Incest! Even though we say it’s gross, I believe we all have a tolerance for it at one level or another. It just depends on our culture or our nationality and what it’s “rules” are, right? For example, in countries like Egypt or Jordan it’s perfectly legal and totally respectable to marry your cousin and many parents actually prefer their children to marry this way. On the other hand, many American parents would just completely freak out if their own kids tried that. And many American states have made it illegal.

Anyway, the one incest taboo that even a SUPER-LIBERAL like me cannot really relate to is sexual intimacy between Father/Daughter and Mother/Son. I hate to sound judgmental and self-righteous, but it sounds so gross and so wrong…. Nonetheless, folks do “go there.” I personally was close enough friends with a young lady for her to reveal that her Dad had forced her to do the unthinkable when she was a minor. I felt so bad for her.

Here are my honest feelings: Child abuse is unforgivable – throw the book at those evil people. But if Mom/Son or Dad/Daughter are both adults with a normal IQ and no mental illness or retardation and they decide to be intimate, the police should leave them alone. Let them be as weird as they want to be. A 32-year-old guy and his 55-year-old, single or widowed Mom are just not harming anyone – besides their own self-respect – if they decide to be lovers.

However, a 32-year-old woman and her 55-year-old Dad are more dangerous! As soon as a pregnancy occurs – God forbid – I think the Sheriff has the right to arrest them both. At that point, they are endangering public health AND morals, and deserve a jail term or a fine or both. Right?

What is your opinion? Have you ever had forbidden, erotic feelings, as an adult, for a Mom? For a Dad? How did you cope?

If you are a Mom, have you had forbidden feelings for your adult son? How did you deal with it? Were you able to push the scary or wild thoughts away? Or did you give in and actually “cross that line?” How about you Dads and those forbidden feelings for an adult daughter?

Interested to hear all thoughtful opinions. For those too embarrassed or sensitive to post a reply, there is a "Mother-Son or Father-Daughter Sexual Intimacy" poll I created. You can vote silently.