mtj, there was a lot of sexual activity in my childhood and almost all with other children. In some cases, the children were older and I consider that abuse. In other cases, they were kids my age and I regard those kids as being as confused as I was at the time.

But what I have found is that all of it, exploitive or not, had a profound impact on how I developed sexually and I still deal with these issues in therapy.

The simple truth is that kids aren't ready to process sexual activity. As an adult you take in the whole experience with all its intricacies and implications but as a kid, thoughts and emotions hit you as fragments that you don't fully understand. The uncertainty and confusion these fragments cause easily transforms to worry, guilt and anxiety.

At least it did for me.

I should add that I do consider it the adult's responsibility to prevent opportunities for this type of occurance but I'm also a realist and know that parents don't catch everything their children do.

I would recommend talking to a therapist about your concerns. You have a right to resolve emotions attached to the incident and to have a healthy sexual life as an adult.

Cyran0