The Birds, the Bees, and the Elephant in the Room: Talking to Your Kids about Sex & Other Sensitive Topics

Known as Shug to her nearly 1 million TikTok followers, Rachel Coler Mulholland has become a favorite voice for parents trying to navigate tricky conversations with their curious and confused children. As a nationally certified counselor with a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling, she is the ideal person to write this book, which will empower parents and caregivers by helping facilitate essential but scary conversations with their kids, from toddlers to teens. The book covers a broad variety of topics including how babies are made, dating, safe sex practices, the differences between gender and sexual orientation, and how to discuss consent. It is perfect for caregivers struggling to find the words, and it aims to help navigate the sometimes murky waters of discussions around bodies and sex. Written in the frank and funny tone of Rachel’s videos, this book arms readers with applicable skills and accurate knowledge and keeps the next generation of kids safe in an ever-changing world.

Rachel Coler Mulholland is a nationally certified counselor and university professor from Minnesota. She has dual bachelor’s degrees in psychology and human services, and a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling. Rachel has provided mental health skills training for children with severe emotional disturbance in a school-based day-treatment program, as well as school-based counseling for high school students and college students of varying ages. She focuses much of her professional energy on resilience development, trauma-informed therapeutic interventions, assertive communication, interpersonal skills, and self-efficacy. On TikTok, Rachel is known for her honest, funny, responsible, and much-needed wisdom on talking to kids about bodies, puberty, consent, and sex.