Mummy, why do you have no hair there?
Neither of my children have actually come out and asked me this question because they’ve not long turned two, but for all intense and purpose this is a very sensible, important and albeit amusing question that my children may one day ask me!
I make no efforts to hide myself away from my children when I’m in the shower and neither does my husband. I don’t feel the need to and like many parents I imagine, I always have an audience when sat on the toilet!
I read an article in Glamour magazine a few months ago written by Dawn O’Porter called ‘Why I want my vagina to look like a vagina’.
In the article Dawn explains that she sports a landing strip downstairs. Where all the hair is removed leaving just a vertical line of hair.
Her witty humour and take on this ever growing trend had me laughing, but also made me think about how my children look at my body.
Dawn goes on to explain that after she had took her nephew swimming, she found that she was shielding herself from him so he that he couldn’t see ‘her self-inflicted deformity’ – her words not mine!
Dawn goes on to say that she didn’t want her nephew thinking that this was what a woman should look like.
It’s made me think about how my own children perceive my own body image. Like many women I shave my legs and arm pits.
Isn’t it funny that this is just a given when you’re a woman! Everyone just assumes that every woman in the world does this! So much so that it’s almost as if we’re trying to fix a mistake, a blip even, that god created when he made us.
When it comes to our lady gardens – do we still call them this if we sport the bare look? – why do we feel the need to justify our decision to leave things as nature intended or to even go all out ‘Essex style’ and have a vajazzle!
Not that I’ve ever had a vajazzle by the way!
I do however, like to have nothing down there. I’ve never had a wax, not even my legs and I’ve never had someone else do any ‘maintenance’ down there for me! I prefer to do it myself with a razor in the comfort of my own shower!
The thought of letting a stranger loose down there with some hot wax and sticky wax strips sends a shiver down my spine!
Of course the day will come when my daughters may very well ask me this question!
I’m not ashamed of my decision and I’ll ensure my children know what a natural woman’s body looks like, but I’ll also explain to them why I’ve made this decision.
Have your children ever asked you any personal questions about your own body image?
11 Comments
Loving life with little ones
August 15, 2014 at 7:15 am
Very brave of you to write this and tell everyone your er 'preferences'!! I am not going to be so honest.
We dress and share showers with our children too, my eldest is coming up 5 and as yet there have not been many questions but Daddy is getting a little uncomfortable so tends not to linger naked, he is likely to get poked and pointed at as the girls find 'it' funny!!
I think Daddy will cover up long before I do, and when the question comes I will try to answer them honestly (if it is appropriate).
Rachel @ Parenthood Highs and Lows
August 15, 2014 at 8:02 am
To be honest, it has never really crossed my mind. We have two boys and our third baby is also a boy, but we are very open. My three year old still jumps in the bath and shower with me or his dad"y and sees us getting changed, and seems to have accepted that mummy, daddy and him all look very different down there. I think it will be one of those things we will deal with if and when it is necessary. #binkylinky
Lianne H
August 15, 2014 at 9:05 am
Ive never really been naked in front of my son, except when he was very very young, so never had to come across these questions. My OH however is constantly naked!! I think Id have more of a problem with this if we had girls.. :/
Lianne | TheBrunetteSays…
Mummy’s Blog
August 15, 2014 at 9:35 am
I can't really say I've thought too much about this to be honest. I remember as a child being fascinated by my mothers tampon, but then I guess that's a whole other conversation!
#binkylinky
Mummy Melton
August 15, 2014 at 10:32 am
We're both naked around Baby M, it's kind of necessary to get ready in the morning. He's even been in the shower with Mr M when there was a serious poosplosion incident. I want him to grow up comfortable with his own body. Mr M's parents are a bit prudish and nakedness is taboo in their house so Mr M was quite uncomfortable about it when I met him, I don't what baby m growing up like that.
BakedPotato Mummy
August 15, 2014 at 1:03 pm
I've never worried about it in the sense of having any concern over Potato seeing my body. I'm frequently naked around him. As he gets older, l'll do my best to explain why I look different to him and that not all women will look like me.
I do sometimes worry what the impact of rarely seeing a man naked will have though.
Thanks for hosting #BinkyLinky
Louisa
August 15, 2014 at 7:15 pm
Food for thought. I am frequently naked in front of my kids, (more so because they never knock doors and privacy is a foreign word to them). I've always answered any questions they have about bodies honestly, I want them to be comfortable in their own skin and to see me warts and all (metaphorically speaking) and to know we are all different #binkylinky
Ickle Pickle
August 15, 2014 at 8:15 pm
Oooo errrr! Not sure I should be reading this! My mummy is always dressing and undressing infront of us, wiggling her bum and her boobies!!! I say bye bye when she put's her bra on!! 😉 #binkylinky
Catriona Stephen
August 16, 2014 at 7:49 am
To be honest this is something that has never once crossed my mind! I just get changed with Osian in the room without giving it a second thought! xx
Beth Twinderelmo
August 16, 2014 at 12:33 pm
I haven't had any questions from my son about difference not even with the arrival of his twin sisters. The only thing he's ever said was when he leant one me once he said sorry I've hurt your willy!!!! And I just said girls don't have them & nothing more. Kids are so clued up – they're ace!!! #binkylink
Sarah Willox Knott
August 17, 2014 at 7:44 am
Loving the honest post! Kids do come out with all sorts so who knows what questions we're in for in the future! I'm still not sure whether I'd feel comfortable naked in front of my daughter when she's older…I'm not sure I would be. But it sounds like you don't get much choice in the matter haha so I'll probably get over it! x #binkylinky