It was a normal Saturday afternoon. My family and I had a lazy morning, complete with a home-made breakfast, and I had just laid my son down for his nap. As new parents, my partner and I had learned to take advantage of our "free time," so we thought nap time for our son was a good "sexy time" for us. While having fun and feeling great, the door opened and our half-awake 2-year-old toddler walked in. In that moment I realized there are things you don't have to do when your kid walks in on you having sex. You know, things like: die.
As a sex-positive parent, I don't think sex is "bad" or "wrong" or something that needs to be hidden or spoken about in hushed, whispered tones. I don't think that your kid walking in on you having sex is something they need to "cope" with. I mean, sex isn't terrorism or a natural disaster, you guys. It's just sex and, as long as that sex is safe and consensual and respectful and mutually beneficial, it's a good thing. However, that doesn't mean your kid walking in on you having sex isn't a little, you know, jarring. Initially I had no idea how to act or what to do or what to even say, even though I knew my toddler probably (read: definitely) had no idea what he had accidentally walked in on.
Realistically, I know I have a few more years before these (hopefully very, very infrequent instances) will demand an explanation. Until then, I'll keep in mind that while I know I'll want to talk to my son in a certain way about certain things (depending on his age) I won't have to react to him walking in on me having sex by resorting any of the following: