“Dear Parents, I didn’t think it could happen to us either.”
How could something like this happen?
I didn’t see the typical warning signs. I was on the look-out for all the wrong things. What I thought was normal behavior…typical pre-teen drama…was actually my son attempting to deal with a very private sexual addiction.
Sexting. A form of pornography that has become a normal way to flirt within the teen culture. Technology has made it easy for users to send inappropriate photos without the danger of getting caught. My son fell prey to this addiction after receiving a nude photo from a classmate. Right there…on his phone…porn!
6 Months Later. Someone up above was looking out for us that horrid day in April. I realize now that God exposed this to help our son. We were innocently switching over to new phones when we found the secret photos. Pages and pages of them. Photos of him. Photos of others. I was devastated…scared! What now?!?
I knew I needed outside help. This was far beyond me and quite frankly uncharted territory. We’ve always been open with our son about sex but this was not something we were prepared for. We found help and they immediately put a plan of action together…not just for my son but for the whole family.
Today. We continue to receive counseling and have joined a support group to help other parents. Our best advice is to talk! Talk openly and regularly about sexting, pornography, the pressures to fit in, etc. Check phones consistently. Not as a sign of mistrust but as a form of accountability.
If you find yourself in this same situation, please get help! The team at Privy Oasis is experienced, educated and sensitive to addictions such as this. You don’t have to carry this on your own.
Dedicated Mother, Grapevine