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Opinions about nudity

outofplace's picture

Submitted by outofplace on Thu, 08/26/2010 - 7:39pm

Growing up, I remember walking around the house naked till I was about 6-7 and I suddenly felt the urge to cover up, nobody told me to. I just decided on my own. My mom had no issues with me seeing her in her underwear at any age, and only seem to hide it from my brothers when they were 11+. You never heard "Go put some clothes on!" unless their was a good reason, such as: We had to go somewhere, someone was coming over, etc.

Is that abnormal? BM seems to be very uncomfortable with SS4 being naked at any point except when taking a bath, or changing clothes. He's not allowed to sleep naked, or even in just underwear. It was pretty hot the other night, and we don't have air-conditioning so I said..

"You can just sleep in your underwear"
SS4: "I can?"
Me: "Sure, it's hot in here"
SS4 "but mom doesn't let me do that"
Me: "....uh... well...It's ok over here"

Ever since then he wants to take his clothes off. Personally, it doesn't bother me a bit. Other than he seems to get a kick out of doing something over here that he can't do over there, I figure he'll get over that pretty quick though... but I wonder if I'm abnormal in my thinking... Do most parents not allow their kids to roam around the house naked? Or at what age would you consider it inappropriate?

Comments

stressgirl79's picture

Submitted by stressgirl79 on Thu, 08/26/2010 - 8:18pm

If he's only 4, I don't see the big deal either. My BS3 hates pants and I don't even notice it anymore until someone comes over and asks me where his pants are...but SS10 also wants to walk around in his tighty whiteys. I think he is getting too old for that and it makes me uncomfortable. Even worse, it makes SD8 very uncomfortable but no one else seems to care. I don't know if it's just because we are the only girls in the house or what?

hismineandours's picture

Submitted by hismineandours on Thu, 08/26/2010 - 8:43pm

My kids are 12, 11, and 8. SS is 12. My dh occassionally walks around in his underwear.My 8 year old will walk around in a towel-that she sometimes has trouble holding up. She will change in the living room. My 12 year is pretty modest-she will walk around in a towel on her way to the laundry room. My 11 year old son thinks it funny to pull his pants down and moon us. My 12 year old does not walk around in a towel when ss is here. Up until about a year ago ss wanted to come out of his room in his boxers-i told him to cut it out. When they were little -up until about 4 they all ran around the house naked.

anabihibik's picture

Submitted by anabihibik on Fri, 08/27/2010 - 5:47am

BF's sone, 7, does the streaking through the house at shower time, too. He seems more shy about doing it when I'm around. I'm not complaining about that. Smile

PrincessFiona's picture

Submitted by PrincessFiona on Fri, 08/27/2010 - 8:17am

I think as a post previously this week proved, everyone has differing levels of comfort with nudity/modesty. I would think that typically around school age you start to teach your children some respect for their own privacy as well as the privacy of others, much for their own safety. And by puberty, there needs to be a bit more concern.

Having said that, many many people are very open and comfortable with complete nudity in their home and that is not sheilded from their children. That's their right, IMO. I might not like it, I might not think it's appropriate but I also don't think it crosses any lines that should be reported.

I myself am quite open and not very modest, my kids deal with it. It's what they are accustomed to. If they convey any discomfort with it I might see fit to cover up more. My DS is 13, I am more careful to not overexpose him but he does see me naked.

It's really more a personal comfort level.