Is it alright for step children to showere with adult male? Girl is 5 years old, boy is 8?

[BANANApath]

I wash showering and the boy suddenly appeared and got in the stall with me. Then a few minutes later the little girl showed up and it was the three of us. It was like when I was a boy our cousins and I all got in a phone booth together. Because we live in a small house in a tropical area, they oftentimes appear naked after showering, as I do, because there is a lack of privacy. This is unlike America where people have more doors, more bathrooms and more isolation. On the other hand, my relationship with these children is extremely close and is absolutely the best thing in my life. The love I feel for them is so strong it makes my life worth living. I'm 66 years old now. But I think also that my relationship with the little girl is so positive that she will have a strong role model and father figure to model her relationships after; while there is no doubt in my mind that I could never be replaced, she will hvae a happy marriage and life due to my serving as a role model, as hopefully will the boy.

[wtf636]

Is it weird, yeah. Is it innappropiate? It can be if you make it.

It sounds innocent enough, but there is no reason it needs to be a habit. If you start intentionally taking them in there, then yeah it's weird. But you can also just tell them to wait their turn.

You can be a good role model without showering with your young relatives. If anything you are teaching them that it's ok to shower with older men at their age. Not a good thing in my opinion. Maybe it's ok with you, but what if they think it's a fun thing to do with some creepy guy that talks them into it.

I can remember showering with my parents at times when I was really young, but it was only when I ran in there, and it was both my parents. Not some older relative of mine by himself.

[molonski2]

I think in the circumstance you describe its perfectly fine. However , you are asking the question to a predominantly USA litigious audience , so I can imagine how some may answer.
Here in Thailand , and given your relationship as a father ( or like ) , it would not be seen as an issue , certainly out of town. If it were me , and back in Australia? Then Id be a little concerned , USA? Probably no way.

[BANANApath]

Yes in America the police would be over and pumping ridiculous answers aout of the children or something. But the very act of repressing this very sight of nudity makes people all the more curious. America is now spiraling out of control, and it is for a reason: the cultural values of non-eurocentricity are basically a threat to civilized order and the threat of chaotic social values creates a social tension in which everything is suspect and everything is attacked if it becomes vulnerable.

[BANANApath]

It did happen about 30 years ago in Boston, that a day care center owner and his mother were accused of doing all kinds of nutty sexual things to toddlers. See Washington Post's "Modern Day Witch Hunt". I can't put the exact site in they won't let me with this website.
You wouldn't think law enforcement and lawyers would stoop that low but they do. Here's another one, they framed two people and sent them to jail for like 10 years or more. Also "Fells Acres" story at Boston. com. It is the same sequence of children being bullied into crazy story telling.

[molonski2]

Yes , I well understand there , good points of course

[BeMuse]

Most kids bath alone at 4-5 years old. Earlier than that they typically need supervision and instruction/assistance to learn how to bath properly and be safe. Above that and the parents are likely pedos unless the kid is handicapped and can't manage bathing alone.

[josephinelcajon]

I grew up nudist and showering with mom or my friend was common. At the beach or resort was always big open community showers. I think its good and healthy growing up nudist as you grow up you do compare and see what you will look like or the opposite sex. It made puberty easier to understand. Could you imagine seeing the first naked person on your weeding night!

[Dexter_Morgan42]

I used to wash my son's hair when he was in the bathtub, but we never showered together. I was never even naked in front of my son ever, I didn't think it was necessary.

[slatyb]

As opposed to an adult female? It's not a big deal but you might say that they are getting too big to be sharing your shower.

[MrtoddsWildRide]

Extract yourself as soon as possible. Even if it is purely innocent all it takes is one false accusation or even a misinterpreted sentence and your life is over.

[noohair]

I guess it depends on the culture. But they might be a little old for this where I am in the US. All the best.

[awkward_author]

It's a little weird and borderline inappropriate.

[Anonymous]

That’s a no no. Never have this happen again

[Thejaydee1]

I guess those ages are fine if it’s family