There’s a lot going on in our media right now involving celebrities and things that they are saying publicly, that just shouldn’t be said. If you wanna know who we’re specifically talking about, read this! More and more instances are occurring and it triggered the conversation about what things we talk about, what things we DON’T talk about, and the things we maybe should start talking about. Often times, things that are important and things we SHOULD KNOW get pushed to the back burner because we don’t want to have uncomfortable conversations or talk about taboo things. But we wanna start the conversation because these six things NEED to be talked about more often.

Let’s break the silence and get into it!

1) Talking about SEX openly with your kids

Talking about sex OPENLY with your kids is one of the most important things you can do as a parent. It sets the tone for how they will approach sex and form intimate relationships later in life. It also helps them to understand their bodies and what feels good, what’s appropriate, so they can stay safe and make informed decisions when it comes to their bodies and when they become sexually active. As parents ourselves to three girls, we wanted to make sure that they knew from the beginning that they could come to us and ask us anything about sex. WHY? Because they’re growing up in a time where information is readily available to them and we wanted them to come to us before they turned to the internet. We also wanted them to be informed and make smart choices as they grew up. Furthermore, it shows them that you’re a comfortable and trustworthy source of information about sex – which is especially important if they’re growing up in a sex-negative environment. They’re going to explore whether you’re ready for it or not, but if you take the time to inform them, at least you know they are being safe. Finally, it sets the stage for healthy communication about sex throughout their lives. So don’t be afraid to talk about sex with your kids – it’s one of the most important things you can do for them.

2) Talk about MONEY!

Money is a sensitive subject for a lot of people and it all reverts back to your own money stories. The things you were taught, the way you were raised, all impact how you view money and the same thing is happening for your kids. You get to choose how you view money. Whether you think of money as the “root of all evil” or you view money as a tool for opportunity, it’s important to be open and honest with your kids and partner about money. Money is a vital part of our lives and we need to be able to discuss it openly so that we can make informed decisions about our finances, teach our kids to make informed decisions, and better understand the value that money presents.

3) RACE and RACISM

As a country, we have not yet come to terms with our history of racism and the ways in which it has shaped our society. Too often, we avoid talking about race out of fear of offending someone or making them feel uncomfortable. But the reality is that racism is a very real and pervasive problem, and we will never be able to address it effectively unless we are willing to talk about it openly and candidly.

One way to start these difficult conversations is to educate ourselves and each other about racism and its impact on our society. Critical race theory offers a helpful framework for understanding the origins and effects of racism. There’s a great video on this and how racial injustice is similar to monopoly that you can watch by clicking here! By learning about racism, its history, and how it operates in our world today, we can begin to have the honest conversations that are necessary for true progress.

It is also important to talk about racism in a way that acknowledges the pain and hurt that it has caused. Too often, discussions of racism are framed in purely intellectual terms, without any acknowledgement of the human cost. We need to be honest about the ways in which racism has harmed people of color throughout history, and continue to harm them today. Only then can we begin to heal the wounds that racism has inflicted on our nation.

4) Emotional Intelligence and managing your emotions

We’ve all been there before – someone cuts you off in traffic, your boss yells at you for no reason, your flight gets canceled, or your best friend cancels plans with you at the last minute. When things like this happen, it’s easy to get emotional. And while there’s nothing wrong with feeling emotional, it’s important to be aware of how you’re managing those emotions. This is where emotional intelligence comes in. Emotional intelligence is the ability to be aware of and manage your own emotions, as well as the emotions of others. It’s about being able to control your temper, even when things are really tough. And it’s about being able to call people out when they’re behaving badly, without losing your sh*t. If you can learn to do these things, you’ll be well on your way to managing your emotions effectively. But ultimately, we just have to do a better job of checking ourselves and others whenever it comes to our behaviors and managing our emotions.

5) WEIGHT!

For many of us, talking about our weight is a sensitive subject. We may be embarrassed about being overweight or concerned that we’ll be judged for trying to lose weight. However, research shows that talking openly about our fitness goals and body issues can actually be very beneficial for our health and wellness. It’s also important as parents to talk about health, nutrition, and moving your body with your kids. Kids are impressionable and if they see you eating like sh*t, not moving, or always trying a new diet, complaining about your weight and your body, they’re going to see that and adopt the same habits. When we share our experiences with others, we can gain valuable support and motivation. In addition, discussing health and fitness openly can help to break down the stigma around weight loss and body issues. It doesn’t have to be an uncomfortable conversation, it can actually be one that is informative, that is beautiful, and honest. So next time you’re feeling shy about talking about your health, remember that you could be helping to make a positive difference in someone else’s life and you could be educating your kids on how to view and talk about weight, health and wellness.

6) Death

We mentioned in the PUSH podcast before but God only gives you one promise in life and that is death. He never says you’re going to find the love of your life. And you guys will live happily ever after for the rest of your life. He basically says, I’ll bring you into the world, give you life, but just know it’s temporary. This is the only promise- everybody you love, including yourself will leave the Earth at some point. But yet we question him when we lose our loved ones. We say things like, “How could God do this?” And it’s like, friend, I was just making good on my promises, right? Death is a natural part of life, yet we often don’t talk about it with our kids or loved ones. It’s important to have these conversations because death is going to happen. It’s a normal, natural process that happens to everyone. And, when it does happen, people want to talk about their loved ones. They want to share memories and stories. So, by talking about death now, we can help make the process a little easier for everyone involved.

We’ve talked about a lot of uncomfortable things in this post, but that’s because they are important. These are the things we don’t talk about enough, but need to start addressing if we wanna set ourselves and our kids up for success. What would you add to this list? Let us know in the comments! And remember, it starts with each one of us making a commitment to change the conversation.