Restroom question/issue...

[zakatak]

Hi.

I will be travelling with my ds(8.916666666 ) on the Wonder 2/24. Can anyone tell me what types of restrooms are located near the pool? Are they singular? Are there any Family restrooms? Would you feel "safe" letting him go into the men's room alone?

Thanks!

Karen

 

[tvguy]

I sure don't recall any family restrooms on board. None of the public restrooms is very big, but there are plenty of them.

 

[DrCavin]

I would not be too worried letting him go by himself. You could wait outside or monitor from a distance.....

 

[inkkognito]

You should have no problem if you wait just outside the door. I don't think there will be any safety issues...he should be fine
Barb

 

[mobetsy]

My ds#1 was 9 when we went last year, and I am very cautious about him with bathrooms. However, I simply had him open the door, tell me loudly if anyone else was in there (so if there was someone, they'd know I knew), and then I stood outside while he was inside. We were on the Magic, and by the end of the trip I even felt okay at the pool with letting ds#2, age 6, go in alone. The bathrooms there are pretty small and there isn't a ton of traffic in and out.

 

[JimmyJackJunior]

Huh? What exactly is the issue. Am I missing something. I let my 6 year old nephew go by himself.

 

[zakatak]

jimmyjackjunior: Just being cautious. It only takes a second for someone to do/say something to a child.

 

[Dreamer04]

My ds#1 was 9 when we went last year, and I am very cautious about him with bathrooms. However, I simply had him open the door, tell me loudly if anyone else was in there (so if there was someone, they'd know I knew), and then I stood outside while he was inside.

This took me back! I did the same to my DS! He was sooo embarrassed!

I said "Too bad". You can go into therapy when you are an adult, like everyone else. But, while I have you, you are alive and well."

 

[kshabare]

It only takes a minute. Our daughter was at school when she was assaulted. It was someone she knew. She was 17. It changes a child's life.

My son will be in therapy too because he is 10 now and I'm just comfortable now letting him go into the men's bathroom. I've heard some pretty frightening stories. Just because it's a Disney ship doesn't mean there aren't pedaphiles on board. It's more important to let your child know how to protect themselves.

As for the bathrooms - you do what you feel comfortable with. It's a family ship - plenty of Moms (and Dads) will understand and commend you for your care. 2 years ago I just waited inside near the sink but had DS8 go in to use the ladies room (when DH wasn't around).

Kim

 

[lbgraves]

I totally understand your caution. There have been far too many children asaulted in bathrooms with their parent standing right outside the door. DS 6 knows that he is not allowed to go in the bathroom alone. He also knows not to complain about going into the women's room with me. He is too precious to me to take that chance.

There are family bathrooms on the ship. I remember there being one outside the theater on the side with the men's room. They are Family/Handicap. There are lots of other moms on the ship who are doing the same thing.

 

[ladytampa]

When me and my kids go somewhere without DH - like to the mall or the movies, I also wait right at the door and yell to my 9 year old DS to make sure that anyone who's in there knows I'm right there waiting. I make him talk to me the whole time. Other people may think this is ridiculous, but cautious mothers taking their sons with them without a man around know what I mean.

I used to take him into the bathroom with me, but since he turned nine I stopped because other women with their little girls were uncomfortable. I've even had women say to me, "you know he shouldn't be in here" or if I'm in the stall and he's waiting for me right inside the door, they'll say to him "This is the women's bathroom you shouldn't be in here. Yours is across the hall." I always yell out that we are aware of where the men's bathroom is but he's waiting for me and unless they want to pay for the lawyer's, doctor's, or psychologist's fees if something happens to him to leave him alone. They don't say anything else after that.

It amazes me how insensitive/ignorant some women without small sons can be. You worry about the safety of your son as well as your daughter. Both are susceptible to harm and we shouldn't forget.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

I'm not arguing against being cautious about restrooms, but I personally think it's a little weird to have a nine year old boy in the ladies restroom too. I don't think I've ever seen that before, so maybe the woman that you feel are ignorant and insensitive haven't seen it before either and are a little uncomfortable with it as well.

 

[littlemuffin]

I think with something as precious as a child there is no such thing as too cautious especially in a strange place. I let my son go to a local restaurant restroom 2 years before I let him go into one at the airport. He was 9 before he went in large public restrooms by himself. And he has learned to tell me if it will be an instance that might take longer than another.

I think there is less chance of paying for his therapy as an adult if I'm cautious now.

Kat

 

[wdwoldtimer]

However, I simply had him open the door, tell me loudly if anyone else was in there (so if there was someone, they'd know I knew), and then I stood outside while he was inside.

I like this idea!!

 

[ladytampa]

I don't think I've ever seen that before, so maybe the woman that you feel are ignorant and insensitive haven't seen it before either and are a little uncomfortable with it as well.

I said that they were uncomfortable in my OP. Ignorance means that you don't know - not that your're stupid, just that you don't know. Ignorance breeds insensitivity. From your post, I would say that you don't have any children - even moreso that you don't have boys. If you ever have any boys, then you will understand what we are talking about.

He was 9 before he went in large public restrooms by himself.

See, I'm not alone.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

From your post, I would say that you don't have any children - even moreso that you don't have boys. If you ever have any boys, then you will understand what we are talking about.



See, I'm not alone.

I'm sorry, but I took the tone of your post to suggest that you are ignorant and insensitive if you question a nine year old boy being in the ladies room. I have three boys. 2, 3, and 15 months. And I don't think its appropriate for a 9 year old boy to be in a female restroom. I'm sure I'M not alone. I'm just not afraid to post it for fear of getting flamed.

I like the idea of waiting outside, or dad taking him in the mens room. Seems reasonable to me. Flame away.

 

[crisi]

You aren't far from your stateroom. If you have safety issues with public restrooms, and your son is old enough to merit the evil eye (in which case he is old enough to hold it) run back to your stateroom.

 

[littlemuffin]

I think the difference is where you are at. In a small area/restroom, I don't think you need to take a DS9 into the restroom just listen and wait outside. BUT, in a large airport where anything could happen, I think it is much more acceptable. Thankfully now most airports have family restrooms which are making this much less needed.

I also think that people who have experienced the true evils of our world are more apt to take extra precautions. Others who have luckily never faced these things are less likely to be some over protective. Neither is more sensitive than the other. They have just lived different experiences.

BUT I'd much rather be overprotective than sorry.

My $0.02.

Kathy

 

[littlemuffin]

Talk about insensitive!!

We don't all have Dad's to take them.

 

[ladytampa]

ChrisnSteph,

Wow, you surprised me. But anyway as I said, we don't do it now that he's nine. If you're going to act indignant at least read the post for clarity. As I also said, when DH is not around I remain at the door and just talk to him to make sure that everything is OK. Read the post for clarity. Now you can reply all you want and be as snippy as you want. I'm dropping the thread.