Naked!!!

BrideBuddies

Got your attention there, eh?
So, how old was your kid when you stopped letting him see you naked?

C usually plays in our room when I get into the shower so he gets a glimpse of me (our master bath is attached to the bedroom).  But I do try to be kind of modest about it.

But at 3 1/4, I suppose I should stop even that little bit of nudity in front of him, eh?

 

shannm

This is an excellent question and I look forward to the responses. My son still sees me naked coming out of the shower on a regular basis. Probably should start locking the door and teaching privacy.

stever

I figure we've got another year or so before I lock DS1 out when I'm nekkid. My mom always changed in front of me, still does actually, and it makes me cringe. I want to spare my boys from getting the 'I've seen my mom naked' shudders.

gimmietimmies

BB I think you're stiL fine. My girls still waltz in when I shower or get dressed, I don't make a big deal about nudity, kwim? It's just a body. I have a bit more European outlook on nudity though, like the naked body doesn't automatically equal sexuality. I think L was closer to five when I started redirecting him. I told him that grown ups needed privacy. I didn't want to freak out and go "OMG, don't look at me I'm naked!" and have him think he was wrong or bad. He got to the age where he "got" modesty and seeing mom naked wasn't great.

KerryHS

I think I stopped at around age 4 with the first two children.  However, I change in front of them without thinking it is weird.  I just don't run around naked.  My little guy is only 2 so he doesn't notice anything yet.

BrideBuddies

stever:

I figure we've got another year or so before I lock DS1 out when I'm nekkid. My mom always changed in front of me, still does actually, and it makes me cringe. I want to spare my boys from getting the 'I've seen my mom naked' shudders.

Ha!! Stever, as always, you're spot-on!  My mom did that too, and still does!   She also used to just walk into the bathroom whenever she felt like it.... when I was taking a bath, using the toilet, whatever.  (Old house=no door locks)  

Man, that drove me nuts.   Even now when she's visiting, she walks into my room without knocking.   The woman knows no boundaries.

I do get a little nervous when C yells, "Hey Mom.. you're naked!!!   Do a naked dance with me!!!"  Um.. no, that's okay, kid.

 

gimmietimmies

BrideBuddies:

stever:

I figure we've got another year or so before I lock DS1 out when I'm nekkid. My mom always changed in front of me, still does actually, and it makes me cringe. I want to spare my boys from getting the 'I've seen my mom naked' shudders.

Ha!! Stever, as always, you're spot-on!  My mom did that too, and still does!   She also used to just walk into the bathroom whenever she felt like it.... when I was taking a bath, using the toilet, whatever.  (Old house=no door locks)  

Man, that drove me nuts.   Even now when she's visiting, she walks into my room without knocking.   The woman knows no boundaries.

I do get a little nervous when C yells, "Hey Mom.. you're naked!!!   Do a naked dance with me!!!"  Um.. no, that's okay, kid.

 

What?? No naked dance? JK, I don't think I would either. Yeah, your mom's version of privacy is a bit much. At least the girls excuse is they're still young!

mwd

DS has just started to notice and name his own personal body parts.  He does see me in my robe or in my underwear, but I guess we should start showing a little modesty. 

Ilumine

Take what I say with a grain of salt, but as the daughter of a middle school health teacher and after living in Europe, I can honestly say that non-sexual nudity coupled with open conversation/education is pretty ok until they reach puberty.

Now, my father always had the newest research on health ed (though he was never able to actually practice it - thank you very much NY State education) and everythign he read pointed to open, honest, and clinically accurate information.

When we use goofy words for bodily functions/parts or skim over the graphic (ie never show detail) examples of what can happen, we make these things almost MYTH LIKE.  It is harder to think that you can get a VD if your parents are calling the vagina  VaJayJay and the penis Wee Wee. 

Now on a personal side, I am overweight.  And my DD has started noticing my "pouch".  That has so motivated me to exercise AROUND her.  So she can SEE me being healthy.

stever

BrideBuddies:

stever:

I figure we've got another year or so before I lock DS1 out when I'm nekkid. My mom always changed in front of me, still does actually, and it makes me cringe. I want to spare my boys from getting the 'I've seen my mom naked' shudders.

Ha!! Stever, as always, you're spot-on!  My mom did that too, and still does!   She also used to just walk into the bathroom whenever she felt like it.... when I was taking a bath, using the toilet, whatever.  (Old house=no door locks)  

Man, that drove me nuts.   Even now when she's visiting, she walks into my room without knocking.   The woman knows no boundaries.

I do get a little nervous when C yells, "Hey Mom.. you're naked!!!   Do a naked dance with me!!!"  Um.. no, that's okay, kid.

Glad I'm not alone. Close the door when you pee! Wait til you're done changing before initiating a conversation!

And, just to clarify, I'm not planning to panic if the boys see me naked when they're older. I've lived in Europe, am married to a European and have a nudity-loving mom. I'm cool wih nudity, I just don't want my boys to have memories of me lifting my boobs into my bra like I have of my mom

SurpriseAt39

I think views will also vary here based on whether we have boys or girls. 

My daughter showered with me regularly until she was 6 or 7. Then she showered alone except when we were away from home. I never 'hid' my body from her. DH always wore underwear after she hit @ 4 years.  She would still see me change clothes from time to time.   She is now 11 years old, and during my recent pregnancy, I got a pinched nerve while in the tub and she helped me to the bed and got me dressed as I could barely move. 

I now have a 2 month old son.  I expect to do the same thing this time around. He can shower with me until around school age.  Then again, I will not necessarily 'hide' my body.  I suspect DH will do the same as before.  

gimmietimmies

stever:

BrideBuddies:

stever:

I figure we've got another year or so before I lock DS1 out when I'm nekkid. My mom always changed in front of me, still does actually, and it makes me cringe. I want to spare my boys from getting the 'I've seen my mom naked' shudders.

Ha!! Stever, as always, you're spot-on!  My mom did that too, and still does!   She also used to just walk into the bathroom whenever she felt like it.... when I was taking a bath, using the toilet, whatever.  (Old house=no door locks)  

Man, that drove me nuts.   Even now when she's visiting, she walks into my room without knocking.   The woman knows no boundaries.

I do get a little nervous when C yells, "Hey Mom.. you're naked!!!   Do a naked dance with me!!!"  Um.. no, that's okay, kid.

Glad I'm not alone. Close the door when you pee! Wait til you're done changing before initiating a conversation!

And, just to clarify, I'm not planning to panic if the boys see me naked when they're older. I've lived in Europe, am married to a European and have a nudity-loving mom. I'm cool wih nudity, I just don't want my boys to have memories of me lifting my boobs into my bra like I have of my mom

I had to lol at that.

And pp, no, my views don't change based on sex, even though ds stopped seeing me nude around school age, he's totally done the barge through the bedroom door while I'm getting dressed. NBD, but seriously, can I have a minute of piece, thanks kid.

KateLouise

I'm pretty relaxed about nudity in general. I have no intention of locking my child out of my bathroom or bedroom when I'm showering or changing.

I will close the door (although I never do now, so that I can hear what the girls are up to) and encourage them to knock as part of common courtesy.

I figure they will save themselves from the "horror" of seeing me naked in their own time. They will choose not to enter the bathroom when I'm showering if they prefer not to see me, and that's all part of growing up and developing your own sense of modesty.

But my Mum and I skinny dip together in my parents pool because neither of us can be bothered putting on swimwear, and it just doesn't bother us to be naked in front of each other. So my view of nudity may be somewhat skewed.

I'm interested that some people here are repulsed by their mother's naked form. 

BrideBuddies

KateLouise:

I'm interested that some people here are repulsed by their mother's naked form. 

KL, I think repulsed isn't the proper word here.  In my case, I did not care for the lack of respect for my personal privacy.  

I think this kinda falls into the same category as hearing/seeing your parents having sex.  You know they do it.  I just don't need to have that visualization after a certain point in my life, ya know?   Not being prudish, really, but some things just don't necessarily need to be in my memory bank for the rest of my life.

Added:

Not that this is always the situation of course, but I have friends who raised their daughter in an extremely open and honest setting about EVERYTHING.  They're nudists, too--took her along to the clothing-optional clubs/vacations, the whole 9-yards.   The girl grew up to be a stripper/professional wrestler. 

I just don't think there's anything wrong with teaching a child a little modesty and respect for someone's personal space and privacy.

KateLouise

BrideBuddies:

KateLouise:

I'm interested that some people here are repulsed by their mother's naked form. 

KL, I think repulsed isn't the proper word here.  In my case, I did not care for the lack of respect for my personal privacy.  

I think this kinda falls into the same category as hearing/seeing your parents having sex.  You know they do it.  I just don't need to have that visualization after a certain point in my life, ya know?   Not being prudish, really, but some things just don't necessarily need to be in my memory bank for the rest of my life.

Yeah repulsed was an overstatement. I guess I could just about draw a picture of my mother's breasts and it simply doesn't bother me, in the same way I know what her knees look like. 

Having someone else intrude on YOUR space and privacy however, is very different. 

I actually walked in on my 70+yr old parents having a full on snog the other day and I felt really embarrassed. Not from an, "eww I saw my parents kiss" way, but I felt really bad that I'd intruded on and interrupted a private moment. 

 

ridesbuttons

My kids are 5.5 and 4.  I change in front of them and they will walk in on me while I'm in the bathroom or showering (our shower has no door/curtain). 

However, I have started bringing up the notion of privacy and sometimes will tell them I need privacy for whatever reason.

stever

KateLouise:

BrideBuddies:

KateLouise:

<p>I'm interested that some people here are repulsed by their mother's naked form.&nbsp;</p>
<p>

</p>
<p>KL, I think <i>repulsed </i>isn't the proper word here.&nbsp; In my case, I did not care for the lack of respect for my personal privacy.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>
<p>I think this kinda falls into the same category as hearing/seeing your parents having sex.&nbsp; You know they do it.&nbsp; I just don't need to have that visualization after a certain point in my life, ya know?&nbsp;&nbsp; Not being prudish, really, but some things just don't necessarily need to be in my memory bank for the rest of my life.</p><p>

</p><p>Yeah repulsed was an overstatement. I guess I could just about draw a picture of my mother's breasts and it simply doesn't bother me, in the same way I know what her knees look like.&nbsp;</p><p>Having someone else intrude on YOUR space and privacy however, is very different.&nbsp;</p><p>I actually walked in on my 70+yr old parents having a full on snog the other day and I felt really embarrassed. Not from an, "eww I saw my parents kiss" way, but I felt really bad that I'd intruded on and interrupted a private moment.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

Thank you. I was gonna get all defensive and be like 'I would never be repulsed by my mom!!!'

MT-Head

I don't put on a show about getting dressed, but if Will is in the room when I am toweling off and getting on my skivvies, I just do it matter-of-factly and don't dwell on the fact that I am naked.  It doesn't happen often that he sees me without clothes, but he has busted into the bathroom a few times when I've had to pee, and I am sure he noticed I did it sitting down and that I don't have a penis (as opposed to Daddy, who he sees peeing more often).  He didn't ask anything, and I did volunteer that Mommy was using the potty to make peepee, but I didn't see a need for an anatomy lesson just yet.

I recently read that opposite sex nudity is OK until a kid is about 4 or 5, then you should reinforce privacy/modesty.  Maybe because you want to encourage kids to keep things covered or to themselves when they go to school?