to feel uncomfortable about young child nude in the garden

[mrsfuzzy]

went to a friends the other day for a bbq with family had a great time, as people started leaving my friends daughter [4] wet herself and proceeded to strip off in front of my family and hers, was i bu to feel abit uncomfortable about this, especially as their garden is over looked by a lot of windows and no effort was made to put a swim costume or undies on her, o.k probably being prissy but i had to take my kids and leave, my friend was ok with us going as the party was winding down but it seemed strange as there were several men present who were not family members and the fathers mates from the pub. aibu to feel awkward ? was abused as a child so possibly more aware of potential problems.

[Pumpkinpositive]

I'm afraid I think YABU. I was partly raised in a hot country where I - and many other young children - ran around naked at communal pools and on the beach.

People who look at young children sexually will do so no matter how they are clothed.

[myusernameis]

Sorry but I agree with Pumpkin.

[fortyplus]

4?? YABVU

[Picturesinthefirelight]

At the age of 3 or 4 it would not have occurred to me or dd that being naked is a problem.

In fact even at age 10 she was very unselfconscious.

[Jemimapuddlemuck]

I wouldn't think anything of it. But if you've been abused of course this is going to be a sensitive issue for you, totally understandable.

[BrianTheMole]

I don't think its a major issue at 4.

[fifi669]

YABU.

[Weathergames]

God I wish I could run around naked in the outdoors!

Nothing feels quite so free.

YABU!!

[mrscumberbatch]

I think it's lovely seeing my Dd running around in the grass with her bum out! It's good for them too!

[ColdCuppa]

YABU

My DC strip off and trot about naked or underdressed at the slightest thing. School and societal pressure will put a stop to it soon enough i'm sure, let them be care free for the tiny period they can.

The idea that all men are dangerous is damaging, and the facts remain that men in the family or more not less likely to abuse. I'm sorry for your awful experiences but I think in this situation YABU.

[WorraLiberty]

I don't think the fact you were abused as a child makes you 'possibly more aware of potential problems'...more that perhaps it's clouded your judgement on innocent normality if that makes sense?

To be honest, the bit where you said it seemed strange as there were several men present who were not family members and the fathers mates from the pub ....is pretty insulting to the majority of the male population who are not child abusers.

I hope that doesn't sound too harsh, given your own childhood abuse.

But small children running around nude, is as natural as anything to a lot of people.

[slightlyglitterstained]

There's a communal pool in a local park. When there last weekend, it was absolutely heaving with kids, a fairly large number of them naked either while splashing round in the pool or running around after coming out of the pool. Nobody batted an eyelid.

I don't think you are being unreasonable to feel awkward - your feelings are your feelings and given your history, perhaps not surprising. I also don't think it was unreasonable for you to get out of a situation that was upsetting you.

You would be unreasonable to expect a four year old to cover up in those circumstances though.

[angryangryyoungwoman]

You are not being unreasonable but perhaps your past abuse has given you a different sensitivity to something most people would find perfectly acceptable. I'm sorry to read that you have had bad experiences in the past.

[PrincessBabyCat]

Well, I know here in the US it would be a pretty big faux pas to let your kid strip naked in front of everyone. I'd be a bit uncomfortable with it if I didn't know the child.

[ColdCuppa]

And actually I think having to take your dc and leave because of this is an odd (but maybe understandable - I have no experience of the legacy of abuse) reaction.

[Canthisonebeused]

YABU it's not an issue. I think it's a problem you had to take your family and leave too. I understand this is stemmed from your experiences. however having experienced abuse too, I think it's extremely important to try to find ways to recognise triggers and learn what is and isn't acceptable with own experiences aside in order to not allow my own experiences to impact or negatively shape my own dcs view of the world.

[HygieneFreak]

Yanbu

I would of felt the same as you

[mrsfuzzy]

thanks for your honest comments, i guess it worries me so much because of the abuse i suffered but also there are so many sick web sites about this stuff, those kids have parents, who is taking the photos/making videos and where are the parents when this is happening ? i agree kids should be free to be natural but it's a bit of a nasty world at times all the same.

[WorraLiberty]

It is a nasty world at times, you're right.

But the world can also be a wonderful place and many people do live happy, innocent lives within it.

Remember, we get to hear about the bad/sick stuff way more than the normal everyday happiness that does exist

[mrsfuzzy]

having reread comments i've decided to take action and get some help, i've never talked about it before and yes, my judgement is clouded by my experiences, thanks to you lovely mumnetters telling me how it is i'm going to get this sorted and move on from the past, why should the bastard [long dead] still have a degree of control over my life ? i'm going to be a survivor not a victim any more. hugs and big thanks to you all x.

[WorraLiberty]

Aww that's wonderful to hear OP

Don't let him affect you or your family. You sound very positive and that's a great thing.

Good luck

[wafflyversatile]

Good luck. And I'm sorry your experiences have cast a pall over such innocent events.

[mrsfuzzy]

thanks, you are kind to be supportive.

[myusernameis]

Good luck mrsfuzzy x

[Canthisonebeused]

Good luck OP.