I couldn't believe what I saw last night

[Sonya]

Let me start out by saying this didn't upset me and really didn't shock me but I found it very unusual!

I went into the womens restroom at a local mall and saw a 2 women helping a 3 year old boy wash his hands. No biggie, he's a bit young to go to the men's by himself. As the 2 women turned around I saw that one of them was a teenage boy! He was taller than I am and probably 13. Granted he could be an older looking 10 year old but still, it suprised me. A lot of the women in there were giving each other funny looks.

DH and I talked about this, he thinks the kid was too old for the womens and should have gone into the mens. I agree, but I thought perhaps the woman was just over cautious. However, she left her yournger son outside the bathroom to wait for them so she must not be too concerned.

I have been in unisex bathrooms in Europe, this didn't bother me but I could tell it did some women there.

 

[CEDmom]

This is a really tough call since there have been many instances of boys being molested in public restrooms. I personally wouldn't care since all private business is done in a stall with a door. I'd feel differently about it in a gym where the bathrooms are inside the locker rooms. Until all public places have family restrooms this will continue to be a debateable subject.


P.S. Hope everyone is well again after that nasty virus .

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

As an 18 year old this would have made me incredibly uncomfortable.

 

[Sonya]

Thanks CEDmom, we are all better now!

Let me add that there WERE familly bathrooms availble! Plus she left another younger boy outside by himself.

 

[KristaTX]

I don't know any teen (or even pre-teen) boy that would not be totally embarrassed and humiliated going into a women's restroom with his mom and younger sibling. Maybe he was mentally challenged or something? Or maybe it was a girl who looked like a boy? Sounds really weird, though, since a family restroom was available.

 

[CEDmom]

Originally posted by Sonya
Thanks CEDmom, we are all better now!

Let me add that there WERE familly bathrooms availble! Plus she left another younger boy outside by himself.

Well then all I can say is that is weird. In places with family bathrooms the mens/womens rooms should have signs on the door alerting families to this and requesting that opposite sexed children not use the mens/womens rooms.

 

[HauntedMansionGeek]

I love how these potty discussions seem to freak people out! LOL

That little 3 year old MIGHT have had himself a hissy fit right outside the restroom door refusing to go in with mommy and insisting that big brother go with him. DD had a gigantic fit years ago when she was a toddler, INSISTING that Grampa Bud go to the rest room with her at the local McDonalds......it's not a far fetched scenario when toddlers have little toddler breakdowns in public.

I can think of 20 other non-perverted reasons as well why the 13 year old boy would be in the rest room.

We Americans really need to get past our public rest room paranoia. JMHO of course.

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

What I don't get is, why in the world would it bother the women???? I know DS gets upset and embarassed, but his safety comes first. But what exactly are the ladies doing that it would bother them that a boy be in there? The stalls all have doors on them right? I guess I might be startled (sp?) to see a 13 year old in there, because it isn't a usual sight, but I wouldn't be upset by it, because there is technicly (sp?) nothing for him to see. It all happens behind closed doors.

 

[nealymouse]

My DD is a special needs child but looking at her you would never know. If she were a boy you bet she would be with me in the ladys room if she were 15.

I cant speak for what happend to you but there are so many children out there who may look and be 15 but have the mind of small kids.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[aprilgail2]

Originally posted by CEDmom
. I'd feel differently about it in a gym where the bathrooms are inside the locker rooms. .

My daughter takes swimming at the YMCA by us and outside the womens locker room door there is a sign that says "no children of the opposite sex over the age of 5 allowed in locker rooms and rest rooms" They do have a family restroom though so they can take them there.

 

[tiggersmom2]

HauntedMansionGeek,
ITA, Americans NEED to get over the restroom paranoia! I have 2 DS and they ALWAYS go in the women's restroom with me if Dad is busy - they are 10yrs and 18months.

 

[RitaZ.]

I don't have a problem with this situation. At least they went in the bathroom to do their business.

Today, we went to Lowe's. As we walked toward the main entrance, a woman had a baby/toddler on a big metal cart, looks like a flat bed for carrying large items. Anyway, there she was, in front of everyone walking in and out of the store, changing the boy's diaper on the bare dirty metal. The boy looked to be over a year old, he kept trying to get away. People kept staring in disbelief and I don't think that the woman even noticed. My DH couldn't believe it!

 

[DocRafiki]

I don't know what kind of restrooms you people have been using, but I can't count the times I've been in a stall where I could look right through the huge crack and stare into the eyes of the person waiting for me to get finished.

 

[tiggersmom2]

DocRafiki,
I have been able to see through the cracks but I have never seen anyone watching me through them (maybe I've just been lucky). Anyone who does look through the crack needs a lesson in manners!! I do not take my 10 year old in the bathroom on a regular basis (he usually won't go), but if DH is not around he is going. End of story.

 

[Dee & Greg]

Not exactly the same subject... but Saturday night, we're at Outback Steakhouse (DH, DSiL, Niece and Nephew). We're waiting for our table, along with hordes of others, when a younger man and about 4 yr old girl sit down by us in the waiting area. He's on his cell phone constantly... then I realize he has gone off to the restroom and left his 4 yr old sitting there ALONE!! We couldn't believe it. We're right by the front door.. anyone could have walked off with her. After he's gone over 5 minutes, my SIL tells the manager, who goes to check out the mens room. Finally, this guy comes back! (gone about 8 minutes or so)
We don't have kids, but my long-lost maternal instincts kicked in and I wanted to take that little girl home and keep her safe from this bozo.
Very disturbing!

 

[BHFan25]

And, like someone else said, it could have been a girl who looked like a boy. I actually had a conversation the other day with a girl who I thought was a boy until I was told differently. So, who knows? Glad 'he' was peeking through the cracks though.

 

[Sonya]

I'm pretty sure it was a boy, I could be wrong but he didn't look "feminin". I thought about him being mentally slow, it was possible.
Even if people never look through the cracks in between the doors doesn't mean that you aren't aware of them and someone just might catch a glimpse of something!

 

[damo]

I would rather have a ten year old boy get a glimpse of me zipping up than some pervert getting more than just a glimpse of him over in the men's bathroom.

 

[chager]

It very well could have been a girl. I had a friend growing up that I thought was a boy for almost a month before I found out she was a girl. Her twin was very feminine and no doubt a girl. K wore boy clothes and did everything the boys did, (sometimes better ) As an adult she became a mechanic and still has been mistaken for a guy. I'm talking girls whistling and yelling that they want to go out ...until they figure out she is a girl!! She has tried wearing makeup and earrings but from the back that doesn't help much.
On the note of taking kids in the restroom i really don't have a problem with it. I have a 9yr old that is sometimes forced to stand in the door area while I go. (He is too embarrassed to come in any further then that) I will chat with him the whole time though.

 

[MICKEY88]

Originally posted by HauntedMansionGeek
I love how these potty discussions seem to freak people out! LOL

That little 3 year old MIGHT have had himself a hissy fit right outside the restroom door refusing to go in with mommy and insisting that big brother go with him. DD had a gigantic fit years ago when she was a toddler, INSISTING that Grampa Bud go to the rest room with her at the local McDonalds......it's not a far fetched scenario when toddlers have little toddler breakdowns in public.

I can think of 20 other non-perverted reasons as well why the 13 year old boy would be in the rest room.

We Americans really need to get past our public rest room paranoia. JMHO of course.

If the 3 year old had such a hissy fit, it would have been a good time to teach him that he doesn't get his way by having a hissy fit....

I can think of very few reasons a 13 year old male should be in the ladies room..

as for paranoia, I think there's a bigger paranoia about leaving young boys go to the restroom alone.....there comes a time when they must be taught street smarts, how to look out for themselves....Moms can't be with them always......

if it's no big deal for a 13 year old, since the stalls have doors...how about a 21 year old..or what if that same 13 year old follows a 12 year old girl into the ladies room..it should be OK..since it was OK before...???