It's the situation no parent wants to think about, let alone prepare for: Having your child walk in on you during sex. Talk about awkward! If you're worried about any untold psychological damage that's been done to your kids, don't panic, they're not going to be scarred for life, assures Amy Levine, a New York-based certified sexuality educator.

What to do when your kids catch you in the act

As embarrassing as the situation is, your best bet is to act blasé and pretend it's no big deal. "Calmly ask them to wait in the hall and let them know that you'll be out in a minute," says Levine. Once you're out of the room, keep up the casual behavior. "You can tell your child in a friendly, upbeat tone that you were surprised that they were standing there and apologize if you didn't respond right away."

Ask what they thought was going on. They may reply that you were kissing and hugging. Most young children will be satisfied when you explain that mommies and daddies show their love by kissing and hugging, adds Levine. For older children who are ready for more details, this would be a good moment to start or continue a conversation about sexuality.

Now is also the time to talk to your kids about privacy. "Talk about how you will respect their privacy and they should also respect yours," says Levine, who urges parents to put a lock on their door and teach the kids to knock before they enter.

The excuses parents come up with

When you're the proverbial deer caught in the headlights, the excuses you come up with don't always make a lot of sense. Here are some of the funniest excuses stunned parents have blurted out:

• "Mommy and daddy were just playing Twister in the dark."
• "Daddy was doing push-ups on top of mommy."
• "Daddy and mommy were just wrestling."
• "Mommy and daddy were having a tickle fight."
• "Daddy and mommy were playing piggy ride."
• "Daddy is giving mommy a massage."