Ah, yes, cars. CARS=Captive Audience Reticence Suspension. Where sometimes, people really listen and really talk.

Or sing as loud as they want, because no one can hear them...LOL

I love that! I'm going to remember this for when my little ones are older.

OME!!! He IS like Prince Charming, isn't he? And Bella is just the simple peasant girl next door. I've never thought of that. I've always loved fairy tales. That must be why I'm so addicted to this one! It's such a beautiful fairy tale. Very well put, dawnmarie! I agree with everything you've said.

Thanks, Dy! Wow, I'm out of commission for a day and I miss a whole page of posts on this thread! Abstinence has suddenly become popular.

I'm visiting the beautiful island of Maui at the moment, and my land-locked children are begging for the beach, but I wanted to quickly give you the link to the "Fractured Fairytales" thread I mentioned earlier. I think you'll really enjoy it:
http://twilightmomsforums.freeforums.org/fractured-fairytales-t423.html?highlight=fractured%20fairytales.

More later, when children and husband have fallen into an exhausted slumber, dreaming soundly of sea turtles and the elusive humuhumunukunukuapua. Now if I could just remember where I packed our snorkels...

Don't say anything funny until I get back (...sorry, I'm having Emmett withdrawals).

I enjoyed that link! Thank you.
Your in HAWAII and on the computer instead of enjoying the ocean!?!?! Kidding, but enjoy the beach.

Aloha, and yes, I "come up for air" every once and a while.

InnamorataDiTwilight, your comments were so insightful. Thanks for sharing them with us! So much of what you described is particularly comprehensible because of the collective scope our common life experiences. Many who have posted on this thread have expressed gratitude for having made the personal decision to abstain or for having chosen a partner who valued abstinence.

We talk of Edward's abilities as being supernatural but I wonder if, in so doing, we're perhaps missing the mark. As you so eloquently pointed out: "SM explained to us that as a vampire, Edward's love is of a more permanent and binding nature. He is emotionally and spiritually bound to [Bella]. Being of a strong mindset, Edward has amazingly strong will power." I wonder, though: will young men who read this series have the maturity to deem Edward's patience, consideration, and foresight not only worthy of emmulation, but also realistically attainable? Or will they consider the loftiness of Edwardian ideology to be beyond their limited reach (as mere mortals), not possessing the full complement of vampire capabilities he does? How are those of you with tween and teenage boys approaching this topic, and are you experiencing resistence or a measure of success?

I'm just envisioning my little boys running around (as they often do) with red Superman capes flying behind them, and I suppose I'm hoping that when they're old enough to read the Twilight Series, their desire to emmulate "superheroes" will be as strong. Hopefully, even then, some part of them will still believe they can fly. Who knows? Maybe that's the key. If we can help our sons envision themselves as being "super" humans (while at the same time avoiding too many broken bones as they launch themselves fearlessly off the kitchen table), we'll have implanted the seeds of self-esteem deep enough in their fertile psyches to potentially take root. Imagine the bountiful harvest if we're successful in sowing that which we believe to be true.

LOL. I'm glad you're able to come up for air every once and a while.

I was blown away at what you said here. I'm a mother to a little boy and I took to heart what you wrote. That's something I've not thought of until you wrote that. Thank you for your insight!

I think that the most powerful message in this for me was the fact that Bella and Edward held off on acting on the urges they were both having until they were mutually comfortable with every aspect of sharing that serious step. In Edward’s case, he was not comfortable doing this outside of the marital contract. The power in that message for me came when, even though Bella didn’t necessarily subscribe to the same view, she respected his choice and supported him once she realized it was an issue for him.

I also feel that the message was all the more powerful because the one with the qualms was Edward. Women often fall into the prude category when abstinence is a theme and I love that SM didn't shy away from discussing the heat that everyone feels during first love.

I loved the reply of Shimmerskin -- although it's probably too long to put in as a quote. I can only say bravo. I think SMs coverage of this topic was great as well as down to earth in many aspects.

He was ready to go for it in the meadow, until Bella basically implied, "Sorry I got you all hot and bothered. Now I've changed my mind." And he was not comfortable doing it on the honeymoon, until she said she didn't mind getting bruised, begged, pleaded and wore French lingerie. Why was it a great thing to write romantic and beautiful scenes before the wedding, and no scenes of romantic, tasteful marital sex?

I tried to start a separate discussion about this, because the topic is different.

Now that we know that vampires can cause pregnancy, it can be fun to play the "what if" game. If Edward, then Bella, hadn't been insistent on abstaining, Bella would have gotten pregnant (if not immediately, then within a month or so, whenever she was next fertile). And vampire pregnancies being the quick things that they are, she would have gone from figuring out she was pregnant, to showing, to being incapacitated and nearly dying, to the birth, within only 2 weeks. Not being married would have complicated an already complicated situation.

I am very happy how Stephenie handle the issue. I have two teenagers and I hope that they can meet someone like Edward out there that will treat them with as much respect.

Funny story - I've been loaning out my Twilight saga books to a friend of my sister in law. Her name is Mary. She is only 17 and still living at home with her parents. While visiting Mary for a book exchange - she had 'New Moon' and finished, so I was bringing her 'Eclipse' - I ran into her mom. We were talking about the books and once I told her mom the series was a fantasy she asked if the series was similar to 'Lord of the Rings'.

I replied, "Yes, I suppose so, but the 'Twilight' saga has a bit more romance in it."

Knowing Mary's mom was a bit of a prude, I backtracked. I didn't want her to think I had her daughter reading some tawdry sex novel and so I hastily said without thinking, "Although, the books have been praised by mothers of teens, because Bella and Edward wait until their honeymoon to have sex."

Mary was standing near by and I saw her mouth drop, "THEY GET MARRIED?" she exclaimed.

It was only then that i realized my error. Having not read 'Breaking Dawn' yet let alone 'Eclipse' Mary would not have known the outcome of Bella and Edward's relationship yet.

I felt horrible, but made up for it by buying Mary a 'Twilight' chocolate bar from Barnes and Noble.

Haha...that is funny. Chocolate and Twilight? That would make my day!