Outlook on teen sex requires parental input The definition of sex has clearly been redefined. Thanks for coverage that highlights this reality ("Teens define sex in new ways," Cover story, Life; "What is sex? 'Technical virginity' becomes part of teens' equation," Life, Wednesday).

These are but a small sample of the consequences U.S. teenagers face today as a result of sexual promiscuity. The message of sexual activity among teens as a recreational act devoid of intimacy and outside the emotional safety of marriage causes physical, emotional and societal consequences, as evidenced above.

The impact is real, and the consequences are wide. Parents must heighten their awareness of this problem and engage in open, honest dialogue with their teens before matters escalate.

The truly safest course, total abstinence, is an unworkable stifling of the naturally powerful desires of youth. And take it from a 78-year-old, they'll find love. That, too, is natural.

So-called experts' comments, such as "when teenagers fool around before they're ready or have a very casual attitude toward sex, they proceed toward adulthood with a lack of understanding about intimacy" and "the brain is wired to develop intense physical and emotional attraction during the teenage years as part of the maturing process," only prove they lack knowledge when it comes to teens and sex.

As a father of a 15-year-old son and a 16-year-old daughter, I treat my children as adults. One must start teaching respect and responsibility at an early age. If this can be done effectively, you can curb the social pressures of the teenage years. Then, one hopes, your children will be well-equipped to make the right decisions.

As a society, we must stop referring to teens as children. Instead, we should see them as adults after they've entered puberty. In many respects, we have gone forward as a nation, but we have regressed when it comes to raising children.

As parents, we must raise our children in step with the times. After all, there's not much time to instruct our children on what it means to be an adult. Let's remove the cloud of ignorance and, as parents, start doing our job.

As disturbing as it was to read USA TODAY's story about how teenagers today have such a casual attitude toward oral sex, I could not help but think that we, as adults, should not be so surprised or shocked when we take a hard look at society today.

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