While some people have it better than others, being raised in a Naturist/Nudist family. Not everyone has the luxury of a clothing optional house growing up with their parents, roommates and sometimes even their spouse. This topic has been around since nudism has begun. However it was a lot more open in the 60’s with the peace & love movement of the hippies and woodstock. I can give you my humble opinion what options you have to make your life style a little more easier.
Some people are what are called closet nudists. No, i’m not talk about people who lock themselves in their closet, but the type who in the comforts of their bedroom is the only place they feel they can be nude. This is perfectly fine, so don’t think or feel it’s degrading at anytime. In fact it’s a great way to discover your body-acceptance in a comfortable level that you can freely be yourself or test the waters if Nudism is for you in the comfort of your own bedroom. One thing you might want to consider is if you’re not ready to let the other(s) know that you’re a nudist is to always have something to cover up next to you and ask them that if your door is closed to knock and allow you answer the door. Tell them you’d like their respect when your door is closed… also might consider a chain lock on your bedroom door to help prevent unexpected surprises.
Though that may be good for you — you may eventually consider talking to who you’re living with and explain to them you’re a nudist. Make sure they understand this does not mean you like to lock yourself in the bedroom doing naughty things because that is not what true Naturism/Nudism is about. Tell them it’s a way of life and that it’s completely non-sexual. Sometimes they will still be a bit confused after that been said, so you can support that last statement by explaining to them that the lifestyle is exactly as they are with being clothed. Except the only difference is, you rather live clothesfree. In most cases this approach will give you the mutual respect needed on both parties.
If you succeed with that, there is two other steps with living with another who isn’t a nudist. This is the harder one. After they have been educated on your lifestyle and they understand that it’s non sexual and have become comfortable with you being nude in your room and you have been respectful back you can then approach them with one last final question. Ask them if they are comfortable with nudity and not offended if they were to see you walking from your room to the bathroom or to have a shower. If they are ok with that, give it some more time before you can finally ask if they didn’t mind and would be comfortable if you were to be freely to walk around the house just like anyone else would in the nude. Hopefully if they say they are fine with it. Also, always remember the golden rule to sit on a towel anywhere you you are sitting. It’s for sanitary reasons and he/she will have a better respect for your life choices.
If all else fails, then the only option that will not always work for everyone, is if you’re living with your parents to wait until you move out and get your own place where it’s your house, your rules.
best to say nothing Patrick is the best
I was fortunate to be raised by parents who were not anti-nudity. My brothers and I were raised with a healthy image of nude body and grew up seeing each other nude and our parents nude. It was not uncommon to see my mom going about the house topless. It wasn't uncommon for my dad to get dressed or undressed in front of us. My brothers and I are all adult ages and I see how our parents' nudity outlook affected us. My two brothers are fathers themselves and they have been nude in front of their children. I even think the way I was raised has a lot to do with my nudism.
I grew up in a household of very clothes compulsive parents. We were shamed and punished for nudity. We were taught that being seen naked by an opposite sex person or being seen at all by strangers was a fate worse than death. In those days the YMCA still swam naked so same sex nudity was acceptable. We were taught that men (or boys) who "exposed themselves" to women were evil and hated criminals. We were taught that women (and girls) were somehow harmed by seeing the evils of a man's body. My mother never saw me naked after I was old enough to dress myself.
I reacted by wanting to be naked, wanting to believe that ME, my body, was not evil, disgusting, and offensive. I had to hide myself but I went naked outside at night starting at about age 10. I didn't know that nudists existed but I took my clothes off in the sunshine when out of town with my friends. We also went skinny dipping in a river just as we swam naked at YMCA camp.
I learned that nudists exist at around age 18, but didn't know how to find any nudists until well over 30. We didn't have Internet or Google in those years. Finally when I did find nudists and a non-landed AANR group I found them only getting naked in hot tub parties but not willing to go naked in the woods. The rest of my family is still clothing compulsive. I finally had an opportunity to be naked in front of my mother at age 50. She complained but it did her no good.
I appreciate all you said except "She complained but it did her no good". That is being disrespectful in my view whether its your mom or anyone else for that matter.
If I complain that I don't like your hair color, would you change it for me out of respect?
People complain all the time about all kind of things. Ignoring them isn't necessarily disrespectful.
If you choose to oppose your parents viewpoints or inbuilt ideals, then you should do so with dignity & respect. It isn't always important who is right & who is wrong, it matters more that mutual regard & tolerance is held high.
I was personally very lucky to have had parents who taught me good liberated idea's & attitudes about nudity. However in other circumstances I would never have criticised my parents if opinions had differed, but I would have talked through our differences & then perhaps found a way to acceptance without disrespect.
Bob didn't say the situation happened without dignity or respect. He just chose to remain true to his beliefs and lifestyle.
I apologise to Bob & others if I misunderstood what he has written.
I will read more carefully.
In my opinion, MrTexas, complaining about the sight of a human being is disrespectful, whether its your mother or anyone else for that matter. Humans are all beautiful to see. Clothing is all ugly, uncomfortable, and offensive.
Being taught that my body, myself, is ugly and offensive was harmful to me as a child. Being taught that men (and boys) are "obscene," and the very sight of us would harm women was harmful to myself, to my brother, to my sisters, and to my father. It took me a big part of my life to learn that much of the training I was taught before I was old enough even to know that I was being trained had been the result of her mental problems and cultural oppression.
By the time I was 50 I had learned that women don't wilt or turn into pumpkins from the sight of a man, and my mother wouldn't either. And she didn't even though her anti-men, anti-body beliefs had not changed. Her disrespectful attitude and offensive comments had finally become HER problem, not mine.
Exactly, and when the "children" are adults, they should be treated as such and shown the same respect and tolerance for ideas and lifestyle that parents expect from their offspring. At some point parents have to understand that their grown children aren't children anymore and are no longer under their control. Otherwise unhealthy and unhappy situations result.
I believe respect regarding nudity is a two way street. In other words, I would never subject my nudity onto someone who may be offended. That aside, another person should not expect me to hide my nudity and my nudism. For example: When I am home, I am nude. When I arrive in my apartment I disrobe. My home is my domain and if someone is planning to stay with me, it would be rude and disrespectful of them to ask me to be clothed. Why should I have to change who I am in my own home? Now if I am in someone else's domain, I should conduct myself to their comfort as it is their home and their space.
I agree with that perspective. Bob didn't divulge the details and there's no need. I just found it interesting that some assumed that he was disrespecting her, where as she could have just as easily, and probably more likely been disrespecting him.
If respect is a two way street and you would not subject your nudity onto anyone who might be offended, what about people subjecting their clothes onto someone who might be offended? Isn't that equally disrespectful?
Sure. Let them cover up in the privacy of their own home, but when I see them in public places I'm offended by their clothes. Why should they subject me to their cothesity?
Ah yes, the public domain. This is why humans need to rekindle a tendency toward tolerance and understanding. If what one does causes no harm, then O.K. It takes all kinds and the world is full of them/us.
how was it growing up in your household?
When we were quite young nudity was not a real problem, we did not have a bathroom and taking a bath was done in the garden or kitchen at hot summer days. And when it was winter in the back room would be used. I was bathing in a zinc tub in front of the coal stove situated in the back room. When I was done I could play for a while without being dressed. Maybe it was because she didn’t want to bother with a reluctant child, I don’t know but I always loved to be nude. During the warm summer days nudity in our secluded garden was always allowed she didn’t mind at all, even if I was with friends. In the old days people didn’t have to be afraid of being prosecuted if their kids were naked in the garden or on the beach. Me and my sister just loved it, I think that is how we grew to be nudists. Of course this freedom changed over the years. I had to do it more and more secretly, at the age of 13 puberty started and it was not allowed anymore.
I really like your story Paul, it is very interesting and well written. My childhood was like yours, my sister and I enjoyed nakedness for a major part of our times. We rarely had clothes on at home up to being 16. Our friends would be jealous of our freedom and of course my nude sister attracted more friends as her puberty began to take effect.
I think this happened to a lot of families, in some liberated families nudity is no big deal at all until the kids start maturing. Suddenly they are growing into sexual beings. A pity isn’t it.
Yep, you are right about that, my house, my rules. But there are always situations when I put something on. The majority of textile visitors in general might feel uncomfortable with nudity.
I think in practice, it is hard to live a nudist life in a textile family. I think the chances are small that a child will enforce its prevalence for a naked lifestyle on his or her parents. And mostly when puberty kicks in most kids will lock the bathroom door and make sure no one see them naked.
But o.k. there can be exceptions of course. Both my sister and me like the nude lifestyle but at home we never were able to get it accepted by our parents.