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Preteens

Parenting a preteen can be a minefield. Find support here.

Original poster

Inappropriate gift for 12 yo boy

161 replies

alisont1977 · 04/12/2015 09:37

2nd on his xmas list my DS has asked for Philips BG2024. I assumed it was something computer or xbox related but after searching for it on Argos website it is in fact an electric shaver! I talked to him about this on Sunday and he insists he “needs” it for manscaping (I had to google it, but it seems it’s a popular activity). The last time I saw his willy was on holiday at easter Blush and he certainly didn’t need it then!

Even if he does now have pubic hair, it seems wrong that I should be buying him things to cut it all off!

Confused

Am I being silly? Is this just what boys do now?

OP posts:
Bluesicles · 06/12/2015 17:28

Well okay, trimmed!! I am thinking of a disgusting long haired jungle

BertrandRussell · 06/12/2015 17:38

"I am thinking of a disgusting long haired jungle"

"Disgusting"? And peoe get all offended when I suggest they might be unconsciously influenced by porn!

Gatekeeper · 06/12/2015 17:43

what's disgusting about it? I genuinely don't understand- mine looks like knitting gone wrong but I don't lose any sleep about it and dh doesn't scream or vomit quite the reverse

Bluesicles · 06/12/2015 17:44

Yes, disgusting! There's no need to have hair that is more that an inch

Fairenuff · 06/12/2015 17:48

DH loves to trail his fingers through my long silky tresses Xmas Wink

Gatekeeper · 06/12/2015 17:54

purple horsefeathers...

'no need'....

mine grows longer than this, as does the hair on my head

Bluesicles · 06/12/2015 17:58

Trim it...

AnyFucker · 06/12/2015 18:11

I think many people have lost sight of the true function of body hair

Pubic hair is designed to keep odours and particles that can inflame away from sensitive skin in the genital region. I remember when I first experimented as a teen (a lot older than 12, I was still playing with dolls when I was 12), my jeans rubbed me raw. Then the regrowth itched and irritated like fuck so I ended up with an awful rash.

Never again. I don't get the "comfort" argument at all.

Bluesicles · 06/12/2015 18:15

You obviously didnt do the process right!

JumpandScore · 06/12/2015 18:15

This is so sad. How can a bit of natural hair, there for a sensible reason (nature does generally get it right) be disgusting?

Bluesicles · 06/12/2015 18:23

It's kinda like saying "how is having a haircut okay, nature doesn't make her fall out" so we do we all have haircuts then?

Bluesicles · 06/12/2015 18:24

*hair

AnyFucker · 06/12/2015 18:29

Blue...you don't get stubbly regrowth then ?

You must be a human miracle.

Skang · 06/12/2015 18:30

Perhaps he has heard of manscaping from school 'banter', seen porn and how he's starting to get hair believes that everyone shaves it all off straight away.

I think you definitely need to point out to him that it's not a common thing for a 12 year old to do. And sort out his internet access too obviously.

AnyFucker · 06/12/2015 18:32

This might be a bit TMI but mucous membranes rubbing on a jeans seam is bound to cause problems. It's like repeatedly sticking a piece fabric up your nose or on your cornea and wondering why it causes problems.

ClancyMoped · 06/12/2015 18:35

I have looked through his laptop history but he always clears it hmm hes better on computers than me lol

I agree with PPs THIS is far more worrying than any shaver. Do you have parental controls set up on his phone AND any devices that he uses to access the Internet?

Or do you trust him Hmm

BTW it's not just porn that you should be worried about. There is all sorts of incredibly nasty stuff out there....

NeedAScarfForMyGiraffe · 06/12/2015 18:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Bluesicles · 06/12/2015 18:41

I get regrowth but it never hurts or is uncomfortable Hmm

titchy · 06/12/2015 18:48

Blusicle do you tell your dds that their pubes are disgusting?

Bluesicles · 06/12/2015 18:50

Nope, one shaves and the other likes it trimmed

WoodHeaven · 06/12/2015 19:15

It's really funny that so many people are saying they just wanted to be bare age 12yo when 20 years before the same age girls, who all had access to razors but not to the Internet (it didn't exist) never thought about doing that.
This is much more likely that the seed for this idea was planted by whatever magazines they came across, a discussion between ilder girjs who HAD access to Internet etc...
So yes maybe now, they don't remember about it but it doesn't mean it didnt happen and us very certainly linked to the over sexualisation of our society.

However this very different from what the OP is talking about. I would also be worried that he is now fixing all these 'practices' so but so that he has happy to ask for that tool fur Christmas!!

WoodHeaven · 06/12/2015 19:17

I tried the shaving too (just the trim gut the swimming costume).
It was so painful and uncomfortable that I chose to be hairy rather than doing it again. I can't even contemplate doing the whole area!

NeedAScarfForMyGiraffe · 06/12/2015 19:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BertrandRussell · 06/12/2015 19:21

As I said earlier, there have always been young people who are made unhappy by the onset of puberty and I am sure many of them though the ages have tried to get rid of the physical evidence.

But nobody has yet come up with any reasons why the change in the nor from hard to not-hair happened.

WoodHeaven · 06/12/2015 19:23

some years ago, in my country, they would shave any woman giving birth 'just in case'
The idea was that the pubes would be an issue as they carry germs in the case, for example, of an episiotomy.

They've all agree for a while now that actually said pubes improve the healing and should be left alone.
So I'm wondering, why on earth, on a day to day basis, are pubes shaved in the name of 'cleanliness' ?

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