Just last year, my then seven-year-old son told me he was going to marry me when he grew up. Flash forward to present day and not only has this eight-year-old done an about-face on the whole marriage thing, but he doesn’t even seem to enjoy my goodnight kisses and cuddles anymore. He screws up his face, turns his head and pushes me away.

Whatevs, I figured. Too bad. It?s a mother?s prerogative to shower her children with unbridled affection and their duty to grin and bear it. That?s just the way it is.
Then, one evening, as we sat in front of the TV together, it hit me like a bombshell: That might be the way it is, but it’s not the way it should be.
On the show we were watching, a man asked for (and received) permission before leaning in to kiss the leading lady. Aha, I thought! A teachable moment right here in front of my face! After all, like any responsible parent, I’d been engaging in an on-going discussion with all three of my kids about consent. The conversations aren’t always easy and have even turned a bit awkward with my older two. But when it comes to raising well-rounded, happy and healthy kids, in my mind, consent is every bit as important as any other lesson a parent hopes to impart.
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