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AIBU?

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Original poster

To not like other children commenting on the size of ds's penis

249 replies

BocaDeTrucha · 06/08/2015 00:04

We're on holiday at the moment and ds is a chubby little 22 months old so most of the time naked. In the last 2 days I've had the following comments: "why is his willy so small?" from a little girl, about 4 years old. And today, the little boy in the bungalow next to ours who has spent 3 days playing with ds, asked " is 'Bob' a boy or a girl?" and when I replied he was a boy, the little boy said "so why doesn't he have a willy?".

Gee, it's not that small!! I got a bit peeved but dh just told me to stop being ridiculous. Am I being ridiculous?

OP posts:
pinktrufflechoc · 06/08/2015 19:21

Standing with sparkling and landrover.

pinktrufflechoc · 06/08/2015 19:22

Alan - how? Confused

Shadow1986 · 06/08/2015 19:25

I wouldn't say I'm offended by a naked toddler but on holiday id prefer to see a baby/toddler with a uv protected swimsuit on...and a swim nappy.

Sparklingbrook · 06/08/2015 19:28

It's not because naked toddlers offend me and nothing to do with paedophiles. More to do with wee/poo and sunburn. Practical stuff.

Christinayanglah · 06/08/2015 19:36

No it's not irrational, it's how it works

bigbumtheory · 06/08/2015 19:57

Don't worry about his willy OP, when he's a teen he will do that enough for you!

MavisG · 06/08/2015 20:23

My 2yo son went through a phase of refusing any kind of bottom-covering clothing. I put him in long t shirts but sometimes he wanted those off and to be naked, & I let him wherever possible, bc to force him is to teach that he doesn't have bodily autonomy and that it's ok to disrespect the bodily autonomy of another.

There have been times, eg on the bus, where he wants to sit on a seat, when I've insisted but only when I've felt it absolutely necessary, and we've avoided some places such as supermarkets in case he pees on the floor (he is partially potty trained and wouldn't poo) but I'm not compromising his right to peaceful enjoyment of his innocence bc of peadophiles, and I am well aware they are many and everywhere. They can't hurt him while I'm with him and his clothes would be no protection were I not. Growing up secure that he can object with all his might to anyone doing anything to him he doesn't like might afford him a little protection/make him more likely to tell me though.

Floggingmolly · 06/08/2015 20:34

Seriously, Mavis? You'd bring him on the bus, and presumably around town with a bare bum? I'm all for bodily autonomy myself; but social expectations dictate that we wear clothes in polite company.
Toddler or not, he needs to learn this.

What age is the cutoff for deciding whether you want to wear clothes whilst outside, or not?
Remember what happened to the naked rambler...

m0therofdragons · 06/08/2015 20:38

At least they're not pulling on it (what dd3 did when curious while a friend was changing her ds's nappy! )

MavisG · 06/08/2015 20:56

With a long t shirt on, yes. In the park he could go naked if he really insisted.
I am glad he's outgrown it, we've made an effort to find clothes he likes (animal pics on them) and he's happier about pants over nappies now that he's potty trained. But yeah, my embarrassment matters less than his autonomy in this case. Naturally he'll want to cover up as he grows older, naked rambler excepted most people do. And if he doesn't then 3-4yo is old enough to start to understand that in our culture we don't do nudity, rather than experiencing my intervention as a thing to fight fight fight. That's my experience with my older kid, anyway, though tbf he wasn't keen on public nudity and was a lot more docile in general so we'll wait and see with this one!

Babymamamama · 06/08/2015 20:58

Mavis how long will this bodily autonomy continue? I'm interested to know how you will deal with it at nursery. Or school. Will uniform be optional for your dc?

DesertIslander · 06/08/2015 20:58

YABU, Put some pants on him.

WoonerismSpit · 06/08/2015 21:01

Mavis a naked 2 year old on the bus? WTF?

MavisG · 06/08/2015 21:04

Forever, I hope, Babymamamama. I don't think it would conflict wth school as most kids are happy to wear uniforms, aren't they? And it's not at all the same as disrespecting adults who ask you to be quiet/sit still/ listen, I don't think teachers physically force children to eg put pants on? But tbf we home educate our eldest anyway so I'm out of touch with schools, don't use nursery.

MavisG · 06/08/2015 21:04

No, a 2yo in a long t shirt - dress length. And shoes, he likes wearing shoes.

WoonerismSpit · 06/08/2015 21:05

With a bare arse though.

MavisG · 06/08/2015 21:06

And a nappy. The bus was an example of where I would force the issue.

WoonerismSpit · 06/08/2015 21:07

Ah, your post (and subsequent posts) implied there was no nappy.

MavisG · 06/08/2015 21:10

Sorry for the misunderstanding. No, how awful a puddle on a bus seat would be.

WoonerismSpit · 06/08/2015 21:12

As well as unhygienic for him!

MavisG · 06/08/2015 21:13

I think he'd be ok!

WoonerismSpit · 06/08/2015 21:14

I don't like sitting my clothed body on those filthy seats sometimes, but ETTO.

Babymamamama · 06/08/2015 21:30

Mavis if your dc will be taking his pants off at school, it will become an issue after a while. No the teacher won't be forcibly putting pants back on but it will be brought back to you to address. It's not honestly something that would go down well.

Babymamamama · 06/08/2015 21:31

Sorry just read you are home schooling your eldest. OK that is a different scenario from the mainstream.

WoonerismSpit · 06/08/2015 21:34

Mavis what would you do if, upon reaching say 10 years old, your DS decided he didn't want to wear bottoms any more?

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