My mother is a very religious woman. When it comes to sex, she told my sisters and me that we should wait until marriage. My father just nonchalantly told me to “wrap it up” if I ever decided to have sex. My parents did a lousy job of educating my sisters and me on sex.

The only really honest person that possessed factual information about sex was my grandmother. If I ever had a question about sex, she never felt the need to lie or avoid responding. One day, she even asked me about my thoughts on it.

She was always more than willing to share with me details about her sex life with my deceased grandfather. Sometimes this was too much information, especially at the age of eight, but looking back now, I appreciate her honesty. The best thing she did for my sexual education was to give me a book that read like a conversation between a parent and child. It contained honest information about sex. It answered every question you could imagine, from masturbation to the experience of your “first time.”

I have always felt comfortable discussing sex with my grandmother.

Want to read more stories from Sex, Etc. teen editors about talking to parents about sex and what they wish they'd learned in sex ed? Check out Karen, Yannick, and Chelsea's stories.