Bi-Bi Birdie

It's the newest trend in the local high school. Or is it a new way for the teenagers to do what they do best-shock and rebel. Whatever the reason, bisexuality has been a large public focus. I never thought it would land in my living room.

My daughter, whom has always been able to come to me about anything, hemmed and hawed for over an hour last night. She eventually got to the point.

"Mom I think I like girls."

BLINK.

Yes, that was my first reaction. Then-

blink-blink-blink.

I hadn't planned on that conversation. I had planned for "Mom, I am thinking of having sex." and "Mom, I am having sex." even the horrifying "Mom, I think I'm pregnant." Not this one.

I couldn't pretend I was surprised after the fact. She had brought home a new friend who was openly bi-sexual and had been spending a lot of time with her. When they weren't "hanging out" they were chatting, texting and on the phone talking at all hours. I have never been judgmental concerning sexual identity or preference, so perhaps I chose to be blind.

"Are you sure?"

This may seem like a callous response, but today's teenagers are not the peers I had. Our biggest sexual concerns were not with which gender we would be seen kissing in public, but whether we would remain a virgin until Prom. Today's teens are battling to be the chicest, the trendiest, and the elite. With Madonna and Britney Spears televised exchanging DNA on live television, are we surprised at all it's the newest thing? My response echoed my concern that she was considering this because she wanted to fit in with her peers and was not a search to find her true self.

"Are you done with boys forever or are you just tired of their crap? Honey, they DO stop acting like idiots eventually!" (Well most of them do...) "Are you attracted to a girl or are you trying to fit in with everyone else? You don't HAVE to do what everyone else is doing...blah blah blah Cliff...Jump..etc"