A few years ago, hubby and I decided to be proactive parents and purchase condoms for our teenagers. We thought this would be an easy task—I mean condoms are condoms, and when we were teenagers there were not many choices. Off we went to our nearest pharmacy and weren’t we surprised when what we saw was not just a few condoms, but an entire wall of condoms. There were coloured, tinted, dry or powdered, ribbed, studded, textured, lubricated, non-lubricated, and, of course, flavoured (eww). As we looked at the wall, we giggled like teenagers buying their first condom for that very important night.
After we finally settled down, we looked at the display seriously. We had no idea what to buy. Obviously we wanted a condom that would stop a pregnancy from occurring, and we wanted one that would stop STDs (sexually transmitted diseases). So, after much thought and more giggling, we decided on the old standby—the Trojan condom—seeing as it had been around for years, it must work. So, no coloured, tinted, studded, textured, or flavoured, just one heavy-duty condom. When we arrived home with our package, I opened it and put them in the top drawer in the upstairs bathroom. We told the teenagers there would be no questions asked, just take a condom or two when needed, and when the drawer was empty, we would replace them.
A few years went by and though it looked like a few had gone missing, the majority of condoms were still in the upstairs drawer. Yes, we bought the largest package available, and, no, I don’t know why either. So, during one of our dinner-time conversations (where, in our family, everything is discussed), we asked how come there were so many condoms still in the drawer. Immediately, our eldest spoke and said, “Mom, dad, you guys bought heavy-duty condoms, you can’t feel a thing with them.” Laughter ensued as I tried to explain that what we were looking for was utmost safety, and we honestly didn’t even consider feeling. He and the other two then added that if they needed condoms, they would buy their own. Well, the heavy-duty condoms are there if you need them and, again, we will replace them, maybe with something less heavy-duty.
Are you proactive parents? Would you peruse the condom aisle?
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