Ciara’s brilliant answer on practicing abstinence with Russell Wilson

A writer for Cosmo magazine had the chance to speak with Ciara her about her relationship with Russell Wilson. The couple is practicing abstinence until marriage and I thought her conversation on the topic was fantastic.

“I’m not gonna lie. I’m human, so it is not easy, especially when I look at him and I think he is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen that I’ve ever laid my eyes on, to be honest,” she told Charles Manning from Cosmo. “But he’s such an awesome guy and the cool thing is that every day, we’re growing with each other. We get to have really healthy conversations and focus on each other as people. That is very important to me and him. It’s very valuable. We’re just enjoying ourselves and going one day at a time and praying and staying positive. Being strong here!”

I love the honesty in Ciara’s answer: no, it’s not easy, but the struggle is worth it.

A problem I have with abstinence-only education is that too often proponents pretend it’s easier than it is. It’s not easy, especially for a teenage boy or girl who will be constantly thinking about sex. Want to know why Suzie isn’t paying attention in History class? She’s checking out Johnny. Know why Steve has no clue what you’re teaching in English? He’s looking at April!

Related: No, Russell Wilson is not Jesus; just a great, mysterious QB

Teenagers are sex-obsessed and when you tell a teen – or anyone – that abstaining from sex is easy, you’re being dishonest and setting them up for failure. Because they will have urges and think to themselves they’re doing something wrong because “it’s supposed to be easy.”

Ciara talking openly about this choice is a great way to talk to people about abstinence in a real way. Abstinence will not work for everyone; it’s one of many tools at your disposal to use as you see fit. But you’re actually giving it an opportunity to be successful when you talk so openly about it. And when a couple like Ciara and Russell Wilson do it, you help take the stigma away. That’s a great thing.