Dear Lost,

You Aren't Legally Old Enough

I am sorry to say, but under law you aren't old enough to give consent for sex, so your parents have the right to press charges against the boy because he is a legal adult.

So if your parents are hardliners like you make them sound, there will probably be no way to convince them to let you have sex with them.

Unfortunately the world teaches young girls so many things about their bodies, they don't know what to think. The pregnancy centers teach them they have the right to do anything they want with their bodies, the law teaches them they don't, society teaches them sex is OK as long as your "ready" and so on.

It's very confusing, believe me I know. You have gotten yourself in a predicament, but it's not something that can't be solved.

Weigh All The Responsibilities

You need to really think and ask yourself if you are ready for all the responsibilities of sex before you try to convince your parents you are. If you have weighed all the possibilities and you really think you are ready to take them on if the time comes and you really think that if something should happen your boyfriend will be there for you, then by all means have at it.

But just remember, what you do now can affect you AND THOSE AROUND YOU for the rest of your lives. With sex comes the chance of STD's, pregnancy, and at your age, bad reputations. Babies and STD's are REALITY. They do happen. They happen on birth control, they happen with a condom. The only way to be sure is to not have sex at all.

Sex Isn't The Only Way To Have Intimacy

There are so many other options. Intimacy doesn't have to just mean SEX. You need to have mental intimacy as well as some physical intimacy to have a solid relationship. However at your age it is unlikely to find that kind of relationship even if the guy is older.

Stop Sleeping With Him

If you want to be better off in the future, my advice is to stop having sex with this boy. Let your parents win.

But Sara, it may be possible to negotiate with them.

Your parents are the ones that will be getting you through college and helping you the rest of your life. Your parents cared enough to bring you into this world, they love you, DON'T get on their bad side.

You will be SO thankful in the long run. Trust me.

–