Good morning, mother. I can understand your concerns and worries about your child.
Let's consider together what might be beneficial for your child's growth.
1. It is essential to treat children with respect in order to facilitate effective communication.
First of all, it's important to remember that children often keep secrets from adults, such as using terms like "wife" and "husband" to refer to a male classmate or visiting gay websites. These are things that children may not want adults to know about, and it's understandable. We can reflect on the situation and think about how we approached the child when asking about this topic. Did we immediately confront them with the evidence and question them firmly, or did we communicate with the child in a more gentle and understanding tone, trying to understand their underlying motives for being interested in homosexuality, whether it was out of curiosity, just for fun, or because they thought it was a good experience? Were they influenced by the values of a certain classmate, or was it popular among the male group in the class?
In the United States, some young people become involved in homosexuality, not because they are born with a psychological or physiological need in this regard, but entirely because they have been influenced by their peers. This suggests that they believe that if they have not tried homosexuality once, they have not lived their youth to the fullest. (From "The Feeling of Being in the Sky")
Perhaps we could consider another perspective. If a 15-year-old girl refers to her best friend as "wife" and he calls her "husband," would we be surprised? Given that we often see girls dressing in a masculine way, it seems that the public is more accepting of girls calling each other "husband" and "wife" than boys calling their male friends that.
Perhaps it would be helpful to put aside our preconceptions about children for a moment and imagine that he is not as serious as we think. If we consider the possibility that browsing gay websites does not necessarily indicate a person is gay or bisexual, it raises an interesting question: if a girl is found by her mother to have a record of browsing unhealthy websites, would her mother think that her daughter's thoughts are somehow problematic?
Perhaps it would be helpful to consider that this may not be the case. For children in adolescence, curiosity will likely play a significant role.
It is possible that intervening in homosexuality does not necessarily mean that one will actually become gay. (From "The Feeling of Flying")
I recently discovered that my niece, who was in junior high school at the time, had used my iPad to watch Youku videos and search for keywords related to intimate behavior during the summer vacation. Having known her since she was little, I understood that she was just curious. I first protected her self-esteem by reminding her to clear the viewing history next time and also explained to her that it was normal to be curious about these things at the moment, but that she shouldn't approach them like this. I thought that children have a sense of shame, so I just touched on the subject.
After the summer holiday, she returned to her hometown. My sister was aware that she had exhibited similar behavior during her rebellious period but did not intervene excessively. Upon returning to school, she was able to resume a normal learning rhythm.
In this particular instance, the approach taken was not as effective as it could have been. It is important to note that allowing nature to take its course does not imply neglecting or abandoning your child, but rather allowing them to develop in their own way.
It is possible that parents, because of their worries, may overreact and may not achieve the best result. It might be helpful to observe and wait for a while to think about it. What we see with our own eyes is not necessarily what we expect.
It would be wise for parents to avoid treating this as a serious problem before finding a better solution. It is also important to avoid questioning and judging the child's belief that he or she is gay too soon. Such an unreasonable belief could affect the way we treat our children in the future and may gradually appear in a more commanding tone, which could be detrimental to the long-term development of our relationships with our children.
Finding the right balance is about striking a balance between being attentive to the child's needs and respecting their autonomy. It's only when we truly trust our children that they feel comfortable opening up to us about their true thoughts.
It would seem that many respondents believe that trust and respect are key to solving problems and should be the first step.
Given the lack of information about the child's upbringing, it seems reasonable to assume that the child may be afraid of his parents. When confronted with evidence, it is possible that the child may choose to suppress his thoughts due to fear of the consequences. This could potentially lead to a lack of communication. However, it is also possible that after this incident, there may be no problem with the child's sexual orientation.
If they encounter other problems in the future, children may choose to endure in silence and be afraid to tell their parents. This could result in parents being unaware of the truth and unable to provide the support and guidance their children may need during challenging times.
2. It would be beneficial to explore the most appropriate guidance strategies.
It might be helpful to spend some time in your spare time reading books on this topic. Some recommended reading on this subject is Chapter 7 of "The Feeling of Reaching the Sky" by Yue Xiaodong: Am I Gay?
Secondly, it would be advisable to seek the guidance of an expert who is well-versed in the field of sexual orientation. There are numerous reputable platforms, such as Yixinli, that can connect you with suitable experts. The introduction of the expert will be similar to that of an online doctor appointment at a general hospital. It would be beneficial to pay attention to the long-term training that the psychological counselor has undergone and whether their specialty label includes sexual orientation. It is also important to note that when you communicate with the counselor, you are the visitor of the consultation and cannot replace the child for the sexual orientation consultation. The expert's role is primarily to assist you in addressing your concerns and anxieties.
The counselor is eager to communicate with the child. During the consultation process, when the expert suggests that the child come for a consultation, the expert can only help you solve some specific problems with the consent of the child and when the child is willing to come for a consultation.
Third, you might find it helpful to speak with a family education instructor or a parent who has had success in this area. You can search for references on some forums or several commonly used Q&A platforms.
It would seem that there is currently a great deal of marketing and promotion of family education instructors, but it is not impossible to find some instructors or institutions that have had successful experiences in this area. You may wish to try searching, but it would be wise to be careful to prevent being scammed.
If your child is open to discussing your concerns with you, you might consider exploring when your child first became interested in homosexuality and what might have sparked their curiosity. It might also be helpful to reflect on whether it is appropriate for male classmates to use terms like "wife" and "husband."
Could I ask whether it is common for male students to call each other "husband" and "wife" in the classroom? Who suggested it in the first place?
I wonder if it was simply a source of enjoyment, or if it was a popular practice in the school environment. Do they understand that such terms are not appropriate between men?
It is often the case that people get along well with those they have similar interests with, or with those they spend time with outside of school. It is also often the case that people have positive experiences with those who treat them well. Could you tell me more about why you get along well with this male classmate?
In what ways do you get along?
How are his grades?
Have they helped each other with their studies? It would be interesting to know if he has any other good classmates to play with. What are his classmates' thoughts on the matter?
If the terms are popular in the classroom, you might consider inviting a few male classmates who are good friends to come to dinner at your house with the male classmates from other classes to try to understand their thoughts. You could explain that between classmates, using these terms might be seen as somewhat inappropriate, not in line with mainstream social values, and could potentially lead to misunderstandings, which over time might have an impact on their future mental health.
If it's just for fun and everyone is still on good terms, perhaps it would be better if they just called each other by their first names in the future. Auntie would also love to hear your thoughts on this. What are your thoughts on this?
"This is just a suggestion, but it might be helpful to consider this more idealistic line of thinking as a reference point."
While we cannot accept the homosexual lifestyle, we do recognize the need to gain a deeper understanding of it.
It is not necessarily the case that everyone who engages in homosexual activity will become gay, and it is also not necessarily the case that every gay person's development is influenced by some kind of physical or genetic factor.
It would be beneficial to eliminate parental prejudices against children and gain a deeper understanding of a world that may seem intimidating to them.
I hope that this mother, who is particularly fond of her child, will not have to deal with the psychological concerns she has. Even if the child is affected in some way, I believe you will be able to address it in a way that is appropriate and effective. It is important to have confidence in yourself.
Comments
This seems like a challenging and sensitive situation. It's important to approach it with understanding and support. Your child may be exploring his identity, which is a normal part of growing up. Rather than focusing on labels, try opening a dialogue where he feels safe to express himself without judgment.
Every teenager deserves respect and privacy as they explore their identity. Instead of confronting him with accusations, consider having a gentle conversation about relationships and sexuality. Share that you are there for him, no matter what, and that your love is unconditional.
It's crucial not to jump to conclusions based on limited information or online activities. Adolescence is a time of experimentation and discovery. Offer your son resources and support, maybe through professional counseling, to help him understand his feelings in his own time.
Labels such as 'gay' or 'bisexual' might not be something your child is ready to apply to himself yet. What he needs most is a supportive environment where he can grow and figure things out at his own pace. Be patient and let him lead the conversation when he's ready.
Rather than worrying about whether your child fits into specific categories, focus on building a strong relationship with open communication. Assure him that whatever he is experiencing is okay and that you're available to listen and provide guidance without forcing him into any particular identity box.