It’s probably been a while since you talked about sex with your parents. Maybe not since the obligatory “birds and the bees talk” during the time of braces, pimples and mandatory sex ed. But now that you’re older and far more likely to actually have sex, you might want to consider reopening that door. Parents aren’t stupid. Now that you’ve been away at school for a while, they probably already assume you lost your V-card somewhere along the line. Whether you have or haven’t, there’s no reason why it should be a secret. It sounds like a big bag of awkward, but talking about sex with your parents can lead to a stronger, more trusting and more comfortable relationship. Say, for example, you’ve just woken up from a drunken hookup you really regret, and none of your girlfriends are around to nurse your hangover and dry your tears. Give mom a call. Provide her with a vague idea of what happened and why you’re upset about it. You’ll be surprised how much a little maternal support can help. If there’s anyone out there who can convince you that you’re beautiful and perfect no matter who you sleep with, it’s your parents. When it comes to birth control, parents are a great resource. They don’t want to know exactly what you’re doing, but they do want to make sure you’re doing it safely. According to the Planned Parenthood website, young adults who have an open sexual dialogue with their parents are less susceptible to unwanted pregnancy. Not to mention, sex talk with the parents can sometimes just be hilarious. As I’ve gotten older, my parents have started to crack sex jokes at the table more frequently and not in a creepy, inappropriate way. My mom will say things like, “I would leave your father in a second to bang Robert Downey Jr.” or “Wow, that ice cream cone looks like a penis.” Now that you’re older, lighthearted sexual humor doesn’t have to be a family taboo. So maybe the thought of your folks doing the nasty freaks you out, or you’re afraid they’ll disown you if they find out you’re not an innocent child anymore. But you aren’t, and they know it. You don’t have to have a big talk about it or anything. Unsure of how to breach that barrier? Just drop a joke sometime and see what happens. And besides, with all the soft-core porn gone mainstream these days, it’s hard to prevent sexually explicit content from entering the sacred parent-child relationship. It’s not like your mom is going to shield your eyes next time you guys watch “True Blood” or “Game of Thrones” together. So if you want to have a chat about the most recent episode or a chapter from 50 Shades of Grey, just do it. The earth will not stop turning.