guigar

AMA — How do you handle NSFW and kids?

Added 2023-02-04 17:59:01 +0000 UTC

Q.: You obviously have a very open view of sex and sexuality. You also are a father. How did you share your views with your kids and foster an environment of openness without, you know, messing up your kids forever? Asking as a somewhat young father.

A.: When I was considering making the move to NSFW comics, one of the things I considered was the effect this would have on my sons. At the time, my older son was 13 and my younger son was 10. They were getting ready to start high school and middle school, respectively. Those are some pretty awkward years, and having a smutmonger for a father wasn't going to make things any easier!

I talked it over with my wife, and we decided that we were going to make this a positive experience. We had always told our kids that sex was normal and natural — repeating that there was nothing they could say that would cause us to be ashamed or outraged. And this was one way that we could demonstrate that — by not hiding the fact that I was doing this, but rather by embracing it. After all, if sex is normal and natural, then stories about sex are, too.

So, we talked about it openly and matter-of-factly. We advised them not to offer the information at school, but if it came up, to address it in a straightforward manner. It didn't take long before my older son's friends discovered my comics. A couple of them tried to use that fact to taunt my kid, but he merely shrugged it off. The issue went away because nobody was able to fluster my kid with it. My younger son has had a similar experience.

As a result, my sons are very comfortable talking about sex-related issues and concerns with us. They know it's a safe topic, and they're not going to get judged.

That being said, I also try to keep comfortable boundaries. There are no EiAD books lying around the house. I don't leave my Patreon page open on my computer at home. And I'm very careful with my browser history!

Great sex-ed resources

What we do leave lying around the house are the many sex-ed comics by my friend Erika Moen. These include:

Yesterday...

And that's where this post originally ended. Until yesterday, while I was driving my younger son (17) to practice. The topic of syndicated cartoonists handing off their comics to their children was brought up. This exchange ensued:

Son: I'll just tell you right now, I'm not doing Evil Inc after you're gone.

Me: Good. I don't want you to. You wouldn't get it right.

Son: (Suddenly offended) What do you mean by that?!

Me: You'd get it wrong, and I'd have to haunt you from beyond the grave. Could you imagine how annoying it would be to get editing comments from a ghost with an entire afterlife to fill?

Son: You wouldn't have to edit my work!

Me: Oh, no?!

Son: No. I'd just write a knock-knock jock and draw some titties. Done.

Me: That would be a "knockers-knock" joke

Son: (waving me away) No editing until I can see through you.

They're either extremely well-adjusted or hopelessly corrupted. I'll let you know in another seventeen years.

• If you have a question for the AMA column, feel free to message me through Patreon, place it in the comments below, or send an email to bradguigar@gmail.com.