>OMGOMGOMGOMG
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Found: One copy of Forever on my kitchen counter. Do I…
a) Rip it into shreds and flush it down the toilet?
b) Casually ask the girls how “Ralph” is doing?
c) Hold a Just Us Girls Sex Discussion after dinner tonight? (Soooo not in the mood for that.)
d) Admit that when I was their age, I, uh… read it too?
And who leaves Forever on the kitchen counter, anyway? For God’s sake!
>Oh, Lord. Having flashbacks…Dad literally ripped my copy in half. Of course, it’s not like anyone I knew didn’t have one I could borrow. Nothing wrong with asking what she thinks of the book and opening the door for dialog. I’m dreading the inevitablity of it.
>Oh, NOOOOOOOOES.
>Yeah, I just flipped through it and it’s every bit as cringeworthy as I remembered. Is it too much to ask for one peaceful day? Apparently, yes.
>I’m with Anonymous. This is a good opportunity to have a discussion.Still, I feel your pain.At least it’s not one of Judy Blume’s adult novels, such as “Wifey.”
>Oh yikes! Sounds like someone is maybe hoping for a conversation? I mean, otherwise, why leave it out? Good luck!
>We actually have conversations, though! The topic tends to come up from time to time when we’re talking about other people and what they do. See, I’m still the “young” stepmom so I can talk about this stuff. Supposedly. They’re probably going to read this and freak out. Heh.
>Apparently you’re going to be talking about some heavy petting issues soon.(Remember when our parents called it “heavy petting?” I don’t even know what you call it now, other than “fooling around.”)
>Am I the only one who doesn’t know a thing about this book? My curiousity a peaked
>Oh my goodness!Um, probably need to have a girl talk.This is so weird and random because I JUST was talking about this with some gals in my mom’s group. We were talking about the smuttiest stuff we ever read and this book came up. A. Lot. 😉
>Ummm. I’m a middle school librarian, and let me tell you, Forever is kinda tame to some of the teenage lit these days (Read Gossip Girl and Clique books). I’m not one for censorship (Remember the end? She discovers that sex isn’t all it’s cracked up to be?) so you might want to talk about it. It sounds like you have a excellent relationship with your stepdaughters. Funny story about Forever. I persuaded my mom to buy it for me in 6th grade because, umm, it was by Judy Blume? I totally knew it was an adult book, though. And my mom didn’t pay attention – I just said “Judy Blume wrote it – you know, the lady who wrote Tales of 4th Grade Nothing”. Well, I read it, and, umm, highlighted the Ralph parts, and took it to school, where I thought I’d show off to gain status points because I was desperately unpopular – I mean, the lowest of the low. Well, I ended up in the Principal’s office. Who called my mother. Yikes. Bad memories.
>Haha I had the pages with the “bad stuff” memorized in junior high. I was sort of a prude and didn’t know much. I guess I now have Judy Blume to blame…or thank.
>This reminds me of the time I was 17, my parents went out, a friend came over and I left a SHOT GLASS out on the counter. When my mother asked me what it was all about I denied, denied denied.
>Well if they have read any of the teen mags out there, Forever isn’t going to be an earth-shattering moment of discovery. You will do well with the conversation, I promise.Guess your vacation is over.
>I’d open on a light note – “Hey! I remember that book! What do you think of it?” which should easily open onto the actual topic in it.
>I like Kittenpie’s idea for a leadin to a conversation. I never read this book, but I did just click on your ‘Ralph’ link and holy canole. Ah… the awkwardness. Good luck!
>I would say it was deliberately left on the counter by the girls in HOPES of prompting the talk to happen.
>Is that one about SuperFudge?
>”And who leaves Forever on the kitchen counter, anyway? For God’s sake!”Oh that is SO 14 angling for a conversation that she doesn’t want to want to have.I like the Intro offered above.Let us know how it goes!
>nice. it’s been a while. Might need to get me a copy from the local library….just to remember ya know?
>Suggest a book group for the three of you!
>I read it several times in (maybe even before) high school, and it certainly never lead to ANYTHING. Just loved it for being all forbidden and, yes, very interesting/informative. If that’s any comfort. ;)I kind of love the new cover art…
>Admit you read it too – then talk. They’ll be so better off for it. They’re lucky to have you!!!
>Oh, I know this is in my future…I read it in 7th grade. I’m glad I did because my mom never told me anything…anything. Discuss it. See if she has any questions. I think the fact it was left sitting there means she is really comfortable with you knowing what she’s reading.
>I learned everything I needed to know about sex from the school bus and Judy Blume books. I kept forever well hidden under my pillow at night as I know my mother would lost her mind if she found out.
>I so agree with Amanda. I even wonder if your girl(s) see what all the fuss was about. With books like Rainbow Party by Paul Rudis and Sandpiper by Ellen Wittlinger, talking about Forever is easy.
>You know, for all the hype that book got when I read it, it really is one of the unsexiest sex books I’ve ever read. Ralph left me a little cold. I would just leave it on the counter. No way would I have wanted to have a “talk” about it when I read it. Or maybe you could make a joke about it. YOu seem like someone who could actually pull it off.
>I saw the ‘teaser’ on Twitter and thought; What did she find on her counter!? A snake? A $8,000 bill for something? WHAT?NEVER thought it was going to be Forever.This book confused me. For a couple years I could not for the life of me figure out how a female could uh… you know. What they talk about in the book. LOL.Hmmm I wonder if my 17 and 12 year olds have read it? If they DID, they didn’t leave it on the counter anyway.
>Oh yeah, I am SOOOOO making a Ralph joke.
>Even if me as an adult can look at the situation and think, “OF COURSE THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT,” the me that remembers being that age thinks, “Oh, the DENIAL.”But I think Kittenpie is brilliant – “Oh, I remember this!” and leaving it open for discussion.I just gave my 8 1/2 year old the American Girl “Care & Keeping of You” book over the weekend, so, uhm, erhm, AAARGH!
>Did the girls mom buy it for them, and they’re looking for a reaction on that level? They’ve just been to see her haven’t they? Maybe they had THE TALK with her (obviously she has to take the opportunities when she’s with them) and are now wanting your perspective? Kind of flattering.Forever is really out of date as far as the contraception goes, but I think the foreword talks about that now. Maybe you could start the conversation with ‘How out of date is this book?’ I think talking about how you read it a good way to start.
>I really can’t believe it was written in the seventies, because the descriptions are verrrrry technical. I mean, it’s seriously teen porn. The storyline is blahhhh. The sex scenes are VIVID. Not that I had a problem with this at 12…
>Well, looks like you know where she is now. It’s a good one to start the talk with, anyway. And you already know the whole story, unlike our parents who just freaked out! I wonder if all these new teen girls realize they are not the first generation to learn about Ralph through Judy Blume.
>Compared to what they see on MTV and other cable TV, this is a walk in the park. Heck. if you think this is bad – just think of what they’ve searched for on the Web.I saw totally gross them out…Get some post it notes and a highlighter, mark up the juicy stuff and then when they see it, say “I thought you’d like to cut to the chase and get to the good parts. Let me know if you need me to draw you a picture.”
>Ughh… Kids these days!!!We at least had the decency to wrap it in a paper bag!I’m actually surprised it’s taken her this long to discover it. Didn’t we read it in sixth grade? Maybe that’s why it makes me queasy just thinking about it.Good luck, and keep us posted!!!
>I remember reading this several times and while I LOVED the book, I didn’t think it was all that graphic. Maybe my life wasn’t as sheltered as I once thought. =)
>I remember that book. Vividly. My mom read it, and her comment was, “Wow, that was explicit.” It was like a romance novel for teens.
>It could be worse…it could have been Flowers in the Attic! I learned a lot more from that than from Forever. =) But I do remember having memorized exactly which pages of Forever starred Ralph. =)
>WOW! I am willing to bet that she doesn’t even realize that you would know anything about that book. Parents are clueless, remember? The best thing my mom ever did was say (frequently) that if we ever wanted to get on BCP that there would be no questions asked. She was pg at 19 and wanted to make sure that didn’t happen with us. We were all good kids, so maybe it wasn’t so necessary – or maybe we were just good because of her. Hard to know. 🙂 Beckyhttp://www.stinkylemsky.typepad.com/
>Laughing now remembering Flowers in the Attic. Now THAT was shocking.
>I read it in 6th grade. I remember asking my mother what “come” meant and she said she didn’t know. My friends and I used to read the dirty parts on the playground. I loved that book though. And everything else by Judy Blume. I think you should just tell them you read it too. There’s nothing wrong with it.
>You’ve gotta start with B – that’s just too funny.And then go from there to C and D.
>I have never read Forever (how the heck did I miss it?) but when I was in 6th grade I not only read Flowers in the Attic (and Petals on the Wind! That one was worse!) but I actually WROTE my own start of a novel to mimic it!Just let her know you know she’s reading it and what she’s reading and open yourself up for questions. 🙂 Good luck!
>yikes, my bestfriend & I read it in 6th grade. Though in 3rd grade a teacher gave us Are you there god, it’s me Margret.I guess that was her way to keep the girls in the adv. reading group busy.In jr. high I read Go Ask Alice . I now have a 4 yr old daughter who loves books. I think I’ll be hiding or ebaying those books asap!!
>Why have I not read this? Did Judy Blume (my favorite author as a child) write a dirty book that I didn’t know about? I’ve read Summer Sisters and felt…meh. I may have to check this out…for [ahem] curiousity sake.
>that’s not something any elementary school kid should stumble upon,which i did. right next to “superfudge”. what in the hizeck?i opened it up and closed it quickly. forever.
>They probably didn’t realize you would know what the book was, much less who “Ralph” was 🙂 LOL…I definitely vote for asking what Ralph is up to. This made me laugh so hard!!
>Yikes, I seem to recall that I was the one who passed that “trash” around my 8th grade class. Right before I sent everyone down the V.C. Andrews path of debauchery. To think, my mother bought those books for me. Sigh.
>Hahahahahahaha….Sorry, still laughing….Does it fall open to “the good bits?” Oh so funny!Good luck!
>oh, how I loved Judy Blume.
>Having grown up in a house where sex was never discussed because “you’re just not going to do that until you’re married”, I’m the absolute opposite.I’d probably casually mention that hey, I read that book as a teen too and then ask their opinions about it.Because you know, honest discussion and information is SOOOO much better then them stupidly finding out on their own. (like being traumatized by a pap smear at 21 and they didn’t even KNOW THOSE EXISTED).
>you’re welcome.http://current.com/items/88929654_things_we_learned_from_judy_blume
>This takes me back!!I loved that book a little too much.Oh, Ralph….
>can we get an update?