Are teenagers today too sexually active?

...or maybe this is just my Michael Moore moment (the "popular" author and filmmaker notes that his first time wasn't until he was thirty-two, something I'd like to beat). But as someone who is involuntarily abstinent, just like the majority of high functioning autistics, it bothers me that teens are so easily led to have sex. Partially because I'm selfish, I'd love to preach abstinence, but at the same time, kids will be kids. Also, I'm in favor of lowering the New York state age of consent to 16 from 17, of course, with limitations. Most cases it would be 17, but in many, 16 would apply (especially amongst high schoolers). But allowing high schoolers to sleep over? Except for one girl, every girl I've gone out with for the most part has had parents who didn't want me to spend the night. And, in at least one case (thanks to having a girlfriend in the same college I went to), I got away with it. I think sleepovers among teenagers in love is not a new thing: heck, my older stepbrother, if I recall correctly, at one point lived with his girlfriend and her parents, and she was I think a college freshman and still living at home, that or a recent high school graduate.

The articles themselves did not really apply to me because I didn't have girlfriends until I was in college, and I haven't had one since (probably God's way of telling me to go back to school maybe?).
If I had a daughter and she wanted to have her boyfriend for a sleepover, I probably would beg that they not have sex, but nonetheless, insist that if they do, it would be protected (safe) and preferably when said daughter's parents were asleep! That being said, teenagers can and will have platonic sleep overs. Look at me and my ex-girlfriend C. She and I definitely went behind her parent's backs, and I'm proud of it. Her dad never really liked me anyways, and it tends to be that moms love me more. The first girl I ever kissed had a dad who really dug me, but then again, he reminded me of the dad of a (now former) friend of my brother's.

I guess if I were a parent, and I hope to be one day, by some miracle of God, I would prefer that my kid and his/her significant other had sex at home where I could supply condoms. In general though, the idea of promoting safe sex as a parent makes me queasy. Traditionally, parents of teens are supposed to ground their kids if they are caught having sex.

In general, if I had a 16-year-old and said 16-year-old wanted his/her boyfriend/girlfriend to sleep over, I would allow it, but I would also be playing diplomat with his/her boyfriend's/girlfriend's parent. Said parents would know, and if they weren't comfortable with it (and/or I wasn't), it would be a no go. Remember, they might be your kid's in-laws one day. In general though: I would allow it, but I would lay down rules that might convince the lovebirds out of it. If I had a kid I could trust and I trusted their significant other, maybe. But leave two teenagers in love in a room by themselves, and immorality happens. Nina Lorez Collins, took a gamble in her case and ended up helping her daughter's boyfriend be a stronger and independent person. But it appears Collins was smart about it too. Set guidelines and limits. 

Here's my comparison: in general teenage sexual activity is like having a overpowered sports car with no dashboard, no power steering, no power brakes, pretty much a car I'd be afraid to drive, no less own. Something for you teens: how about celebrating your 18th birthday by making that your first time instead of doing at a younger age and spending your entire life regretting it. And there's statistics to back it up: teenagers who are sexually active make less than those who have sex later on, at least that's what I heard at one point, but I could be wrong. If I'm right, IT SHOULD MEAN that with the rate I'm going that I should be filthy rich by the time I'm 40.