JenniferDyer.net

by Jennifer Dyer

I haven’t wanted to touch this subject, but it keeps coming to mind, so here goes.

Earlier this summer, while walking through my local grocery store, I saw a large display of pretty books. The cover was a simple silver with a masquerade mask. Since it was so lovely, I picked up the book and read the back. Then dropped it.

Later, a friend brought up the books. I still didn’t know what all they entailed, just that it wasn’t my kind of book. As she described it, my mouth went dry. Really?

If you want a description of the book, see the Wikepedia article. Also look at the reviews on Amazon. In short, the book is about a college student choosing to get involved with a man who wants to keep her as his lover, and he has a sadistic/masochistic/bondage-esque view of sexual love. All three books are purported to be very graphic in nature.

Why am I telling you this without telling you much at all? So you can be aware, especially if you are like me and had no idea what the books were about. Since most of you don’t live under rocks like myself, you may be thinking, “Where have you been, Jenn?”

ANYWAY, I know a lot of you are moms and dads. I recently heard a friend relate a story about finding the book on a teen’s nightstand. The poor mother didn’t know what to do. My friend’s advice to her was solid. “Talk to your daughter, please. She needs to talk about it, and she needs you to be brave enough to talk it through with her.”

Yes, talking to your older kids before they read those books to convince them NOT to read it would be better, but my friend made a great point: “Do you want your daughter to think that kind of relationship is normal? Do you want her to get involved with a man like that? Do you want her to think that’s what marriage is?”

Be brave, my friends. Some of your kids will heed your warnings, but some of them might be enticed to read it if they see it around. Communication will help either way.