Nudity does not equal sexuality folks.
I have a friend that told me during the first five years of her marriage, she wouldn't undress in front of her husband because she was embarrassed by her nude body. How sad.
I also have a friend whose 90 year old grandmother died recently. Her youngest son bathed her everyday because she was unable to bathe herself.
When I have children, I'm going to make sure they see me in various degrees of undress for 2 reasons.
1. I don't want them to feel that the human body is something to be embarassed about.
2. In my golden years, the time may come when they have to bathe me or change my diapers and I don't want either of us to feel embarrassed about it.
There was an article in Essence magazine I believe sometime last year, about taking care of aging parents. One of the women interviewed said that in order to bathe her mother (or grandmother, I can't remember which) they took showers together. Her mother (or grandmother) was very embarrassed about being seen in the nude. Why? I'm sure she didn't feel embarrassed about bathing her daughter (or granddaughter) or changing her diapers when she was young. What is the difference?
I clearly remember bathing with my mother when I was a young child. I would hope that she would not have a problem with me bathing her or changing her clothes or depends or whatever else would have to be done, if she were not capable of doing these things herself.
As with everything else, this needs to be taught while they are still young. You can't teach your forty year old daughter or son not to be embarrassed by the sight of your naked body. That's a little bit too late.
[This message has been edited by MIDWESTDIVA (edited April 18, 2001).]
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