She doesn’t let her 7-year-old go to a public toilet alone in case ‘someone is suspicious’

A mother sparked the debate after revealing it he doesn’t let his seven-year-old son go to a public men’s restroom alone.

Seeking advice, the mother turned to the Mumsnet website to explain that her son has started or complained about going to the ladies’ room with her.

She says she lets him go to the men’s room in a public place where she knows “there’s never anyone there” because she doesn’t want him to “you see grown men using urinals”, but he doesn’t like the idea of ​​doing it in more crowded places, like swimming pool bathrooms, just in case “someone suspicious” approaches him.

Commentators on social media were quick to assess, with some claiming it was a “paranoidand creating a problem where there is none, while others sympathized and said they too would be concerned.

Explaining her situation, the mother wrote: “I’m sure this has already been discussed. When we go out and my son needs to go to the bathroom, I have him go to the ladies’ room with me.”

“The problem is, she starts complaining and only wants to go to men. I let her do it in a certain place where there’s never anyone, so I knew she wouldn’t meet anyone at the urinals.”

And he added: “I’m always honest with him, but I just don’t know how to explain to him why I don’t let him do it anywhere else, like the pool or the gym.”

In the forum “Am I being unreasonable?”, the mother explained: “She knows the rules, but I don’t want to explain exactly what worries me. What do you tell your children?”

He later clarified his views, saying he doesn’t want him to “see grown men using urinals” or risk “someone suspicious approaching him.” “We all know there are exhibitionists and worse. I saw them as a child and most of the women I know too,” she added.

However, some network users accused her of paranoia and told her mother the boy was too old to go with her to the women’s room and they asked him when he would allow him to go alone to the gentlemen.

One of them said, “When are you going to let him go to the men? A special outing for his 18th birthday?” I don’t think most men’s toilets are full of predators. who stand there all day waiting to pounce on a child,” wrote another.

A third contributed: ‘You’ll have to accept this sooner rather than later. He won’t be able to go to women much longer.” While a quarter suggested, “Talk to him about how to handle different situations. I called after mine who was outside so whoever was inside would know someone was watching.” .

In response to these questions, the mother explained her situation saying her son had just turned seven. Of course he’s perfectly capable of going to the bathroom by himself, but the thought of him seeing grown men using the urinals or, even with the slightest possibility, someone suspicious approaching him, worries me.”

“We all know there are flashing lights, and worst of all, I saw them as a kid and so did most of the women I know.” However, she acknowledges that she will eventually have to change and continues: “He won’t agree to go to the ladies’ room at some point, hopefully by then he’ll be ready to handle any bad situation.”

In response, one user suggested, “Let him go in the men’s room and stay outside. Tell him to yell if anyone’s stopping him from leaving. If not, continue your teachings about danger from strangers. He’s going to have to learn to go at some point.” .” alone”.

Another sympathized, saying: “When my 9-year-old enters a public toilet by himself, I worry more about losing him; I think of the motorway service stations where we stop often.

Once I let him go by himself with precise instructions on where to find me (my daughter and I had to go to the bathroom too). It took a long time and I panicked, I imagined someone was kidnapping him, there were so many people that anyone could get lost in the crowd, it was awful…”.

I think most public toilets are fine and he uses them himself without a problem, but I wish there were more family toilets in crowded/large places.”