Opinions on Parents & Kids Bathing Together?

[Nisaryn]

That actually kind of makes me really sad that step parents are lumped in with boyfriends and girlfriends. My husband is not my first childs biological father. I was... not always a good person it's true. But my husband... when we got together he was good to me, and believed in me. He saw in me what nobody else had and he makes me a better person. When we found out that I was pregnant (we were engaged shortly after this discovery and to be honest I'd known the guy for 4 years so it wasn't like I didn't know him please don't misunderstand), he's been my daughters daddy since before we knew she was a girl. He has never seen her as anything other than his own, flesh and blood or not. And to be honest we don't ever tell people that she isn't biologically his kid and it's hilarious how many people say that she looks like her daddy (obviously untrue she is the spitting image of mommy ). Point is I know there are some bad step parents out there but then there are men like my husband and he really deserves an award. It takes a lot of love and courage to raise someone elses kid, and it takes a lot of love to see them as your own even when the world considers you less than a parent because the child isn't the fruit of your OWN loins. If anything it endears him to me even more.

YES! My son is my hubbys but my daughter was from a failed relationship. My husband adopted her when we got married and has raised her as his own from the beginning.

[wonderfullisa]

Such an interesting, albeit old, thread.
As a child, I continued to shower with my sister til we were both in high school. We were best friends, and only had a one bathroom house.
As a mother, I haven't hit a stage where Im uncomfortable. My eldest is turning 9 this month. My only son is still a baby, but I imagine it'll be many years til I stop being naked around him. Whenever he is uncomfortable.
My husband, otoh, stops around the age of 2. He also asks our daughter to get dressed quickly. Prude.

I feel that the 'stop when they start asking questions' just continues the idea that our bodies are bad (and I strongly feel that they AREN'T). Quick! Hide the skin! Don't say "penis" in any context!

My 5yo knows that if we are talking about changing her brothers diaper, saying penis is totally fine. If we are in the middle of a restaurant, it's not appropriate.

[midaycare]

Such an interesting, albeit old, thread.
As a child, I continued to shower with my sister til we were both in high school. We were best friends, and only had a one bathroom house.
As a mother, I haven't hit a stage where Im uncomfortable. My eldest is turning 9 this month. My only son is still a baby, but I imagine it'll be many years til I stop being naked around him. Whenever he is uncomfortable.
My husband, otoh, stops around the age of 2. He also asks our daughter to get dressed quickly. Prude.

I feel that the 'stop when they start asking questions' just continues the idea that our bodies are bad (and I strongly feel that they AREN'T). Quick! Hide the skin! Don't say "penis" in any context!

My 5yo knows that if we are talking about changing her brothers diaper, saying penis is totally fine. If we are in the middle of a restaurant, it's not appropriate.

ITA with everything here. My husband is also a "prude", haha. He was raised strict Dutch and it is hard to get a hug from any of his family!!! I am the polar opposite.

If you take the fascination away about differences and body parts, it just becomes second nature. My DS won't go around acting immature about his body part, like some of his friends. I also found it really helpful when DS came to me earlier this year when he had questions about the birds and bees. Some older boy gave him mis-information, so we had to have "the talk". DS feels like we can talk about things, because body parts and birds and bee stuff isn't embarrassing or something to hide.

But I'm not advocating for bathing and showering together. It just works for us. And we certainly don'tdo it all the time anymore. Mama wants her privacy to think once in a while!

[Annalee]

I carried one of my son's friends home the other day and the mother could not come to the door. She sent her teenage daughter to let us in because the mom was in the bathtub with the 4 yr old son and 1.5 year old daughter....the teenager said the kids were nursing in there and it was easier for the mom to just take a bath with them so she could get it all done at once. Yep, I just left my son's friend there and walked back to the car and left...:confused:

[Unregistered]

Ok different situation. Question! My 7 yeAr old granddaughter informed me this wknd that the man who lives with her and her mother bathes and washes her at bath time.
Am I over reacting by being upset about this?
I tried to speak with the mother but her response was "if you don't like it take me back to court" My son is her father

[Blackcat31]

Ok different situation. Question! My 7 yeAr old granddaughter informed me this wknd that the man who lives with her and her mother bathes and washes her at bath time.
Am I over reacting by being upset about this?
I tried to speak with the mother but her response was "if you don't like it take me back to court" My son is her father

Talk to your son.

It's his situation to address as it is his child.

I understand that you are the grandparent but in most cases, the grandparent does not have the authority to DO anything.

[trix23]

I shower with my 3.5 year old son sometimes. If we both need a cleaning, it's faster and more fun for him cause he loves showers (vs baths) and it's some 1-on-1 time that he craves now being a big brother to a 9 month old.

Nudity in and of itself is not dirty. If I'm bathing my child's naked body (if he were solo), is that considered inappropriate too?

I have a more relaxed idea about nudity than most people in the US.