Look mom, my that's my kindergarten teacher!

[monsterkitty]

I belong to a large fitness club. They have an amazing family locker room. There are signs on both the men's and women's locker room doors that no opposite-sex children are allowed in that room and to use the family locker room.

The lady standing next to me had just gotten out of the shower and she had no clothes on. A mom walks in with her son.


The boy yells at the top of his lungs, "Look mom, it's Mrs. Smith, my kindergarten teacher!" Yes, the poor lady standing next to me sans clothing was naked in front of one of her former male students. I handed her my large beach towel.

Because I am sick of seeing older boys in the women's locker room, I told the mom that there was a family room. Her reply, her son was 8 and too old for the family locker room. The locker room attendant then walked in and told the lady to take her son to the family room. The mom began to throw a temper tantrum. It wasn't pretty.

Please note, I do understand that many times there is no option and parents do have to take their children into an opposite-sex bathroom or changing room. But when there is an option, use it!

 

[themilesfamily]

At this point in time, I would like to refer back to the nude beach thread from yesterday. This is exactly the scenario I can see playing out over and over if my local beach (in a small town) went nude.

Ugh, I just feel terrible for that teacher. I know that a lot of people say "get over the hangups about nudity" but -- yikes. I would just be mortified. I think 8 years old is too old for a boy to be in a lady's locker room. That's what -- 2nd or 3rd grade?

 

[krcit]

My SIL is a K teacher and I can't wai to tell her this story. How embarrassing!!

 

[scrapquitler]

if the boy was too old for the 'family' locker room, then surely he shouldn't be in the women's one.

For what it is worth, when I used to belong to the YMCA there was a family locker room, a boys locker room, a girls locker room, a mens and a womans locker room. The locker room rules were pretty straightforward and obvious:

No children in the adult locker rooms PERIOD. That was an absolute. If you are 17 years and 364 days old, you go in the boys or girls locker room.

No children (or adults) of the opposite sex in the children's locker room.
Female parent + female child(ren) = girls locker room
Female parent + male child or a mix of male/female children = family locker room
Male parent + male child(ren) = boys locker room
Male parent + female child or a mix of male/female children = family locker room.

 

[minkydog]

At this point in time, I would like to refer back to the nude beach thread from yesterday. This is exactly the scenario I can see playing out over and over if my local beach (in a small town) went nude.

Ugh, I just feel terrible for that teacher. I know that a lot of people say "get over the hangups about nudity" but -- yikes. I would just be mortified. I think 8 years old is too old for a boy to be in a lady's locker room. That's what -- 2nd or 3rd grade?

I would have been mortified as well. I've been a nurse for 34 years, so there are pretty much NO hangups as far as seeing undressed people. However, I am very modest and I would not be happy to be the center of attention in a locker room, I don't care how old the boy is! That mother needs a knot jerked in her tail.

I fully understand the issue of not wanting to send your 8yo boys into the locker room alone, where naked men will be walking around freely. That's the whole point of having family dressing rooms. When I take Christian to the municipal pool he is not allowed to go to the ladies locker room--no boys over 5. Even though his mental age is <1, I know for a fact that he would make women intimidated. He's 5'8" and has a man's body! Christian isn't capable of dressing himself so I can't send him into the men's room, but I would not even THINK of taking him with me into a room full of naked girls and women. We use the family dressing room or else I just wrap him in a couple towels and take him home to dress him.

 

[disneyfans95]

At this point in time, I would like to refer back to the nude beach thread from yesterday. This is exactly the scenario I can see playing out over and over if my local beach (in a small town) went nude.

Ugh, I just feel terrible for that teacher. I know that a lot of people say "get over the hangups about nudity" but -- yikes. I would just be mortified. I think 8 years old is too old for a boy to be in a lady's locker room. That's what -- 2nd or 3rd grade?

Well nude beach is so different then this situation. I mean on a nude beach one would expect to be seen and to see other nude people of both sexes.

In a locker room like the gym the OP said, you would expect only same sex to see you.

But like others have said, I don't see it as end of the world or that horrible. But our family is more open about nudity.

 

[minkydog]

Well nude beach is so different then this situation. I mean on a nude beach one would expect to be seen and to see other nude people of both sexes.

In a locker room like the gym the OP said, you would expect only same sex to see you.

But like others have said, I don't see it as end of the world or that horrible. But our family is more open about nudity.

I don't think the mom was all that upset about the son seeing nude bodies. But as an older woman myself, I would be pretty incensed at NOT HAVING THE OPTION to keep his little beady eyes off my body. I would be very uncomfortable if my neighbor's son or one of my male students met up with me as I stood naked in a WOMENS locker room. Mom needs to take his scrawny little male butt outta there!

 

[Kimberle]

Last year dd was on the swim team. The girls, between 8-12, would be changing. There were generally about 20. Another Mom (non swim team) was with her son who looked about 7-8. She ushered him into one of the 2 private changing rooms saying he's to old to change in front of the girls... So he could be there watching the girls, but he couldn't change in front of them...

They too had a policy of no boys over 5 in the girls locker room and they had a family changing room.

 

[Imzadi]

There is a difference in choosing to let it all hang out, vs. thinking you are in a semi-private (same sex situation) and having not only a male see, but a male child from your class.

The child wasn't one of her peers. As an authoritative adult over a child, she probably lost a sense of dignity and privacy. Not a situation she chose as in going to a nude beach, and whatever happens, happens.

 

[Tinkermommy]

You must not have understood that the rules do not apply to this woman and her family. Could you not see her specialness from where you stood?

These kind of people drive me nuts. I used to think they were just oblivious, but now I think they are just selfish.

 

[monsterkitty]

You must not have understood that the rules do not apply to this woman and her family. Could you not see her specialness from where you stood?

These kind of people drive me nuts. I used to think they were just oblivious, but now I think they are just selfish.

I, too, used to think these kind of people were oblivious. Now I'm not so sure that they are selfish. Self-centered, yes. In their own bubble, yes. But I'm not sure selfish really fits here.

 

[dispor]

There is a difference in choosing to let it all hang out, vs. thinking you are in a semi-private (same sex situation) and having not only a male see, but a male child from your class.

The child wasn't one of her peers. As an authoritative adult over a child, she probably lost a sense of dignity and privacy. Not a situation she chose as in going to a nude beach, and whatever happens, happens.

I guess I'm the only one who thinks it's weird for someone to walk out of a shower totally nude.

What if one of her girl students was in the locker room? Would that be okay?

 

[ICF]

Last year dd was on the swim team. The girls, between 8-12, would be changing. There were generally about 20. Another Mom (non swim team) was with her son who looked about 7-8. She ushered him into one of the 2 private changing rooms saying he's to old to change in front of the girls... So he could be there watching the girls, but he couldn't change in front of them...

They too had a policy of no boys over 5 in the girls locker room and they had a family changing room.

Is there also a policy of no girls over 5 in the mens locker room??

Just curious, but does anyone notice these threads ALWAYS involve a boy/man/male of some sort seeing a female of some sort naked? Why aren't there ever threads about little Susie seeing a naked guy??

That said, I think an 8 year old is too old to be in a locker room designated for the opposite sex. They can wait in a "family" area or outside the locker area if necessary.

 

[arminnie]

I, too, used to think these kind of people were oblivious. Now I'm not so sure that they are selfish. Self-centered, yes. In their own bubble, yes. But I'm not sure selfish really fits here.

self-centered in your own bubble = selfish. Can't imagine any other outcome if you never think of others.

 

[woodkins]

Is there also a policy of no girls over 5 in the mens locker room??

Just curious, but does anyone notice these threads ALWAYS involve a boy/man/male of some sort seeing a female of some sort naked? Why aren't there ever threads about little Susie seeing a naked guy??

That said, I think an 8 year old is too old to be in a locker room designated for the opposite sex. They can wait in a "family" area or outside the locker area if necessary.

I would think that is because the majority of the time the mom is with the kids rather than the dad and that is why the kids are entering the women's locker room rather than the men's.

 

[DawnCt1]

Is there also a policy of no girls over 5 in the mens locker room??

Just curious, but does anyone notice these threads ALWAYS involve a boy/man/male of some sort seeing a female of some sort naked? Why aren't there ever threads about little Susie seeing a naked guy??

That said, I think an 8 year old is too old to be in a locker room designated for the opposite sex. They can wait in a "family" area or outside the locker area if necessary.

Because men are less likely to go on a message board and complain! DH was in his gym locker, lots of nude men walking around, some walking around too much and a father came in with his daughter. DH only had a towel on but he told the father that his DD didn't belong in a men's locker room.

In the women's locker room at my gym, there is a shower and a curtained area outside the shower so there is no excuse to wander around naked for an length of time. I exit the curtained area in my underwear. There is no reason not to do so. I frankly don't want to sit on a bench where someone else has sat, without underwear, without a towel, putting on their shoes, socks, make up and blow drying there hair before they bother to put on their underwear. It borders on exhibitionistic. That said, boys do not belong in a womans' locker room.

 

[kellydizfan]

My DD 16 has a fit as her French Teacher goes to the same gym and she sees her - this teacher is of retirement age.

 

[Imzadi]

I, too, used to think these kind of people were oblivious. Now I'm not so sure that they are selfish. Self-centered, yes. In their own bubble, yes. But I'm not sure selfish really fits here.

self-centered in your own bubble = selfish. Can't imagine any other outcome if you never think of others.

Are we going to have a thread debate between self-centered vs. selfish?

I guess I'm the only one who thinks it's weird for someone to walk out of a shower totally nude.

What if one of her girl students was in the locker room? Would that be okay?

Maybe I'm one of those who don't have hangups about it, but I don't have (much) of a problem with a girl student seeing a woman. Mostly because the same sex has basically the same equipment. Little girls shouldn't be taught to be ashamed of the female body. Women share dressing rooms all the time. We go to the ladies room together, too.


A boy to see more than he should, goes into a different category. (I'm not saying he should be brought up to be ashamed of the human body, either. But there's an appropriate time -- and in this instance place to be show that boys are different from girls. The kindergarten teacher didn't volunteer for that job.

 

[Art 1]

The mother should be investigated for child abuse for taking an 8 year old boy into a female showering area.

 

[MinnieFlute]

OK, I'm a teacher and the thought of one of my students ever seeing me naked is just terrifying!

Granted, I teach junior high...

It is a very reasonable expectation that you know that someone in the locker room is your same gender and an adult! I don't know ANYONE who is comfortable being naked in front of anyone and everyone. Eeeeeps.