i really liked my older male mentor, when i was nine, ten, eleven, and today i could say i loved him, but i'm speaking in general terms - back then it was about being friends, having fun, and an overwhelming desire to mess around with naughty stuff.

so it's hard to tell if i was emotionally ready for anything - that part was something of a rollercoaster ride, for me - well aware it would freak out my parents, to whom i was very emotionally attached, and it bothered me to have to keep secrets from them.

anyway - i agree with your point, i'm just quibbling about your use of the phrase in regard to children.

what i think i could say is that children seem to be remarkably robust emotionally, and seem to have no trouble bouncing through the entire spectrum at a rate that makes my head spin. whereas far too many adults (not all) are quite desperately fragile emotionally, and will shatter at the slightest change in temperature.

so no - i don't think most adults are emotionally ready to discuss these things at all. on the occasions i have tried to do so, i often find myself trying to evoke childhood memories - how would you have reacted, as a child of the same age? - i'm not sure if it works, because i never seem to get through the discussion - they keep changing the subject.