NationStates Jolt Archive

A good friend of mine has a seven-year-old boy (almost eight). Her son routinely jumps into the bathtub with her. Is this a common thing? What do you think the cut off age should be with parents bathing with children? :confused:

As early as possible, because you're less likely to remember it then. It's not the sort of memory you want to keep with you later in life.

There's a cut-off age?!? :eek:

Seems kind of weird to me. At his age shouldn't his parents be encouraging to bathe on his own?

I took a bath with both of my daughters thier first time in the "big tub" but I wore my bathing suit. I think 7 is too old to be seeing your opposite sex parent naked much less be bathing with them. (but then again I don't buy in to the whole family bed thing either, my kids never slept in my bed that way I wouldn't have to "kick them out" later in life)

It's a cultural thing, so I don't think there is necessarily a right or wrong...it's a comfort level thing. Of course, we're discussing non-icky, non-sexually-abusive situations, okay?

I bathed with my kids until they were two (for the first one) and 13 months (for the second). That was more just to keep them from falling over than anything. Mostly they bathe to play...the getting clean part is just a side-effect:). I'd rather bathe alone, and have some me time. I would have no problem bathing with them still...but I see no reason to.

I took a bath with both of my daughters thier first time in the "big tub" but I wore my bathing suit. I think 7 is too old to be seeing your opposite sex parent naked much less be bathing with them. (but then again I don't buy in to the whole family bed thing either, my kids never slept in my bed that way I wouldn't have to "kick them out" later in life) Has Smunkee been lying to us all this time?

My parents were firm believers in the powers of self-reliance and so they just threw me down a well whenever I started to smell bad.

I took a bath with both of my daughters thier first time in the "big tub" but I wore my bathing suit. I think 7 is too old to be seeing your opposite sex parent naked much less be bathing with them. (but then again I don't buy in to the whole family bed thing either, my kids never slept in my bed that way I wouldn't have to "kick them out" later in life)
Yeah, I've made the 'family bed' mistake, and it seems impossible to correct...then again, my friend never had them sleep in her bed, but they came to bed anyway sometime during the night...until they were about seven. So, short of locking them in their rooms, I'm not sure I could've avoided it.

The bathing/nakedness thing...I don't particularly like being naked in front of anyone anyway, and that's just me. For one...it's COLD! Plus the kids think it's freaking hilarious if they do happen to see me nude, and start yelling about being able to see my butt. Like I need THAT going to school with them (as all things do) once they're school age!

My parents were firm believers in the powers of self-reliance and so they just threw me down a well whenever I started to smell bad.
Good for you. That old fashioned parenting results in people who are tough enough to deal with whatever life throws at them. It also gives one invaluable well-climbing skills.

Has Smunkee been lying to us all this time?
No, she went from a specific, to a general.

My parents were firm believers in the powers of self-reliance and so they just threw me down a well whenever I started to smell bad.
Did you come back through the television set?

7 is a bit old. but kids vary.

the thing is, there comes an age where the child develops a bit of modesty and HE decides that he doesnt want to bathe with another person

so as long as that time didnt come(its most usual to happen around 5) and your friend insist that it continue, its all OK.

I can see it when its a mother with their infant.

I have three children and none of them have ever seen me naked ever. I just dont think its appropriate.

Good thing as my oldest son has a photographic memory and often refers to details and events in great detail that happened before he could speak.

7 years old and still bathing with either parent is odd, but I've heard of kids that walk and talk and have teeth still breast feeding and kids that should be toilet trained and arent.

All of this is odd and unsettling to me.

So long as nothing is going on but bathing, I wouldn't put a limit on it that wasn't set by both people involved. A parent certainly shouldn't make a child who has gotten old enough to say, "I don't want to bathe with you," bathe with them, nor they allow a child old enough to make them uncomfortable into the tub. It depends on how comfortable both are with it.

Has Smunkee been lying to us all this time?
lying?


how so?

he was talking about a son bathing with his mother right? that would be the child's opposite sex parent. I bathed with my girls in my bathing suit when they were about 18 months. I wore my swimsuit because I am uncomfortable with being naked in the tub with someone other than my hubby. (it stems from growing up and having to share the bath tub with my cousins I think)

....
Plus the kids think t's freaking hilarious if they do happen to see me nude, and start yelling about being able to see my butt. Like I need THAT going to school with them (as all things do) once they're school age!


Why? Does it look like a bag of corn flakes? Or you were sitting out on the gravel driveway too long?

It's just a naked body. As long as no touchy-feely stuff is going on, they should be able to bathe together at 70 if they both want to.

Why? Does it look like a bag of corn flakes? Or you were sitting out on the gravel driveway too long?
No, we just talk about butt a lot in my house (surprise surprise). When my eldest wants us to play with her, she goes 'na na na na na' and sticks out her butt, then runs off laughing hysterically when we inevitably try to swat her. The baby is in the bad habit of taking off her diaper and running around going 'poto, poto' which means 'butt' in Chilean Spanish, my husband smacks my butt all the time which means the girls end up smacking my butt because they think it's funny, and basically, anything having to do with butts makes us all laugh because we're a family of idiots:D

ay, folks.

i agree with sinuhue (?) about the "it's probably a culture thing, comfort zone varies" thing.

though i find it slightly odd from my angle, i can see smunkeeville's and carnivorous' attitude, and i guess wherever their comfort zones ends is where the action should end, too.

but then, also, i have grown up with parents who were very liberal in the whole body consciiousness thing and so i am used to have seen my parents naked as well as them seeing me naked until i moved out at age 19, and althouh i don't remember any baths with my father, i think i had those with my mum beyond the age of 7, too.

of course, this is always assuming a completely non-sexual, non-threatening, non-abusive, non-uncomfortable/awkward setting.

Did you come back through the television set?
Yes, actually, and it was a skill that has aided me well in life.
Wanna see my video of how I did it? Its a 7 day rental, for added convenience.

Assuming there's nowt sexual happening, and 'normal' peer socialisation, I think bathing together'll end when it feels natural/comfortable for the kid for it to stop.

I never bathed with my parents that I can remember, but I did with my wee brother (4 years younger) till he was about 2 - I was to make sure he didn't drown, I think...

Ooh, also till I was about 7ish, Saturday morning was 'wake mum up by sneaking into bed with her at 8am to watch cartoons' :p Again, my brother was the same, till abot 7 :) It works itself out!

No, she went from a specific, to a general. I thought taking English Language lessons gave me a bullshittery advantage, but you've just outshone me.

This is all completely non-sexual. The kid just loves his Mom plus loves to bug her.

This is all completely non-sexual. The kid just loves his Mom plus loves to bug her.
I think your word choice there was a bit, um, yes . . .
Maybe my own idion of speech is largely corrupt, but try saying the whole thing aloud (paying especial attention to the bolded part.

I thought taking English Language lessons gave me a bullshittery advantage, but you've just outshone me.
*preens* *rethinks* *shrugs and preens some more*

This has always seemed creepy to me, but I was raised by my grandmother who bathed us, not with us. Thanks Buddha!

A friend of mine used to shower with his 5 year old girl. That really bothered me. The two year old, no biggie, but 5??? *shivers*

I had a nanny, so I never bathed with my mum and am stronger for it. The whole "no physical contact or emotions" thing helped to shape me into the person I am today... the kidn of person who randomly makes people on the internet cry...

I think 7 years old is to old for this type of activity. I don't know if there is a particular cut off age but my wife brings our infant daughter in the shower with her. Not a big deal I think. But 7 years old is to old.

I had a nanny, so I never bathed with my mum and am stronger for it. The whole "no physical contact or emotions" thing helped to shape me into the person I am today... the kidn of person who randomly makes people on the internet cry...
Sissy boy, I'll bet that the baths sides were less than 20 feet high and the water was warm. You have any idea how much of a bitch a well is in the middle of winter?

My mother used to bathe me, not bathe with me, until I was like 5 then after that, I was left alone in the tub.

I don't remember ever bathing WITH my parents; maybe they did when I was very tiny and first went in the big bath, but I don't remember it. I recall my dad bathing me til I was probably about 5 or 6 and taught me trigonometry using the bathroom tiles. Once I was able to wash my hair without getting shampoo in my eyes, my parents didn't help me bathe at all. I don't see anything wrong with bathing with your kids if both parties are comfortable with it - I'm assuming, of course, that the parent-child relationship is a normal, non-abusive one.
As for kids seeing their parents naked, I think it's completely natural; for my whole life I've been comfortable with seeing my parents naked and vice versa, I mean jeez, they're my parents! They created me, what possible reason could there be for me not being utterly comfortable with them? I think parents who enforce 'modesty' in the household are awful; if you don't ever get to see naked bodies in a normal, non-sexual context then nudity becomes taboo and illicit, which it just isn't!

I wouldn't want to see my parents naked because they are overweight. I walk around naked all the time. I rarely ever wear clothes unless I go out in the public because I would get arrested if I went naked.

I wouldn't want to see my parents naked because they are overweight.
Dude, that kinda begs the question...

what question? I'm open, I'll answer anything.

what question? I'm open, I'll answer anything.

So, you would want to see them naked if they lost weight?

It depends on how much weight they lost. I am very open and I think the human body is art not something that is material or to be surgically altered. I have actively been searching for nudist colonies on the internet but I am yet to find one that isn't out of the country.

It depends on how much weight they lost. I am very open and I think the human body is art not something that is material or to be surgically altered. I have actively been searching for nudist colonies on the internet but I am yet to find one that isn't out of the country.

Good for, uh, good for you **is a little weirded out**

It depends on how much weight they lost. I am very open and I think the human body is art not something that is material or to be surgically altered. I have actively been searching for nudist colonies on the internet but I am yet to find one that isn't out of the country.
I can respect that. We have a ton here in Florida, but "art" isn't what you're going to be seeing 95% of the time. :p

I can respect that. We have a ton here in Florida, but "art" isn't what you're going to be seeing 95% of the time. :p

Well, if the Turner Prize is for art...

I am well aware that people in nudists have a large chance of being overweight.

I find it very telling how many people assume that nudity = sexual. If a person would have no problem seeing their parents naked, how is there something wrong with that? The only way there would be is if you assume nudity = sex, which it does not.

I have seen my best friend naked, but I have no urge whatsoever to have sex with her. I have seen infants and toddlers naked, but have no urge whatsoever to have sex with them. I have seen some of my opposite-sex friends naked, with no desire to have sex with them. I have seen my stepfather in a thong, with no desire to have sex with him.

Nudity != sex. There is no reason to think that seeing your parents, or any other human being, naked is inherently a bad thing.

I find it very telling how many people assume that nudity = sexual. If a person would have no problem seeing their parents naked, how is there something wrong with that? The only way there would be is if you assume nudity = sex, which it does not.

I have seen my best friend naked, but I have no urge whatsoever to have sex with her. I have seen infants and toddlers naked, but have no urge whatsoever to have sex with them. I have seen some of my opposite-sex friends naked, with no desire to have sex with them. I have seen my stepfather in a thong, with no desire to have sex with him.

Nudity != sex. There is no reason to think that seeing your parents, or any other human being, naked is inherently a bad thing.

*Applause*!!!! Someone who gets it! :D

I find it very telling how many people assume that nudity = sexual. If a person would have no problem seeing their parents naked, how is there something wrong with that? The only way there would be is if you assume nudity = sex, which it does not.

I have seen my best friend naked, but I have no urge whatsoever to have sex with her. I have seen infants and toddlers naked, but have no urge whatsoever to have sex with them. I have seen some of my opposite-sex friends naked, with no desire to have sex with them. I have seen my stepfather in a thong, with no desire to have sex with him.

Nudity != sex. There is no reason to think that seeing your parents, or any other human being, naked is inherently a bad thing.

Nicely said, my thoughts exactly. I hate how when my friends see a girl topless or naked, they are always hooting and hollering then I just see it as art and they call me a homosexual. It's things like this that make nudity so taboo. I hate how everything is so censored these days, no freedom of expression or speech.

I have seen females and males in the nude in real life but I'm not pitching a tent and trying to jump their bones. Would you pitch a tent if you saw a nice painting? I think not.

Nudity != sex. There is no reason to think that seeing your parents, or any other human being, naked is inherently a bad thing.
Nudity != Sex, true, but just because Something != Sex, doesn't make it acceptable. Being Beaten with a Whip != Sex, but I don't generally seek out beatings (except for sex, see how that works?) from everyone.

I have seen my best friend naked, but I have no urge whatsoever to have sex with her.

damn, what's wrong with you?!?! </jokingness>

She has respect for the human body.

Would you pitch a tent if you saw a nice painting? I think not.

A nice painting of a naked chick? I think so

he has respect for the human body.

Well, that was a low blow

Nudity != Sex, true, but just because Something != Sex, doesn't make it acceptable. Being Beaten with a Whip != Sex, but I don't generally seek out beatings (except for sex, see how that works?) from everyone.

Nudity != Being Beaten with a Whip

Nudity != Execution

I could go on all day.......

There is nothing inherently wrong with nudity.

you're damn right, it's a low blow. He deserves it for a comment like that.

he has respect for the human body.

*Ahem*

*She*

Continue....

you're damn right, it's a low blow. He deserves it for a comment like that.

Learn to laugh

I am very sorry about that, Dempublicents1. I was unaware that you were a female. I will correct my previous post.

Nudity != Sex, true, but just because Something != Sex, doesn't make it acceptable. Being Beaten with a Whip != Sex, but I don't generally seek out beatings (except for sex, see how that works?) from everyone.

What a ridiculous comparison! How on earth can non-sexual nudity be harmful or unacceptable? Beatings, yes it's understandable because they cause damage, but naked bodies? I don't understand your logic...

Nudity != Being Beaten with a Whip
Both can be sexual in nature, both are frowned upon by the general public, I don't want to be exposed to either one by most people, both occur in nature (well, beatings do anyway), both can be damaging, both have their defenders, both can be used as punishment or interrogation, I could go on all day . . .
There is nothing inherently wrong with nudity.
You say that, but the human body is not a work of art. Most bodies are disgusting and best kept hidden.

I am very sorry about that, Dempublicents1. I was unaware that you were a female. I will correct my previous post.

No problem. You can't exactly see my boobies over the internet (Look! I said boobies! Does that mean I just whipped someone???!?!?! hehe)

=)

You say that, but the human body is not a work of art. Most bodies are disgusting and best kept hidden.

That is a personal subjective opinion of yours. It is not shared by everyone.

No problem. You can't exactly see my boobies over the internet (Look! I said boobies! Does that mean I just whipped someone???!?!?! hehe)

=)

Unless they're freakishly large, nobody would notice even if we could

Nudity != Sex, true, but just because Something != Sex, doesn't make it acceptable. Being Beaten with a Whip != Sex, but I don't generally seek out beatings (except for sex, see how that works?) from everyone.
Not buying it. I prolly could find plenty of chicks you'd let whip you.
You're a closet kinkjob. Come on out, we don't mind.

you're damn right, it's a low blow. He deserves it for a comment like that.

lighten up, it was a joke. i'll change the post to make the joke more apparent, i agree with you completly and believe the female (or male) body is not an object of lust.

Exactly. I don't prefer to see overweight people naked but I won't turn my head away when I see them. The world have less problems if we didn't have clothing. Without clothing, people would no longer by classified in society by what they wear but by their actions.

That is a personal subjective opinion of yours. It is not shared by everyone.
And your opinion to the contrary is also a subjective, which isn't shared by everyone. However, a nudist is hurt less by having to cover their jelly rolls then I am hurt by being able to rest easy, so my sensibilities win.

lighten up, it was a joke. i'll change the post to make the joke more apparent, i agree with you completly and believe the female (or male) body is not an object of lust.

You're not one of those crazy asexuals, are you?

Without clothing, people would no longer by classified in society by what they wear but by their actions.
I see a large jewelry market opening up to distribute Bling-Bling to the upper classes in your ideal society.

A good friend of mine has a seven-year-old boy (almost eight). Her son routinely jumps into the bathtub with her. Is this a common thing? What do you think the cut off age should be with parents bathing with children? :confused:
As a father, that seems a little old. I would not say strange though.

We place too many taboos on family interaction.

If the boy preceives no sexual implications then cool---he is jumping in with her--there for he is comfortable.

My daughter is 10, and i go the nathroom to use it when she is in the shower(we only have 1 bathroom and i have 4 kids) she doesnt freak out--but then she doesnt open the curtain and neither do I. Now when she leaves the bathroom she makes certain to cover herself and doesnt want me to see her---cool. She has reached a point where that is a concern--I repect her boundries. I need her to have boundries because to me she is just my baby--I wiped her ass, I have checked her for injuries---i have been puked on, pissed on and shit on, So i need her to establish bounds--she has--but on the same token her school had a case of a Scabeis breakout---she stripped off her clothes like they were on fire to be checked then---her boundries were not important then.

My younger duaghter is 8 she has always been a tom-boy wrestling and fighting and gymnatics stuff she she would run up and sit on my shoulders and such---a women made a comment how that inappropriate(I thought the bitch was sick for something even crossing her mind) but you know to each their own. SHe has no boundries in play---but she hides her iamgined breats when changing her shirt---my boys.....they wag their dicks at people through the window. My oldest son has on more then one occasion stripped down naked and ran around the front yard--I live in a Detroit suburb not the country, and he is six--he knows better, he just likes showing his wanker off. I think males are just less inhibited in that way.


Anyway I think when one of the people bathing become uncomfortable--it is time to end that particular behavior.

Not buying it. I prolly could find plenty of chicks you'd let whip you.
You're a closet kinkjob. Come on out, we don't mind.
Which was my point. In the right circumstances, a whipping can be wonderful, but I don't want every goddamn fool beating on me.

I see a large jewelry market opening up to distribute Bling-Bling to the upper classes in your ideal society.

I consider fashion accessories as clothing too.

I see a large jewelry market opening up to distribute Bling-Bling to the upper classes in your ideal society.
Brilliant point, if I say so myself, I hadn't considered. There'd just be more disposable income.
And plastic surgery.

I consider fashion accessories as clothing too.
Well, that leaves tattoo parlors, fancy shoes (and if you think people in NY are going to start barefooting it through that monstrous subway you're crazier then I though), plastic surgery, fancy glasses, specialized hair cuts, umbrellas, coats in winter, silly hats, specialized walk forms, and then simply gluing twenties to your ass.
Face it, class and affluence will win out.

We bath together in our fam! WHen I was young, we lived in a rural area and depended on well water. We had six people in our fam, but the hot water only lasted 2 MAYBE 3 showers/ baths. Thus, we tended to double up! Now, I bath with my little girl a lot and my hubby does, too,when it is his turn to do the nitenite routine. We have a boy on the way, and I don't foresee us stopping our family bath routine. I think we will stick with it until anyone involved is uncomfortable.

Edit: I will also mention that our shower is going to be a huge tile room with 3 shower heads :) so it's going to be very roomy. Right now we are only bathing tho as our kids are so young.

We are also a "dont mind seeing eachother naked" kinda fam (which involves the boobs as feeding tools!)

I said no clothes. That means no "fancy shoes", coats, glasses and hats. Corrective eye surgery would be given for free so there would be no need for glasses. Inked stained scars are some of those beautiful things that you have on your body, same with any type of scar. Special hair cuts are not a problem.

I'm not saying this is possible but this is my idea of paradise. In my utopia, there would no streets, just grass, dirt, sand, rock and water. That would also rule out money because money is another reason people are segrated from people that are less wealthy than they are.

I said no clothes. That means no "fancy shoes", coats, glasses and hats.
So, we all freeze to death in the winter, catch pneumonia in the fall, burn in the summer and get wiped out by tick carried diseases in the Spring?
I think, dahling, that I shall not be attending your fantasy camp this year.
Corrective eye surgery would be given for free so there would be no need for glasses.
And I suppose that you're going to turn off the sun when people are driving? Ever had the light blast to the back of your corneas when you walk out of a building? Sunglasses.
Further, not all vision conditions can be surgically corrected, that is why they have a selection process (e.g. "wall-eyed" or "cross-eyed" people need glasses to help correct the natural tendancy of their eye muscles to point in ways that inhibit things like depth perception)
Inked stained scars are some of those beautiful things that you have on your body, same with any type of scar. Special hair cuts are not a problem.
I've seen some scars that would turn you off your beauty idea in a second, but that is neither here nor their. Hair cuts and tattoos (however) can require money, and can be used as status symbols.
I'm not saying this is possible but this is my idea of paradise. In my utopia, there would no streets, just grass, dirt, sand, rock and water. That would also rule out money because money is another reason people are segrated from people that are less wealthy than they are.
In my fantasy world all the people are immortal and engaged in constant war to destroy each other. Everyday they rise from where they fell the previous day, grab their weapons, and fight the same battle again and again. In this world, I observe the mindless grappling from afar (as do the other enlightened ones who have realized the folly of the fight) and am a bookie, taking bets on which side will win this day.
That ain't gonna happen either.

I guess I've just gotten used to the idea of taking baths with other people, even those of the oposet sex. I know a lot of Japanese will still bathe with their kids till around 10 or 12 in some cases, and even later as an entire family.

Of course this is also a nation that reguarly goes to an expensive hotel just to take a bath. ;)

I've seen some scars that would make alot of people sick to their stomachs and I still think they are beautiful. They show life experience and tell a story.

I'm not saying this is possible but this is my idea of paradise. In my utopia, there would no streets, just grass, dirt, sand, rock and water. That would also rule out money because money is another reason people are segrated from people that are less wealthy than they are.
Riiiiight. Don't come calling on the capitalists when disease, drought and famine ravage your hunter-gatherer society, though. Nothing like the good ole days!

As early as possible, because you're less likely to remember it then. It's not the sort of memory you want to keep with you later in life.
Oh my god, agreed. :eek:

Riiiiight. Don't come calling on the capitalists when disease, drought and famine ravage your hunter-gatherer society, though. Nothing like the good ole days!

I want to be in good ole days, as you say it. It will teach people to be more independent and stop expecting everything to fall into their lap. I would rather live in the times when fire was being discovered than the current age we are in. If drought and famine happen, it happens.

I can see it when its a mother with their infant.

I have three children and none of them have ever seen me naked ever. I just dont think its appropriate.

Good thing as my oldest son has a photographic memory and often refers to details and events in great detail that happened before he could speak.

7 years old and still bathing with either parent is odd, but I've heard of kids that walk and talk and have teeth still breast feeding and kids that should be toilet trained and arent.

All of this is odd and unsettling to me.
Yeah I generaly had the same issue ... I am also glad my parents never were naked with me lol cause I would remember *shudders*

I think this topic is very interesting. I like someones advice to wear a bathing suit if you're bathing with your child. I'm 13 so i thankfully don't have children. I think it's inapropriate for anyone's son/daughter to see them naked after the age of about 4 or 5 i think those are apropriate ages to stop bathing with your kids. But if they ask to bathe with you do it. don't tell them no. if you do who knows that psychological effects it could have on them.

in conclusion i think that you can bathe with your children to any age with a bathing suit on 4 or 5 if naked.

In my fantasy world all the people are immortal and engaged in constant war to destroy each other. Everyday they rise from where they fell the previous day, grab their weapons, and fight the same battle again and again. In this world, I observe the mindless grappling from afar (as do the other enlightened ones who have realized the folly of the fight) and am a bookie, taking bets on which side will win this day.
That ain't gonna happen either.

That's not so far away from reality. We are in a constant struggle everyday, it may not be a "war" as you say with weapons but that is what life is ( or what it is now thanks to "society"). Like you say one can become "a bookie". There are people who never fully experience life because they give up and realize it has no meaning, but i don't want to get into that.
"Life isn't fair. It's just fairer than death", that's all. ;)

I want to be in good ole days, as you say it. It will teach people to be more independent and stop expecting everything to fall into their lap. I would rather live in the times when fire was being discovered than the current age we are in. If drought and famine happen, it happens.
I agree with you on every point, save that the ole days were good.
Don't romanticize the past. Research history, and thank whatever you wanna thank that we've come a long way. To do otherwise is delusional, and shows a lack of historical knowledge.
The present isn't paradise, but it sure beats the hell outta yesterday.

I think this topic is very interesting. I like someones advice to wear a bathing suit if you're bathing with your child. I'm 13 so i thankfully don't have children. I think it's inapropriate for anyone's son/daughter to see them naked after the age of about 4 or 5 i think those are apropriate ages to stop bathing with your kids. But if they ask to bathe with you do it. don't tell them no. if you do who knows that psychological effects it could have on them.

in conclusion i think that you can bathe with your children to any age with a bathing suit on 4 or 5 if naked.

Yeah, I'm young, too, and glad I don't have kids - but honestly I have some memories of bathing with my mom. This is how I feel: :gundge:

Yes. Man. It's horrible, though, because years ago when I asked about it (I forget how we got to that topic???) she claimed that she did not remember it, so at times I'd think it was a dream, but, hmmm, I don't remember dreams as easily as I do memories.

Yeah I generaly had the same issue ... I am also glad my parents never were naked with me lol cause I would remember *shudders*
We agree too much on issues people would think we'd opine differently (given our immense kinkosity).
They're gonna think I'm your puppet. :D

I have alot of historical knowledge and I still feel the same way as I stated. I'd rather die from a cold than from radiation anyday. I may be delusional but I am fine with it. It may be the Asperger syndrome speaking but I'll believe what I want to believe.

That's not so far away from reality. We are in a constant struggle everyday, it may not be a "war" as you say with weapons but that is what life is ( or what it is now thanks to "society"). Like you say one can become "a bookie". There are people who never fully experience life because they give up and realize it has no meaning, but i don't want to get into that.
"Life isn't fair. It's just fairer than death", that's all. ;)
Half the point, though, is the immortality bit, and the other half is just the concept of watching all the brutality and killing talent that man can devise deployed in an all out war for years. Each day teaching the combatants a little more, each victory or defeat showing the Generals new methods of assault. In essence, war elevated to an art form.
And I just like the idea of being an immortal bookie.

I have alot of historical knowledge and I still feel the same way as I stated. I'd rather die from a cold than from radiation anyday. I may be delusional but I am fine with it. It may be the Asperger syndrome speaking but I'll believe what I want to believe.
Yes, radiation poisoning is a much worse way to go then cold, but (and here is the kicker) even in the modern age, you are more likely to freeze to death then get nuked.

I think this topic is very interesting. I like someones advice to wear a bathing suit if you're bathing with your child. I'm 13 so i thankfully don't have children. I think it's inapropriate for anyone's son/daughter to see them naked after the age of about 4 or 5 i think those are apropriate ages to stop bathing with your kids. But if they ask to bathe with you do it. don't tell them no. if you do who knows that psychological effects it could have on them.

in conclusion i think that you can bathe with your children to any age with a bathing suit on 4 or 5 if naked.

Thoughtful post, especially from my point of view. My Dad worked from home, and every evening he was home, at about 6pm he'd start to shed his work cloths (suit + tie - a wedding photographer) - by 7ish, he was usually nude! I never thought twice about it. My mum had more decorum, but she slept (and sleeps, I imagine) in the nude, and as I said, up to the age of about 7 or so I'd usually climb into bed with her on saturday mornings to watch cartoons - my little brother joined us!

I don't think it's inappropriate to see your family naked at all - they're your _family_! - but that's just a result of the way I was brought up. There's nothing inappropriate/psychologically damaging at all in seeing your parents naked bodies, but there is a risk if they suddenly change behaviour - start covering up, or start revealing themselves (:eek:) - or almost any other major change in their parenting style, of course - I'm just using parental nudity as an example.

Good for me to hear another perspective though, so thanks :)

I want to be in good ole days, as you say it. It will teach people to be more independent and stop expecting everything to fall into their lap. I would rather live in the times when fire was being discovered than the current age we are in. If drought and famine happen, it happens.

I have to agree with Eichen on this one. Read a book or two, perhaps Cabeza de Vaca. It is like the Americans the pretend they would like to live like the Native Americans did. In reality they ate roots they dug out of the ice in the winter and in some tribes ate dirt to feel full. The summer and spring were obviously easier but it always comes back to freezing until close to death and eating anything you can chew. Western Natives had it better but it still was no walk in the park. Not to mention your naked ass would be dead in five minutes where I live. Was it always horrible? No, I doubt it but you've grown up in modern times and you even have a computer. Who are you to say anything about how much better the old times were?

Your comments come from someone who lives today in a heated house with plenty to eat. "If drought and famine happen, it happens"??? You are so immature it is pathetic. I'll tell you what if you eat a small meal once every 3 days and drink one glass of water a day for three months while staying entirely outside you will be experiencing a somewhat normal life "in good ole days" when they were still discovering fire. Have some respect for what your ancestors worked their whole lives to provide for you. You make me sick.

Yes, radiation poisoning is a much worse way to go then cold, but (and here is the kicker) even in the modern age, you are more likely to freeze to death then get nuked.

Obviously unless you live anywhere the US feels like testing their bombs; eg. Iraq, Japan.

I have alot of historical knowledge and I still feel the same way as I stated. I'd rather die from a cold than from radiation anyday. I may be delusional but I am fine with it. It may be the Asperger syndrome speaking but I'll believe what I want to believe.
I'm stumped. You know you're probably moe statistically likely to get kicked to death by a donkey than hit by lightening, right?
Check the statistics for dying from radiation poisoning and then come back to us.

Obviously unless you live anywhere the US feels like testing their bombs; eg. Iraq, Japan.
At what point did Iraq get nuked? I can't seem to recall (and the Soviets killed an assload of their own people because they were to lazy/cheap to get into that whole "safety" thing when it came to nuclear power).

I have to agree with Eichen on this one. Read a book or two, perhaps Cabeza de Vaca. It is like the Americans the pretend they would like to live like the Native Americans did. In reality they ate roots they dug out of the ice in the winter and in some tribes ate dirt to feel full. The summer and spring were obviously easier but it always comes back to freezing until close to death and eating anything you can chew. Western Natives had it better but it still was no walk in the park. Not to mention your naked ass would be dead in five minutes where I live. Was it always horrible? No, I doubt it but you've grown up in modern times and you even have a computer. Who are you to say anything about how much better the old times were?

Your comments come from someone who lives today in a heated house with plenty to eat. "If drought and famine happen, it happens"??? You are so immature it is pathetic. I'll tell you what if you eat a small meal once every 3 days and drink one glass of water a day for three months while staying entirely outside you will be experiencing a somewhat normal life "in good ole days" when they were still discovering fire. Have some respect for what your ancestors worked their whole lives to provide for you. You make me sick.

I already knew everything you just said but I would want to live in those times.

The reason I use technology is because our culture has become alienated by it and I feel that might as well go with the flow than fight against it.

As for making you sick, I have mental problems. I had Asperger syndrome ever since I could remember and I feel closer and closer everyday towards the beginning of schizophrenia. It is natural for me to think in an irrational, illogical and inappropriate way.

This poll is inherently biased toward a culture that taboos nudity, to the point that people with different cultural backgrounds would feel it to be not worth their time (This from just reading the poll choices while ignoring the replies). As has been mentioned in this thread, it is all a matter of culture a person was born with.

From personal experience I bathed with my parents and my sister until I was around 6 or 7. As time passed this stopped, though I do not see anything wrong with the activity. I would not feel any sexual attraction to a member of my own family. I also know that in some cultures it is not uncommon for families of any age to bathe together, while in others the point of discomfort is as low as 2 or 3.

Considering all that I can't give a specific answer that I would be happy with. If you consider North America the age would be near 4, while in Europe and Asia it would be much higher.

This poll is inherently biased toward a culture that taboos nudity, to the point that people with different cultural backgrounds would feel it to be not worth their time (This from just reading the poll choices while ignoring the replies).
Check the stats on the amount of modern cultures opposed to and for public nudity, and then tell me why and how you used "culture" the way you did.

As for making you sick, I have mental problems. I had Asperger syndrome ever since I could remember and I feel closer and closer everyday towards the beginning of schizophrenia. It is natural for me to think in an irrational, illogical and inappropriate way.

I've never heard anything about Asperger syndrome making you illogical or irrational. It just damages social and creates a personality many "normal" people would find strange and probably dorky. Maybe you should read this:

http://www.aspergia.com/letter.htm

I guess my psychologist is wrong then. You must have alot more training than he does just from reading one website.

As for making you sick, I have mental problems. I had Asperger syndrome ever since I could remember and I feel closer and closer everyday towards the beginning of schizophrenia. It is natural for me to think in an irrational, illogical and inappropriate way.

Yeah, That's true. I've known the poster for quite a long time (in real life that is) and well yeah he's like that.;)

As for the poll, I bathed with my mom until i was like 7. I don't think there's anything wrong with that. I plan to bathe my kids too until they learn to do it themselves.

I guess my psychologist is wrong then. You must have alot more training than he does just from reading one website.

I didn't just read one website I told you to read that one website. The reasoning being that it is a positive outlook on Aspergers and you sound like you need one.

I guess my psychologist is wrong then. You must have alot more training than he does just from reading one website.
psychology is a soft science, and therefore highly prone to misdiagnosis. Have you considered that autism might be closer to your borderline state than autism?
they're radically different, and slight autism is far less detrimental than real schizophrenia. Is this a social malady, or one that involves delusions?

I do have a positive outlook on my condition. It allows me to remember things to great detail. It allows me to score higher marks in math and art related things. By allowing me to be above average intelligence, it has allowed me to get a better job that I could have hoped for.

psychology is a soft science, and therefore highly prone to misdiagnosis. Have you considered that autism might be closer to your borderline state than autism?
they're radically different, and slight autism is far less detrimental than real schizophrenia. Is this a social malady, or one that involves delusions?


More a social malady but I do have delusions. I also have recently started experiencing audio and visual hallucinations. Not bad right now but getting worse at a slow rate.

Edit: I have Asperger syndrome. It's different than schizophrenia but I have been told that in some cases, it develops into schizophrenia.

More a social malady but I do have delusions. I also have recently started experiencing audio and visual hallucinations. Not bad right now but getting worse at a slow rate.

Edit: I have Asperger syndrome. It's different than schizophrenia but I have been told that in some cases, it develops into schizophrenia.
You've been misinformed. They share symptoms, but it's much, much closer to autism. Aspergers is also regularly a misdiagnosis, with social phobia being the real culprit.
At the end of the day though, I don't trust the soft science of psychology (save when diagnosing the fucking insane... which you're prolly not considering you can hold a conversation here.)
Either way, don't chalk up all of your misfortune to psych labels. Whatever's wrong, I'm confident you have a resilient nature like most men do, and you can learn to live with your maladies. [/hijack]

Just a li'l info from Yale: clickey (http://info.med.yale.edu/chldstdy/autism/aspergers.html)

To show all isn't dark and cloudy (at least not as much as money-hungry docs wanna claim), read this (http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/9.12/aspergers_pr.html).

Sorry for the overload of hijacking, but I'm personally involved, as is my family. My youngest cousin caused a stir when he was diagnosed first with schizophrenia (the most often abused diagnosis available in psychology), and then with Aspergers. My best wishes to you.

(My cousin is a healthy, intellignet, dating 16 y.o. now).

Sorry OP.

You've been misinformed. They share symptoms, but it's much, much closer to autism. Aspergers is also regularly a misdiagnosis, with social phobia being the real culprit.
At the end of the day though, I don't trust the soft science of psychology (save when diagnosing the fucking insane... which you're prolly not considering you can hold a conversation here.)
Either way, don't chalk up all of your misfortune to psych labels. Whatever's wrong, I'm confident you have a resilient nature like most men do, and you can learn to live with your maladies. [/hijack]

I have learned to live with it but I just explain why I might seem out there with my train of thought. Most people don't even know I have it, only a select few. I handle it quite well, most of the time.

Anyway, let's stop interfering with the real topic in this thread.

EDIT: I am healthy and intelligent (won many math awards) .

Anyway, let's stop interfering with the real topic in this thread.
Agreed. Parents bathing with their children still sounds weird to me. Who cares, though?
I don't wanna breed hell-invoking brats anyways, and what else do we produce today? :p

This thread sounds a bit dumb to me, but then again I may sound a bit dumb to you.

I was raised as a naturist, you know, the kind of person who goes on a holiday and wears nothing. So I have always seen my parents naked and can't imagine what it's like to feel embarrassed about my bare ass. I guess it's just what you make of it. If you feel embarrassed about yourself when you're naked, your kids notice that and feel the same way. If you're all comfy about it, your kids will be too. It's as simple as that.

I find it very telling how many people assume that nudity = sexual. If a person would have no problem seeing their parents naked, how is there something wrong with that? The only way there would be is if you assume nudity = sex, which it does not.

I have seen my best friend naked, but I have no urge whatsoever to have sex with her. I have seen infants and toddlers naked, but have no urge whatsoever to have sex with them. I have seen some of my opposite-sex friends naked, with no desire to have sex with them. I have seen my stepfather in a thong, with no desire to have sex with him.

Nudity != sex. There is no reason to think that seeing your parents, or any other human being, naked is inherently a bad thing.
I don't bathe naked with my kids not because I think it's bad, but because I am trying to teach them the value of privacy (not that they can have much because they still need to be supervised in the bath) I change in front of my kids, I don't have a problem with it, I change in front of my friends and I don't have a problem with that. My kids are allowed to use the potty when my husband is in the shower (the shower curtain is opaque so they can't see anything)

I don't think there is anything shameful about the human body, or that nudity=sex, I just think there are somethings that kids need to learn, like it's not generally accepted for grown men to be naked around little girls, that thier bodies are thiers and that privacy is a good thing, that adults shouldn't be naked with kids unless they are changing clothes, and that you shouldn't have to be naked in front of someone if you are uncomfortable.

I am not trying to instill a naked=bad attitude in my kids, I am trying to teach them respect for thier own bodies, and the fact that sometimes you need some "me" time. (like when I am taking a bubble bath.)

I will probably join them in the shower (in my swimsuit and them in thiers) the first time they are big enough to shower alone, to teach them shower saftey (how to turn the shower on, how to not slip and fall, how to rinse your hair without getting soap in your eyes)

I think your word choice there was a bit, um, yes . . .
Maybe my own idion of speech is largely corrupt, but try saying the whole thing aloud (paying especial attention to the bolded part.
I see what you mean. DOH! But it's bug not BUGGER. (HAHAHAHA).
Okay he likes to tease her???? No that doesn't work either. My whole childhood language is corrupt. Let's see he likes to tickle her? DOH! Can't use that one. Somone help me please? Is Pepperment Patty a lesbian? Are Ernie and Bert homosexuals? Did they smoke dope on Romper Room - their mascot's named is Doobie. What was the deal with H&R Puff'N'Stuff? Why does Goofy talk but Pluto doesn't? Why doesn't Daffy Duck where pants? Is Big Bird gay? I have nocturnal emissions about Betty and Wilma. Why is this year's version of Tickle me Elmo say: Don't touch me there that's my special place!!!!!!AHHHH!!! :confused:

you're damn right, it's a low blow. He deserves it for a comment like that.
Low blow? I thought we weren't talking about sex? :p

Obviously unless you live anywhere the US feels like testing their bombs; eg. Iraq, Japan.
何だHell? Um, if you're refering to the atomic bombing, that was 60 years ago and the background radiation in both Hiroshima and Nagasaki isn't much higher than normal. And that was an actual strike, not a test.

So what nuke test in Japan?

I've never bathed with my daughter. I kneel on the floor beside the tub and make sure she gets clean and doesn't drown. I've been doing that since she was little ... she's a little afraid of the water now, I seriously think we should have found some way to bather her in the sink when she was newly born. When she gets older I'll still hang around in the bathroom to make sure she doesn't drown, but after 6 or so (where she can be trusted to wash herself clean) I think that's the time to teach them a bit of modesty and privacy.

I remember the last time I bathed with anyone other than an adult male lover... I was like 6 or 7 and me and my two brothers were bathing with my father. All four of us were naked and I remember that but it seems REALLY weird to me now. I don't think there's any reason for a child to be around a naked adult of either gender.

A good friend of mine has a seven-year-old boy (almost eight). Her son routinely jumps into the bathtub with her. Is this a common thing? What do you think the cut off age should be with parents bathing with children? :confused:

Your friend still has baths? Both need a damn good bitch slap; I'm sorry, but once you get to the height that you can reach the shower taps - its bye-bye bath, hello shower, just like every other mature adult takes.

Tell you friend to grow some maturity and for christ sake, use a shower.

As for me, my parents always bathed seperately - maybe down in Alabama, where all is relative takes on a new meaning, but down here in New Zealand there is a definate line between parents and children getting washed.

A good friend of mine has a seven-year-old boy (almost eight). Her son routinely jumps into the bathtub with her. Is this a common thing? What do you think the cut off age should be with parents bathing with children? :confused:
Really the kid was bathing with them so the poll is off a bit......




I'd say 5 but i don't bath but i do shower............

In New Zealand if a Man touches a kid he gets accused of molestation.

I don't think there is anything shameful about the human body, or that nudity=sex, I just think there are somethings that kids need to learn, like it's not generally accepted for grown men to be naked around little girls, that thier bodies are thiers and that privacy is a good thing, that adults shouldn't be naked with kids unless they are changing clothes, and that you shouldn't have to be naked in front of someone if you are uncomfortable.

I am not trying to instill a naked=bad attitude in my kids, I am trying to teach them respect for thier own bodies, and the fact that sometimes you need some "me" time. (like when I am taking a bubble bath.)

Of course it's not good for grown men and little girls to be naed together, but surely your own father is a little different to just any random guy on the street? (again I am making the assumption here that we are talking about healthy parent-child relationships, and not abusive ones) If a grown man walked in on me naked, yes I would feel uncomfortable and tell him to go away, but I've never had, and still don't have, a problem with my father seeing me naked, because the fact is that he is my _father_ and would never harm me, and I trust him.
My parents taught me respect for my body, that I must never let grown ups see or touch certain places, and that if an adult I didn't know got naked in front of me then that, in the majority of cases, was wrong. But I still got changed with my mum and her friends at the swimming pool, and so on, and didn't get uncomfortable about seeing women I didn't know naked, because I was used to seeing the naked human form and so didn't see it as anything weird or rude. I was taught what are and aren't appropriate situations to be naked with adults other than my parents, but that (this is the most important point, in my opinion) my parents would never harm me, I could trust them completely and the most important thing is to be comfortable and honest with your parents. I have no emotional scarring from seeing my parents naked, there is no embarrassment or shame in my house and I am very glad of that fact.

Of course it's not good for grown men and little girls to be naed together, but surely your own father is a little different to just any random guy on the street? (again I am making the assumption here that we are talking about healthy parent-child relationships, and not abusive ones) If a grown man walked in on me naked, yes I would feel uncomfortable and tell him to go away, but I've never had, and still don't have, a problem with my father seeing me naked, because the fact is that he is my _father_ and would never harm me, and I trust him.
I trust my husband completely, he would never harm my children. In fact he bathes them sometimes when I am sick or gone. My point is to not confuse my children, it's okay to have a certain level of comfort with your immediate family (mom, dad, sister, brother) like my husband can run around in his boxers on weekends and I can put my make up on in my robe. After a certain age though it's not normal for men to be naked in front of little girls, period. There is no need for it. Most of the time when a child gets sexually abused (especially small children) it is someone they know, or even someone in the family. I want my children to be able to spot behavior that is out of the ordinary and be able to tell me about it.

No, we just talk about butt a lot in my house (surprise surprise). When my eldest wants us to play with her, she goes 'na na na na na' and sticks out her butt, then runs off laughing hysterically when we inevitably try to swat her. The baby is in the bad habit of taking off her diaper and running around going 'poto, poto' which means 'butt' in Chilean Spanish, my husband smacks my butt all the time which means the girls end up smacking my butt because they think it's funny, and basically, anything having to do with butts makes us all laugh because we're a family of idiots:D

Alrighty,then.
I hope you keep your shades closed.

I've never bathed with my daughter. I kneel on the floor beside the tub and make sure she gets clean and doesn't drown. I've been doing that since she was little ... she's a little afraid of the water now, I seriously think we should have found some way to bather her in the sink when she was newly born. When she gets older I'll still hang around in the bathroom to make sure she doesn't drown, but after 6 or so (where she can be trusted to wash herself clean) I think that's the time to teach them a bit of modesty and privacy.

I remember the last time I bathed with anyone other than an adult male lover... I was like 6 or 7 and me and my two brothers were bathing with my father. All four of us were naked and I remember that but it seems REALLY weird to me now. I don't think there's any reason for a child to be around a naked adult of either gender.
Take her in the shower----its good for kids to first experience a shower in their parents arms--less scary that way. i took my daughters(I am a dad) in the shower with me until they were just over knee high--then i did them the courtesy of not making them bathe with my wank in their face--same with my son and step son--my wife said it was a bonding experience because i made her bathe with my daughters to make sure they were cleaning all their equpment correctly---you have to worry aboutthat kind thing an unchecked infection in a little girl can do real damage--you must KNOW they are bathing properly---anyway since she was bathing withher step kids---she figured i should bath with my son(step son--but we really dont make the distinction, I only do here because were he my son I would have been bathing wiith him from birth) SO we are in the shower and he is like ....ok this is strange....and I dont really care I am just making sure he washing his ears and crap when I look down....the little man is standing with my wank right in his face.
So I picked him up handed him a towel, finished my shower and we explained to mom--we would not be doing that anymore. I'll be damned if someone is going to just waggle in my face--I certainly dont expect my son to take it.

Anyway I thought it was funny.

Of course it's not good for grown men and little girls to be naed together, but surely your own father is a little different to just any random guy on the street? (again I am making the assumption here that we are talking about healthy parent-child relationships, and not abusive ones) If a grown man walked in on me naked, yes I would feel uncomfortable and tell him to go away, but I've never had, and still don't have, a problem with my father seeing me naked, because the fact is that he is my _father_ and would never harm me, and I trust him.
My parents taught me respect for my body, that I must never let grown ups see or touch certain places, and that if an adult I didn't know got naked in front of me then that, in the majority of cases, was wrong. But I still got changed with my mum and her friends at the swimming pool, and so on, and didn't get uncomfortable about seeing women I didn't know naked, because I was used to seeing the naked human form and so didn't see it as anything weird or rude. I was taught what are and aren't appropriate situations to be naked with adults other than my parents, but that (this is the most important point, in my opinion) my parents would never harm me, I could trust them completely and the most important thing is to be comfortable and honest with your parents. I have no emotional scarring from seeing my parents naked, there is no embarrassment or shame in my house and I am very glad of that fact.

Cool and you are correct.
If I walk to my kitchen from my bedroom in the middle of night naked and one of my kids is going to the bathroom or to get a drink of water ---it is "Excuse me" we finish our business and move on.

If my wife even thought for a second under circumstances I could harm one of our children and she was still here? i would beat her for being wishy washy with the kids.

Fact of the matter is--families used to bath toghether all the time--many families are still forced to sleep in the same bed. When I was in the south Skinny Dipping was not a sexual event---it was there is the water!! Anyone got a bathing suit? No. OK everybody get naked!!

I find that many people attach their own trauma to the entire world--my wife had a bad experience and consequently she had to adjust to my relationaship with my daughters--which is very tomboyish--but boys wrestle and fight---my daughters put me in the gaurd and some pervert sees a sexual postion--I see my daughter breaking a rapist's arm or choking him to death in a few years--Yay me!--- Once my wife adjusted to that level of contact between me and our kids everything was cool---we toned it down for her until she adjusted(this is my second by the way--knew family structure we both had an adjustment period--first wife dead)

I see nothing wrong with openess in a family--my kids talk about sex very clinically--my five year old son can explain in very crude terms that a man's penis puts a baby in a woman's vagina--then he laughs.

My daughters have no fear of asking questions(of my wife anyway) If you associate sex with nudity---and then associate your nudity around your children with sex---so will your children--ewwwwwww.

Not to mention the times my dearests have walked in on me and the Mrs......but thats another story.

i think it differs with culture.
in japanese culture, a group of girls bathing tgether of any ages like 4 years old and 79 years old is perfectly usual. its a group activity to chill out in a giant communal bath tub and chat. but ONLY for chilling out in, you supposed to clean yourself privately on your own, BEFORE you get in the bath.
but private bath in your bathroom is just really for one person.
i used to bath with my mum until i was about 5. and after that she just used to stick her head round the door every few minutes to make sure i hadnt drowned.
HOWEVER she stopped bathing with my brother when he was 9. hes severly mentally impaired and so she was always worried about leaving him on his own.
even now hes 12, she still has to make routine check up on him!
:rolleyes:

I can see it when its a mother with their infant.

I have three children and none of them have ever seen me naked ever. I just dont think its appropriate.

Good thing as my oldest son has a photographic memory and often refers to details and events in great detail that happened before he could speak.

7 years old and still bathing with either parent is odd, but I've heard of kids that walk and talk and have teeth still breast feeding and kids that should be toilet trained and arent.

All of this is odd and unsettling to me.Teeth?Breastfeeding?:eek: Ouch ,ewwwww..Now I have seen 7 & 8 yr olds suckin on pacifiers ,i have even seen a grown man suckin on one.What could that mean?
As far as the photographic memory that children have,i cant even remember where i put my keys 2 minutes ago.:headbang:

Cool and you are correct.
If I walk to my kitchen from my bedroom in the middle of night naked and one of my kids is going to the bathroom or to get a drink of water ---it is "Excuse me" we finish our business and move on.
same thing happens in my family


I see nothing wrong with openess in a family--my kids talk about sex very clinically--my five year old son can explain in very crude terms that a man's penis puts a baby in a woman's vagina--then he laughs.

My daughters have no fear of asking questions(of my wife anyway) If you associate sex with nudity---and then associate your nudity around your children with sex---so will your children--ewwwwwww.

Not to mention the times my dearests have walked in on me and the Mrs......but thats another story.
I don't see anything wrong with openess in a family either, my kids know about everything they need to know about. My 4 year old knows where babies come from and everything, she will even explain it to you in great detail, everything from sperm to ovum, to penis and vagina, uterus and cervix, she knows all that stuff. My kids can talk to me about everything. There is a difference between being open in a family and opposite sex parents bathing with thier school aged kids.

There is nothing wrong with sex and I am not ashamed of it, but do I let my kids sit in my room and watch while my husband and I are having sex? Nope.

Why? Because some things are private, some things are not meant to be shared with people. After my kids are old enough that I am reasonably sure they won't drown in the bath, then they will get private bath time. Even though they are only 2 and 4 now, if they are in thier room and the door is closed I knock first, out of respect for thier privacy, I expect the same from them .

A good friend of mine has a seven-year-old boy (almost eight). Her son routinely jumps into the bathtub with her. Is this a common thing? What do you think the cut off age should be with parents bathing with children? :confused:
Seven, IMHO, is a bit too old. I don't think parents and children should bathe together after the child begins to ask questions about anatomy, but three years old or less should be the upper age limit, IMHO.

Teeth?Breastfeeding?:eek: Ouch ,ewwwww..Now I have seen 7 & 8 yr olds suckin on pacifiers ,i have even seen a grown man suckin on one.What could that mean?
Infantilism?

I don't see anything wrong with openess in a family either, my kids know about everything they need to know about. My 4 year old knows where babies come from and everything, she will even explain it to you in great detail, everything from sperm to ovum, to penis and vagina, uterus and cervix, she knows all that stuff. My kids can talk to me about everything. There is a difference between being open in a family and opposite sex parents bathing with thier school aged kids.

There is nothing wrong with sex and I am not ashamed of it, but do I let my kids sit in my room and watch while my husband and I are having sex? Nope.

Why? Because some things are private, some things are not meant to be shared with people. After my kids are old enough that I am reasonably sure they won't drown in the bath, then they will get private bath time. Even though they are only 2 and 4 now, if they are in thier room and the door is closed I knock first, out of respect for thier privacy, I expect the same from them .
Sounds like a very wise approach to me. :)

There is nothing wrong with sex and I am not ashamed of it, but do I let my kids sit in my room and watch while my husband and I are having sex? Nope.

Why? Because some things are private, some things are not meant to be shared with people. After my kids are old enough that I am reasonably sure they won't drown in the bath, then they will get private bath time. Even though they are only 2 and 4 now, if they are in thier room and the door is closed I knock first, out of respect for thier privacy, I expect the same from them .
Well only my fist sentence was addressed to you--that one being "Cool, and you are correct." The rest was addressed at others.
As far as allowing them to watch---well our house is so small...that privacy is at premium---if I dont lock a door there have been occasions of accidental walkins-----that too is part of growing up, I suppose. I walked in on both of my parents with other people(they were never married) and I know almost all my friends have. I supposeth interuption is what i get for trying to grab a nooner---But i wasnt suggesting anyone allow their children to watch--thats just insane.

Seven, IMHO, is a bit too old. I don't think parents and children should bathe together after the child begins to ask questions about anatomy, but three years old or less should be the upper age limit, IMHO.
I am big on independence--once a child CAN bath by themselves I belive they should---part of our Problem in society with kids today is Mommy and Daddy do to damned much for kids. My five year old just needs me to run his water---it has been a s such for over a year--I sometimes in the past had to wipe his eyes because he would get shampoo in them and panic. Other then that.....But that is my system.

I'm with the school of thought that one should never bathe with their children. When the children are old enough to bathe themselves, then they should be left on their own. Before that, the parent really should not be bathing with the children anyway, but should be just bathing the children, with the parent outside of the tub (or especially the washbasin). I've never bathed with any of my children, and I do enjoy my private time locked away from the children's, even my husband's needs, even if it is for a short time. :)

As far as allowing them to watch---well our house is so small...that privacy is at premium---if I dont lock a door there have been occasions of accidental walkins-----that too is part of growing up, I suppose. I walked in on both of my parents with other people(they were never married) and I know almost all my friends have. I supposeth interuption is what i get for trying to grab a nooner---But i wasnt suggesting anyone allow their children to watch--thats just insane.
my kids haven't walked in on us yet. (thank God) we still lock the door even though the rule is knock, and wait for someone to answer before you enter. My mom walked in on us a couple of times, but my kids know better. lol.

I remember grabbing what we call "saturday afternoon quickie" once and my daughter asked me "are you and daddy doing private stuf every saturday? like married people stuff?" and I said "yep, so knock first and wait for us to say it's okay before you come in" and she said "okay"

I don't think I traumatized her or anything (at least I hope not)

Your friend still has baths? Both need a damn good bitch slap; I'm sorry, but once you get to the height that you can reach the shower taps - its bye-bye bath, hello shower, just like every other mature adult takes.

Tell you friend to grow some maturity and for christ sake, use a shower.

As for me, my parents always bathed seperately - maybe down in Alabama, where all is relative takes on a new meaning, but down here in New Zealand there is a definate line between parents and children getting washed.
I think may people prefer baths because it's very relaxing after a hard days work. I think she puts special medicinal bathing salts et al in it too.
I had to take baths for a long time because it helped sooth the bleeding, itching and painful hemmeroids. OUCH!!!! :eek:

I know that in Japan, baths are a celebrated thing, and kids will bathe with their parents until the upper grades of elementary school. Sometimes whole families will bathe together.

It really depends on the culture you come from. In some countries sexuality is read into situations where there is none. And if your country is touchy (excuse the pun) about those kinds of things, it might seem innapropriate, "wrong," disturbing, odd, unsettling, or creepy to you (just a few of the ways people on this thread have described it).

On the other hand, if you were raised to consider this acceptable, it will seem perfectly natural to you, even if you do have a photographic memory and can remember it as you grow older. I'm sure that people who grew up bathing with their parents aren't squicked at all (excluding the extreme cases that everyone is terrified about).

On the other hand, if you were raised to consider this acceptable, it will seem perfectly natural to you, even if you do have a photographic memory and can remember it as you grow older. I'm sure that people who grew up bathing with their parents aren't squicked at all (excluding the extreme cases that everyone is terrified about).

Interesting... wonder if a side effect'd be not worrying about looks so much; see a middleaged man/woman/both nekkid every once in a while when growing up, don't put such importance on the body beautiful (and its imperfections/decay) when you're an adult?

At first I thought: Why would anyone jump into a bathtub with their kids?

And then I realized that there are parents that regularly take their kids down to the local nudist beach, and I don't have a problem with that.

So, I guess I would go with the "comfort" level - if either the kid or the parent aren't okay with it, then don't do it.

However you do need to be concerned about public perception if your child talks about it later - no one wants social services to come along and take your child away.

I think may people prefer baths because it's very relaxing after a hard days work. I think she puts special medicinal bathing salts et al in it too.
I had to take baths for a long time because it helped sooth the bleeding, itching and painful hemmeroids. OUCH!!!! :eek:

So you like the whole idea of being a tub of ones own filth and continuing to lay in such a state as to make the idea of a bath for cleaning oneself, a completely and utterly useless past time.

Just about everything that can be said about the topic has been said in this thread, and while I normally don't like repeating things that have been said, this is the kind of topic I can't just walk past. ;) (And to clarify ahead of time, I'm 18 and female, so you don't misinterpret where I'm coming from on this.)

I have vague recollections of showering with my mother when I was about 4, of walking in on my parents making love when I was about 6 (After which I got a gentle reminder to knock and wait, and it didn't happen again), and I once saw my father naked in the middle of the night when I woke up sick and my mother was out. I also bathed with my cousin (Female, 7 months older than myself) when we visited each other (Partly because it was easier, partly so that I wasn't uncomfortable with it, although I'm confident it would have stopped had either of us said "No."). While my parents always encouraged/respected demands for privacy, if I was curious or didn't mind, they answered my questions or allowed it to continue, and they never discouraged me if I showed an interest in the why, what, or how (Except when it came to watching the lovemaking, obviously). Now, I wasn't very close to my father, but my mother and I were close, and I was never made to be ashamed of the naked body. She would sometimes help me before/after bathing, even when I was perfectly capable of doing so alone, to spend time with me because she worked a lot (although I was always alone in the tub), and when I got older one of us might be in the room while the other changed or something like that. I was fiercely independent, though, and demanded "pi'cy" when I was 2 and playing with some of my stuffed animals. Now, I can confidently walk around my apartment naked, and if it wouldn't result in awkward sexual tension on their part because they were raised differently, I'd be comfortable being naked around my friends. I'm glad my mother was open with me about that kind of thing and didn't shy away when I needed to learn Female Body 101. I would assume it would be the same thing with fathers and their sons, if the fathers were comfortable with affection and such.

Anyway, I guess my point is that it really -is- all about comfort and respecting the views of other people. Yes, so one person might enjoy having time to bond (parentally, non-sexually) with their children and bathe with them to encourage them to be less ashamed of their own bodies, while another might not be comfortable ever letting their children see them naked, and still another might be comfortable in between. It's no use for the second person to tell the first that they're wrong, nor indeed for any of them to tell the other they're wrong. There is no right or wrong age, because every country, every family, every parent and every child is different.

As long as the children are taught, as soon as they're old enough to start understanding, the difference between good and bad touching, as well as why they shouldn't really be talking about their parents' bodies with people outside the family, there is no problem with bathing together with them if they, and you, are comfortable with it. If you're not, then nobody's making you. Just let the people who are be able to do what they think is appropriate. Bathing with your children is a good way of not only teaching them about their bodies and why/how to take care of them, but as long as there are no negative associations, their body image and self-confidence will be that much higher later in life. I do, however, think that extra measures should be taken when it comes to dealing with opposite-sex children, so that they (and you) understand that there are certain limits on what should/shouldn't be done.

About the mention of social services: After all the horror stories I've heard from good friends of mine, let alone the things I've read that happened to other people, I think social services should be seriously reformed, but that's a discussion for another thread.

About the pros/cons of bathing: With the amount of water in a bathtub, the concentration of the dirt coming off you is so ridiculously low it's not even worth mentioning. Unless you only bathe once every month or three, baths are just as healthy as showers, and you're not coming out of a bath still dirty. Even if you did have some negligible amount of dirt still on you, towelling dry would take it off. And baths are very relaxing, great stress relievers.

Gosh, I ramble on sometimes. ^^;

About the pros/cons of bathing: With the amount of water in a bathtub, the concentration of the dirt coming off you is so ridiculously low it's not even worth mentioning. Unless you only bathe once every month or three, baths are just as healthy as showers, and you're not coming out of a bath still dirty. Even if you did have some negligible amount of dirt still on you, towelling dry would take it off. And baths are very relaxing, great stress relievers.

Gosh, I ramble on sometimes. ^^;

Yeah, but the same time, if you saw my feet, you wouldn't want them sharing the same bath tub as your body; they're sweaty, ewwy and gross; sure, a girl could get alway with it as you don't sweat as much as males, but guys, no way.

As for stress relief, I have meditation - it works.

So you like the whole idea of being a tub of ones own filth and continuing to lay in such a state as to make the idea of a bath for cleaning oneself, a completely and utterly useless past time.
not that you were talking to me, but I take a shower before I get into the bath (weird right)

I can't relax thinking that all that dirt is floating around, I even scrub the tub after my shower to make sure it's clean so I can soak stress free. (I think I am obsessive or something)


I seriously doubt anyone else does this though, so then your point would be valid.

not that you were talking to me, but I take a shower before I get into the bath (weird right)

I can't relax thinking that all that dirt is floating around, I even scrub the tub after my shower to make sure it's clean so I can soak stress free. (I think I am obsessive or something)


I seriously doubt anyone else does this though, so then your point would be valid.

Don't they do that in japan, shower/clean themselves then have a bath?

Not to make this thread any more incestuous, but did anyone else bathe with their siblings?

*shudders*

*shrugs* somewhere between 5 and 8. That way their fetish for shower sex/sex in the bathtub isn't stunted or warped or twisted.

Not to make this thread any more incestuous, but did anyone else bathe with their siblings?

*shudders*

Yeah. And we didn't engage in incestuous homoerotic behaviour neither.

Not to make this thread any more incestuous, but did anyone else bathe with their siblings?

*shudders*

I did.
And what's wrong with a little incest?:p

Yeah, I've made the 'family bed' mistake, and it seems impossible to correct...then again, my friend never had them sleep in her bed, but they came to bed anyway sometime during the night...until they were about seven. So, short of locking them in their rooms, I'm not sure I could've avoided it.

The bathing/nakedness thing...I don't particularly like being naked in front of anyone anyway, and that's just me. For one...it's COLD! Plus the kids think it's freaking hilarious if they do happen to see me nude, and start yelling about being able to see my butt. Like I need THAT going to school with them (as all things do) once they're school age!

Just make 'em start to sleep at the foot of the bed 'because they're too big now' That works wonders. Especially if dogs or cats sleep at the foot of your bed....

I did.
And what's wrong with a little incest?:p

After all, it's how we got the term Nepotism!

not that you were talking to me, but I take a shower before I get into the bath (weird right)

I can't relax thinking that all that dirt is floating around, I even scrub the tub after my shower to make sure it's clean so I can soak stress free. (I think I am obsessive or something)


I seriously doubt anyone else does this though, so then your point would be valid.

i do that too.

[yes i truly do believe that makes it totally normal and , er, un-obsessive.]

This has always seemed creepy to me, but I was raised by my grandmother who bathed us, not with us. Thanks Buddha!

A friend of mine used to shower with his 5 year old girl. That really bothered me. The two year old, no biggie, but 5??? *shivers*


Eichen, you live in the middle of the largest nudist area in the USA so I find your response particularly ironic. I also live in the Tampa area and I belong to one of those family oriented nudist clubs.

If you are bothered by nudity then it's something you need to overcome. Children who are taught that family nudity is permissible grow up with much less of a body image problem, less anorexics, less chance of being molested because they won't keep it a secret. They have more self confidence and are less likely to go experimenting with sex because they are already aware of what a nude body looks like.

Raising your children to be comfortable with nudity only gives you better children. I saw on TV recently that 78% of women are not comfortable with their own bodies and have inferiority complexes because of it. Let's get healthy and raise great children by allowing them to be comfortable with their bodies and with nudity.

When I was a kid my parents used to run around the house naked. We took showers together. I felt quite comfortable about it and still do.
Probably unthinkable to some people, especially Americans, the most prudish on the planet.

;) Afterthought: maybe that's where I got my crunch on big breasts. My mother's were marvelous.

Don't they do that in japan, shower/clean themselves then have a bath?
It's simply a bloody sin to spill soapy runoff into the (communal) bath water there. Can't blame them.

I think its only wrong, if you let transfer the idea that being naked is "dirty", or "wrong" to the child in thier early years.