plw@drutx.UUCP (KerrPL) (07/12/85)
My daughter and I have always been honest and open about nudity and her questions about sex. She has never asked questions about sex based on her father being nude. If any thing else it helped her not to be embarrassed to ask questions. Her questions began when 5 of our friends were expecting all within 5 months of each other. My daughter is now 13, I have seen her friends and her talk about their new bodies (menstrual and body changes). I have noticed her friends to be embarrassed to even mention the male body. They would get red, move around, and quitly say "You know the guys part". Heather turned to her friend and said, "Which part? The penis?" Her friend was embarrassed to even hear the word. I feel that if the parent feels alright about nudity, that the child will except it as being OK. If the parent is found nude (coming out of the shower or such), and reacts as it is wrong or embarrassing, the child will react the same way. BYW, she chose to keep herself covered at age 7 or so. Her Dad and I have been divorced since she was 4. I have been remarried for about a year now. One late night my husband was caught out in the hall by Heather. He was amazed that she was able to handle it so easily. They both keep dressed around each other, I am the only one now who can go from the bath, to my cup of coffee, do my hair, and then get dressed. It was their choice, that was what both felt was better for them. Heather was able to except that her step-father felt as odd about being nude around her as she would have around him, but neither one feels odd when I am nude around both. I guess I was able to keep half of the freedom. I DO ENJOY THE FREEDOM. Patti