In a new Babble article, "Nude Awakening" by Emily Mendell, she talks about being frequently naked at home around her sons, and wonders if she should start covering up at some point. She writes: I ask my husband, "Do you think it's creepy that I still let the boys see me without clothes on?"
"It's not creepy. It's not like you prance around or anything."
"So, as long as there is no prancing, it's okay?"
"I think so."
"What about when they're teenagers?"
"You might want to rethink things then."
But I didn't want to rethink things. There are certain inalienable rights associated with the family. For me, nudity is one of them.
Read the rest of the story here. The comments so far have been all over the map, with some parents arguing that covering up is necessary to instill a sense of modesty in children and others saying that being naked is a good way to encourage children to be comfortable with their own bodies.Who do you think is right?
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 2)
1. "There are certain inalienable rights associated with the family. For me, nudity is one of them. "
it would be sweet irony if mom walking around naked started getting her sons to walk around with erections. perhaps that would horrify her into covering up
marinecorps5811 at 8:18AM on Feb 29th 2008
2. I think that scene sounds a little strange to me.
Does that include watching mommy get it on in front of children? It seems a little creepy to me.
torithepuppy at 11:11AM on Feb 29th 2008
3. I hail your decision and think it is a healthy attitude, with the right amount of knowing when enough is too much.
We Americans are so backward about nudity, sex and similar topics. The Europeans think little of it and while I do not purport to know statistics, I feel, here in the USA, people are kept from being - well - natural.
Adding that if curiosity is satisfied early in life there COULD be less incidents of aggressive behaviour, especially from males, regarding sex and knowing what is appropriate.
Nothing will change the rush of hormones, in both boys and girls when that time comes for each sex.
But learning how to cope with the everyday things in life (what could be more everyday, than our bodies?) might go a long way for teaching children that the human body, like all animals on our planet, was never intended to be covered.
We surely began covering ourselves out of necessity to prevent painful cuts, scratches and abrasions while doing the other thing that comes naturally - hunting for food!
I say, GOOD FOR YOU ALL who have no shame about your bodies (not withstanding those parts that are no longer in their original places...)!
Allan at 9:40AM on Feb 29th 2008
4. I highly doubt Mom is going to give her kids boners if their relationship are otherwise normal.
For nudists, nudity is natural and not the naked body is not sexualized. And really, marinecorps, whether you're nudists or not, do YOU really get hot at the thought of your mother in her birthday suit?
Ventrue at 9:41AM on Feb 29th 2008
5. To me, this mom is missing the boat on one particular issue. She asked her husband about the nudity and he gave his input. So far, so good.
Then she asked about when they were teenagers. He, a former teenage boy, says, "You might want to re-think things."
Her response is..."I" didn't want to re-think things and "For me" nudity is one of them.
Her focus on her preferences, desires, and "inalienable rights" seems more important than her husband's input or her boys well-being.
Look, I grew up in a family environment that was decidedly immodest and "natural." Her nudity doesn't concern me as much as her insistence on her right to it. If her 13 year old son says, "Mom!" and covers his eyes at her nudity, is she going to blithely ignore that and say, "Oh, I have a right to be naked, darling."? Is she willing to re-think it as a loving response to their input?
She can be as nekkid as the day is long but sometimes love means never having to say, "I'm sorry...my ta-tas got in your soup."
Josiejo at 10:11AM on Feb 29th 2008
6. I think if you keep it like it is a natural thing nothing is wrong with being naked in front of your own kids in your own home. But like the article states there lines to be drawn, and only the parents know what they are and when to apply them. If your kids are uncomfortable then you should discuss it with them and come to a decision that makes all involved comfortable.
Sue at 10:17AM on Feb 29th 2008
7. You know Ada, parental nudity is an old, old topic.
I never practiced this, in the Willet household we all moved around the house with our clothes on.
This statement by the writer ""...my unclad body suggests that I am raising an uninhibited child.""
That's one of the age old rationalization's Ada....
"an uninhibited child." There's others, but who cares to get into it. This one seems to be working for her.
Willet at 10:22AM on Feb 29th 2008
8. Developmental psychology points out that we should not teach our children to be ashamed of nudity by acting embarassed when they see a parent nude. However, the time comes when enough is enough. At school age and definitely before puberty when covering oneself is morally appropriate. YOUR unalienable rights are to be respected. But those of your CHILDREN are more important for healthy psychological and sexual developement. They should have the CHOICE of who and when to see a nude body.
Sun at 3:26PM on Mar 3rd 2008
9. Uh, Marinecorps 5811 (Comment #1) if teen boys are getting erections at the sight of their nude mother, that family has some deeply rooted problems.
That said, I don't agree with this woman. Little children seeing their parent(s) nude is one thing, older kids is a different matter. I agree we as a country get hung up about nudity and sex, but this should be a no brainer.
Why does this woman feel it is such a big deal to throw on a robe in front of her kids? Obviously it is all about her, as we can tell from her comments.
David S. at 11:07AM on Feb 29th 2008
10. i think it's great that she walks around naked.
in fact, i think we should make everyone walk around naked! it would really cut down on childhood obesity rates.
hannah at 11:38AM on Feb 29th 2008
11. Not only is it AND should be inappropriate for parents to appear nude in front of their children, it is a criminal offense in several states. Ohio, for example, has made it a sexual felony offense for any adult, including a parent, to appear nude in the presence of a minor. If this woman was in Ohio, she would be facing prison time and required to register as a sex offender for life, not to mention Child Welfare taking her kids away.
This is just another example of the moral breakdown of this society, and of the so-called "moral relativism." What's next, parents having sex in front of their children? I'm sure this already happens.
Steven at 12:56PM on Feb 29th 2008
12. Somehow, I think the comments would be different if we were talking about a 40 year old man being naked in front of his teenage daughters. Just like teenage girl's don't need to see daddy's penis, teenage boys don't need to see mom's vagina/breasts.
Katherine at 1:05PM on Feb 29th 2008
13. After reading Ms. Calhoun's post, I was left imagining a woman that walked around the house naked all day with no other reason than to be naked. After reading the full story, however, I now have a different impression. So I would encourage everyone to read the whole thing - not just that which was posted here.
I think 10 is a little old to be seeing Mom naked. I also think 10 is a little old to be storming into her room, for that matter. What's wrong with knocking? We shouldn't teach our kids to knock because we are scared they are going to see us naked, but we should teach them to respect our privacy and personal space. What happens when these kids go to college or when they get an apartment with a few room mates? Are they just going to burst in on their room mates, too? Behavior like that starts at home and the older you get the harder it is to change.
As parents, we can teach our kids to be comfortable with their bodies while also teaching them to respect themselves enough to be modest. Covering ourselves doesn't have to mean that we don't like our bodies - just like everything else, there are times and places for nudity.
I'm also wondering what kind of reaction there would be if the genders were reversed. Would it be acceptable for a 10 year old girl to routinely see her father naked?
Marti at 1:17PM on Feb 29th 2008
14. First of all, just because Americans are "akwardly backwards" about nudity vs. Europe, doesn't mean that we should all toss out our clothes on our way to pick up our preschoolers.
As a professional nanny, I strongly urge parents and caregivers to COVER up around their little ones after age 2. If nudity is a norm in your household, when your child leaves the safety of your home, they will still be under the impression that nudity is acceptable...even if they should encounter a sexual predator. If being nude is something out of the ordinary, it will automatically alert them that something is wrong with the situation. Protecting our children against harmful situations doesn't need to be an argument against becoming a "prudish" society. Unfortunately, we live in a world where bad things can happen to our children, and we need to give them some basic social boundaries in order to protect them.
Mary at 2:23PM on Feb 29th 2008
15. Nudity? That's not the question for me....it is more so on the fact that a lot of the people commenting here have obviously NOT READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE. I think we need to worry more about people who comment and judge before getting all the facts. To those people... why don't you read the whole article and then come back to comment.
AL at 8:54PM on Mar 2nd 2008