Thoughts, Please?

[sherrardk]

Right, bit long winded. My youngest children get dressed in the same room (boy 9, girl 7, boy and girl 5) which I thought was ok (they are not street wise). Today youngest boy had speech therapy and his teaching assistant was off ill. He told speech therapist that youngest girl had tried to touch my 9 year old son's willy (she is a bit wild and they spar with each other). Speech therapist told teacher, teacher told head. Teacher phoned me at home to tell me and said she had to follow it up because it was an outside person (if my son had said it to the teacher she said she would have had a word with my daughter about not touching boys 'dangly bits'). I have now told the boys they have to get dressed in a different room to the girls, etc. I am almost mortified to go up the school tomorrow with them thinking that my children are running round naked, grabbing each others bits all the time. Is this a problem or am I blowing it out of proportion in my head? (Yes, I do constantly worry that people are judging me for the way I bring up the children and how many of them there are.)

[pixie373]

Sounds completely normal to me! If none of your children were upset by it, don't worry.

[sherrardk]

It's the fact that the school is 'involved' and that the speech therapist was talking to my son about my daughter (just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they're not out to get you). My son wasn't bothered, didn't even mention it and he is not adverse to grassing his siblings up. I am worried that they are 'keeping an eye on me' since my husband was ill.

[Old_Geezer]

Oh pull the other one.

[Buenchico]

Your kids are just being perfectly normal children (if there ever is such a thing as a 'normal' child, that is!). The school staff will recognise that and simply be cursing that OTT child-protection rules force them to 'cover their backs' by making pointless phone calls. Don't worry about it.

[pixie373]

I expect they have to make a fuss about these things nowadays. I can't see how they can take it any further. I'm sure it's happened in most houses at some point (certainly has here). Let them keep an eye on you, they'll see a normal, happy family. I think you just need a little more confidence in yourself.

[seadogg]

You are just a god Mum trying to do the right thing. People know the difference between natural curiosity n kids and downright immorality and its just a shame that everybody passes the info on, giving it an importance it doesn't merit.

[seadogg]

sorry, good is what I meant.

[sherrardk]

Thanks for the back up. I think they are well adjusted and just normal kids (eldest one would die if anyone saw any of his skin apart from his hands and face). Don't want to make them self-conscious, I thought they were just being kids too.

[pixie373]

They are. Hold your head high x

[Lore]

I wouldn't worry about it, there isn't anything wrong in them getting changed in the same room. Think of P.E at school, ok, children still have their underwear on but the whole whole class change together. We let the year 6 change in separate rooms at my place of work for obvious reasons. I'm sure your 9 and 7 year old will let you know when it's not cool anymore.

[Maydup]

They are just being kids and the more the longer they are allowed to be kids the better. I know its easier said than done, but carry on just as you are, promote an open minded, no hang ups attitude and don't let the barstewards up the school get you down.

[sherrardk]

I just thought they were being kids and getting on with it. Feel a bit miffed that the speech therapist was talking to my son about my daughter, although it could be normal routine for them. My eldest son knew when he wasn't comfortable with the set up and changed his routine. Had a horrible evening saying they can't get changed in the same room, bit like telling them Father Christmas is not real.

[boxtops]

Sad that a chance comment by your little 'un (which he probably thought was funny) has sparked off all this. Makes you wonder how the rest of the conversation went, that led to that comment. Sher - it looks as if we're all on your side in this one.

[Lore]

I'd feel the same :(
Maybe have a little chat to them, explain you understand they're growing up and their bodies are changing. So if and when they're ready, it's ok to use a different room.

[grumpy01]

If teacher's interested themselves in teaching it would be far more to their credit.Children are curious about their bodies,so as long as your children aren't upset by it then surely there's no problem.

[WELSHYORKIE]

Sher - I wouldn't worry - it's PC gone bloody mad. Go to the school with your head held high - you've done nowt wrong

[Hypognosis]

As long as you remember to tell them (in their teens) to lie to their mates about who was the first girl they ever saw naked...

[lady-janine]

sounds quite normal in young children to me. you're doing okay.

[ummmm]

Yep, normal. Try not to worry x

[rockyracoon]

Aw Sherr, don't worry it's all part of growing up. Personally I think by making them change in different rooms is making more of an issue of it than is actually there.

A few months ago, son (14) was having a bath while daughter (12) was sitting in the bathroom in knickers and a vest testing him on his homework! Every weekend they drag a mattress into one or the others bedrooms and sleep there, some people think it's odd, I think crack on, you've got a long hard life ahead of you, plus I'm glad they get along so well.