important to be honest with your kids and sometimes allow them to connect with someone else, cause it can be hard to talk to your own parents and I do want her to know ... I want her to know some of the statistics about teen pregnancy," she said. "About having unprotected sex because I think the worst thing we can do as a parent — even though I don’t think Lauren is there yet. I know it happens overnight once you hit high school and it can. And it’s even earlier now so I want to be realistic and I wanted her to speak with an expert who can be realistic about what’s going on and the numbers, you know as it relates to teen pregnancy and you know unprotected sex."
And how did Lauren feel about this whole thing?
"I think Lauren just like any 14-year-old, you know, ninth grader, [she] was uncomfortable but sometimes the most important things are uncomfortable and even though it made her a little bit uncomfortable, she understands and respects our perspective so she’ll push through, she’ll be alright. She’s gonna have to hear a lot of stuff that makes her uncomfortable. This is just the beginning...It’s part of growing up, I mean it really truly is. The good, bad and the ugly — and the uncomfortable."
But not everyone is that mature when it comes to the parent-kid talk (sometimes both sides act like kids.) There are a few ways to make it a little less cringeworthy.
According to some tips offered in Redbook, parents should understand it's "normal to feel painfully self-conscious."
Here are some things to remember:
- Follow your child's lead. Find out what she wants to know before you start answering.
- Remember that your kids don't need a grad course in Human Sexuality.
- Use books to help you navigate age-appropriate information.
- Don't try to hide stuff from your kids.
- Don't be afraid to say the wrong thing.
- Have "the talk" by age nine.
