Latina Moms | Daughters
In my native Puerto Rico, the methods of discipline were very straightforward: You did what you were told or you were punished. Not obeying guaranteed un chancletazo (a spanking with a flip flop). Offering to hit with other implements such as belts, twigs and tree branches was not out of the question and oftentimes, parents [...]
Recently, the case of what I’ll call a “sexless” child came to my attention. Mateo’s parents are friends of a friend and they live in Germany. Mateo has two loving parents and an older brother. The parents have been puzzled with their youngest child from very early on in life. Although the parents have accepted [...]
I experienced early puberty. My breasts developed when I was 5 and my menstrual cycles began when I was 7. By age 9, I was fully grown to adult size. Back then in Puerto Rico, nobody could explain why I had an early development. However, I was not alone and in the ensuing years, the [...]
Recently, I’ve had friends who have been diagnosed with HPV, or the human papillomavirus. Their reaction has been of disbelief and fear, coupled with a lot of questions about the virus and its consequences. Knowing the facts about HPV can help you prevent a case of this stealthy, and potentially deadly, virus. WHAT IS HPV? [...]
Children are sexual beings. In today’s world, their exposure to sexual messages and images is practically inevitable. So it’s our job as parents to help them understand normal, healthy sexual behavior. Here are some tips to help them tell the difference between positive and negative messages about sex. SEX BETWEEN PARENTS Some parents feel they [...]
Sexually transmitted diseases and infections (STDs and STIs) can cause a wide range of symptoms, ranging from merely unpleasant to life-threatening. Some STIs, like HIV, can lead to death if untreated. Others, like HPV (Human Papillomavirus), can be silent and lead to life-threatening conditions such as cervical and vulvar cancers. Therefore, it’s essential that at [...]
Although we may not like to think of our children as sexual beings, they are. Children are born with the equipment that will later make them able to reproduce. As such, their bodies have been designed to be sexual, and sexual development starts from the time of conception. It doesn’t all start when they hit [...]
A woman’s sexuality evolves through the ages. Contrary to popular belief, women are sexual beings their entire lives, and can enjoy satisfying sex lives at any age. Moreover, as women mature, their sex lives can improve and be more enjoyable than when they were younger. SEX IN YOUR 20s Sex in our 20s is about [...]
Many of us have had the experience of pushing a whole human being—albeit a small one—through a very tight canal. As a result, our genitalia undergoes something of an extreme makeover after delivery. Allow me to introduce you to your new vulva and vagina after birth: New Color • Your external genitalia and anal region [...]
Our bodies goes through dramatic changes during and after pregnancy. Some of those changes are positive (I loved my full breasts during and after pregnancy) but others are less than glamorous. A few are even dreadful, including hemorrhoids. How on earth do we end up with hemorrhoids? And how can we get relief from these [...]
