Parents & Caregivers as Sexuality Educators Session 3

Sexual Orientation: Supporting Self-Discovery

In a liberal religious community, parents and caregivers may be reluctant to share any discomfort they may feel about a child’s emerging sexual orientation. This session opens a nonjudgmental space for adults to be honest with themselves about feelings, questions, and concerns. Participants explore their assumptions about and knowledge of sexual orientation and prepare themselves to accompany their child’s process of self-discovery. They anticipate how they will manage their emotions around a child’s emerging sexual orientation in order to clearly convey love and acceptance.

This session invites participants to:

• Address underlying or subconscious assumptions or objections they may hold concerning their own child’s emerging sexual orientation
• Acknowledge the sense of loss they may feel if their child’s emerging sexual orientation does not fit their expectations
• Grow in self-knowledge and openness so that they can support their child’s sexual orientation journey