am I a freak-o?

PrairieMom wrote: My DH thinks I am a bit strange because I am still taking Ben into the bathroom with me when I use a public restroom. Is this weird? He will be 6 on thursday.
it happens a lot when we are out since Al always has to go at the strangest times.
So, we all go to the ladies room, and we use the handicap stall. He stands facing the corner to give us "privacy". Actually, we all face the corner to give the pee-er privacy, no matter who it is.
I just don't feel comfortable leaving him out side of the stall. DH thinks I should leave him all the way out side of the bathroom, in the little hallway where there is usually a bench or something.
He IS getting older now... but man... am I being over protective? I don't know about sending him into the mens room by himself either, but really, there gets to be a point where I will have to.
What do y-all do?

boyohboyohboy replied: nope you are not a freak! caleb is 7 and although I have let him go into the mens room alone about twice now, I stand right outside the door..
but most of the time, he goes in the ladies room with us, and he stands right outside the stall door so I can see his feet. we cant fit three kids in there!
but its just to scarey to think of the things that can happen in the bathrooms, so we dont let caleb go alone!

Celestrina replied: No, not at all! My son (his name is Ben too) is six and I don't like to let him out of my site. Taking him into the girl's room is different than taking a girl into the men's room - everything is done behind closed doors. We live in different times. I've boys older than that in the girl's room.

MommyToAshley replied: Nope, I don't think you are weird at all.

But, it is different with a girl. We have just started letting Ashley go into the women's restroom by herself if she is out with DH, just because things are done out in the open in the men's room. We love places that have the family restrooms!

Celestrina replied:
Yes! Family rest rooms are the best! Our YMCA moved to a new building, and a family locker/rest room was included. I haven't seen it yet so I don't know the layout.

PrairieMom replied: THANKYOU!!

See, I KNEW I wasn't a freak. Why take chances? I mean, really?
The other day I was out to lunch with a lady who let her 6 year old leave the table , go to the bathroom and then come back all by herself and I was like . maybe SHE is the weird one.

PrairieMom replied: So then, I'm not a freak-o for not letting my kid play inside other childrens houses when I am not friends with the parents? I'm sorry, but If I don't know them then my kids are NOT going to be alone with them behind closed doors.

BAC'sMom replied: Nope, I don't think you are weird at all.

I still take my 5 year old into the Ladies restroom and will until he is much older. I sometimes tell him go with my older son. But every since there was that case where a little boy got his throat cut by a stranger in a rest area rest room with the Mom waiting outside waiting on him. I don't take a chance.

moped replied: We do the same thing - I am always with Jack when he goes. Not a freak at all!

boyohboyohboy replied:
I have never let caleb go to someone else's house with me.
I am really concerned with other peoples gun safety..
we had an experience where we met our new neighbors, they are perfect people for neighbors, I just adore them,they have kids, the same age as our kids..
so we get along wonderfully..well one night at dinner the mom was telling me her complaints of her husband and she mentioned that she just yelled at their 7 yr old son for going to the gun cabinet and "cleaning" or dusting them when no one was watching him..and it was her husband who never kept it locked!
that was my mental note that caleb will not be allowed in their house.

I just dont trust other people with my kids.

CantWait replied: Six is much to young IMO to leave them outside the bathroom. Way to much can happen in that short amount of time.

TheOaf66 replied: Yes...oh I guess I should read the post first, I just read the title

PrairieMom replied:

My2Beauties replied: No not at all, if I had a boy I would do the same thing.

DVFlyer replied: Chloe is 5 and she goes into public restrooms by herself if it's a smaller place where I can stand by the door.

Otherwise, she goes into the men's bathroom with me (with her eyes closed. ).

I just don't feel comfortable letting her go into a large public restroom by herself.

A&A'smommy replied: ok I don't have a little boy but I would NOT leave my 6 year old outside of the bathroom there are too many freaks out there

Calimama replied: No way. If I had a 6 year old boy, I'd take him in with me too! People are crazy!

youngmomofone replied: I would take him in there with me too, as well! I know that when I have to go and my daughter doesnt, I still make her come in the stall with me and she'll be 6 in July.

DVFlyer replied: Wow... I realized I totally read this wrong...

I thought it was about letting your child go to the bathroom alone...

Now I see it's about the child waiting outside....

Uh... no freakin' way would I let them wait outside alone.

lovemy2 replied: Nope - Olivia is 7 and she is NEVER left alone anywhere in public.....heck if she goes outside she has to bring the dog with her....

Edited to add - I will let her go TO the bathroom alone when we are out or at a restaurant but I go in the bathroom with her first to see who is in there (obviously I don't peek under the stalls) but I do a quick check and then I stand outside the door....

Boo&BugsMom replied:
Me too.

When I first read it I thought it was about him going potty in the women's restroom. In answer to that, Tanner still does sometimes. I depends where we are. Usually, if Troy is not with me and as long as there aren't any suspicious looking people walking into the bathroom then I'll let Tanner into the men's and wait outside for him. If it's a place where I think I can't trust people, then he will still use the women's and go in with me.

As far as waiting outside if I ever have to go...no way...he goes with me and waits inside the bathroom. I don't take him in the stall with me, but he waits right outside the stall for me.

stella6979 replied: No way never would I leave my kid outside while I use a public restroom. I'm not sure what age would be ok with me as I'm such a worrier, but 6 is definitely not it for me. If being a cautious Parent makes me a freak, then I am one proud freak!!!

My3LilMonkeys replied: I would not leave my kids alone outside the restroom yet. I let them go in the stall by themselves in less crowded restrooms but I stand right outside. In crowded restrooms or busy places we all go in the stall together (if we can fit - if I have the baby with us sometimes it's just not possible).

Crystalina replied: If DH is not with us to take Evan to the bathroom he either goes with Izabella, Gabriella and I or he holds it until we get home. It's not that I don't trust him in the hall by himself (which I totallly DON'T) but I always think there is a pervert in the men's bathroom just waiting for my kid to walk in. I DON'T think so.

Crystalina replied: ....and my kids also NEVER go into anyone's house unless I'm with them and they hate me for that.

Oh well.