I have a problem with older boys in women's restrooms. My problem is that I've had the occation to hear one talk to his friends after the experience. Until that experience I was of the "Mom knows best" camp. Little Peeping Tom! In that case, Mom wasn't protecting him from sexual abuse, she was creating a little sexual abuser. The child was probably nine or so, it was a fast food restaurant, and Mom was no where near while he described why he still let Mom take him into the ladies room to his friends (who were giving him a hard time over it). A child old enough to show sexual interest in nakedness does not belong in a ladies room where, yes, there are stalls, but there are also large enough gaps in stall doors to allow peeking. I do understand the problem, I have a six year old (who uses the men's room alone only in places he and I are both comfortable - i.e. not the shopping mall, but at the skating rink with his friends when they all go together). Its a rock and a hard place, they grow up too fast for what they are ready for.
