Children cherish whatever food is given by their elders. Whether a strict veggie or a non-veggie, they get acclimatised to it. Similar is the case of children who are brought up in a family of strict disciplines or loose morals.

Shocking was the sight of a teenager and her mother both in daringly revealing attires. An acquaintance’s wife who suffered haemorrhage of her eyes owing to high eye pressure as a result of lack of sleep died a painful death, contracting an STD from her immoral husband, leaving back her teenage son and daughter, when they needed her the most, made me pen this.

While doing my BEd, in an AIDS awareness programme the late Sunithi Solomon, founder of YR Gaitonde Centre for AIDS Research and Education in Chennai, and sexologist Dr Narayana Reddy, openly commented that more than sex education to children, moral education was a must. “With morality comes safety,” they said.

“Barriers do not guarantee a 100 per cent protection from STDs, as mostly they spread due to damage or inappropriate use of any contraceptive or dental dams,” they said.

It’s not just the exact physical act that spreads STDs but slightest aberrations or scratches in the skin can be vectors transmitting the viruses through even kissing, as saliva too transmits disease of gums, mononucleosis through Epstein-Barr virus, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) blood, cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes simplex virus (types 1 and 2), human papillomavirus (HPV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). etc. apart from hepatitis B and C.

When infants too contract such diseases from their very own mother through lactation, the best prevention, Reddy added was a long term monogamous relationship with your partner who has been tested and is known to be uninfected and considering sex as a mode to express love than mere emotions. “For remember, you might be just one of the multiple partners of the vector!”

This traces back to 1998. With Internet at the finger tip, it’s already high time we discussed the dangers of adultery.

Thus, this is something not to be mocked at for being discussed but a life-saving precaution which every adult needs to bear in mind – “Their loved ones should not pay heavy prices for their vices!”

In a TV channel’s survey conducted on “living together” girls concealing their identity, confessed that their father’s behaviour which their mothers tolerated due to financial dependence had exhausted their tolerance, post long-term depression and mental trauma, right from their childhood, triggering them into relationships sans commitments. Earning their living thus they boldly quit the moment, they consider the saturation point.

In this Internet era, mothers are equally responsible for tuning kids’ minds sans belief in human relationships. Social media has connected not just lost friends but also “the ex-relationships”. It was a pity rather than disgrace to see a mother of a vicenarian, sharing the plate with her ex in a restaurant posted on an alumni WhatsApp group. How would their children ever respect them or lead a moral life, remains a big doubt.

“Children are good mirrors. Ensure to make them reflect only the good aspects of yours.”

Life is short. But shorter is the period of the stay of kids with us. They prefer to stay separate once they enter college just to avoid the stressful atmosphere. Remember, our children need enough perseverance to cope with their future mates and society, for which they need belief in families, so make sure not to drain their patience.

Before accusing youngsters for cultural devastations, ensure the children a trouble-free happy childhood and adolescence if you want them to lead ethical lives. Moreover, increasing domestic violence warns of children from broken homes who become sadists torturing their spouses, with the pent up feelings of frustration and revenge against their own parents. So instead of soiling young curious minds with sex education, if parents stick to morals, at least future generations can be saved. Remember, Responsible parents, Prosperous generations. Happy parenting.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the author’s own.

(The author of the column is Uma Ram, freelance writer from Coimbatore)