The great shirt debate: house rules for boys?

[Anonymous]

LOL at some of the responses. I'm amazed when my boys put underwear on let alone a shirt. No shame in our home. If we have company over its another story.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Turning down the heat doesn't work - we have a wall of south facing windows and even in winter it gets to be in the mid 70s from the sunlight. We have no temperature set above 68 anywhere. Usually 66 max, including in our cold cold basement.

The girls aren't being told to go put on a shirt. They this far haven't seemed to wish to wander shirtless. Also, I'd rather my daughters see the scandalous nakedness of bare chested boys in their own home, realize it is not a big deal, and not be embarrassed when they run across bare chested boys in the "wild" (a/k/a, outside of our home).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Turning down the heat doesn't work - we have a wall of south facing windows and even in winter it gets to be in the mid 70s from the sunlight. We have no temperature set above 68 anywhere. Usually 66 max, including in our cold cold basement.

The girls aren't being told to go put on a shirt. They this far haven't seemed to wish to wander shirtless. Also, I'd rather my daughters see the scandalous nakedness of bare chested boys in their own home, realize it is not a big deal, and not be embarrassed when they run across bare chested boys in the "wild" (a/k/a, outside of our home).

Cool so long as you have the same view for your daughters. They should allowed to be topless if they so choose and if they get a little older it should be fine for them to go about in their sports bras or whatever. They should be comfotable and you don't want your sons to be scandalized by breasts.

Personally, I don't think your husband's request is unreasonable he's actually teaching them to be gentleman, but it's clear you have the attitude of my kids my rules and boys trump girls so go on and do you, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm with your DH on this one. Shirts for everyone in main areas. If you want to be half dressed you can be in your room, you don't get a pass because you were born with a penis which btw OP is what you are teaching your daughters.

Then why do men wear swim trunks and nothing on top at the beach/pool,while women wear a swimsuit that covers top and bottom?

It's all of American society, other than the nudists, that are actually teaching OP's daughters that boys "get a pass because they were born with a penis."

[Anonymous]

Three sons here. They go around topless often, though much less in the winter months, and there are no rules. Not sure why there need to be. They never leave the house that way by their own choice.

[Anonymous]

My boys wear shirts around the house. I've always had a rule that you need a top and bottom at the table, but they've pretty much taken it upon themselves to remain clothed outside of their bedrooms/bathroom.

If any of them dared to take off his shirt downstairs, my DD appoint herself as the shirt police and make sure it went back on!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Turning down the heat doesn't work - we have a wall of south facing windows and even in winter it gets to be in the mid 70s from the sunlight. We have no temperature set above 68 anywhere. Usually 66 max, including in our cold cold basement.

The girls aren't being told to go put on a shirt. They this far haven't seemed to wish to wander shirtless. Also, I'd rather my daughters see the scandalous nakedness of bare chested boys in their own home, realize it is not a big deal, and not be embarrassed when they run across bare chested boys in the "wild" (a/k/a, outside of our home).

Cool so long as you have the same view for your daughters. They should allowed to be topless if they so choose and if they get a little older it should be fine for them to go about in their sports bras or whatever. They should be comfotable and you don't want your sons to be scandalized by breasts.

Personally, I don't think your husband's request is unreasonable he's actually teaching them to be gentleman, but it's clear you have the attitude of my kids my rules and boys trump girls so go on and do you, OP.

My daughters would likewise be welcome to walk around in sports bras, but requires to put shirts on while dining or guests are present. We live in a country where breasts are considered "private parts", though, and it's abundantly clear that the societal rule is that women must cover breasts, so I would not expect them to walk around fully topless, just as I would not expect any of them to walk around nude below the waist.

No wonder we are a country of uptight prudes if we can't allow ourselves to walk around in a state of quasi-undress IN OUR OWN HOMES.

[Anonymous]

How is this an issue for DH? They are kids and they are at home. If they can't be free and comfortable at home as a kid, when will they ever?

[Anonymous]

Shirt on at all times. I think men/boys walking around shirtless is crude.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm with your DH on this one. Shirts for everyone in main areas. If you want to be half dressed you can be in your room, you don't get a pass because you were born with a penis which btw OP is what you are teaching your daughters.

Then why do men wear swim trunks and nothing on top at the beach/pool,while women wear a swimsuit that covers top and bottom?

It's all of American society, other than the nudists, that are actually teaching OP's daughters that boys "get a pass because they were born with a penis."

Men get a pass because we die younger. The penis is just a bonus.

[Anonymous]

Wow, you Americans are so relaxed.

I spent my childhood in different Western European countries and cannot recall any child even thinking about taking their clothes off (boy or girl). There were no house rules about it, because no one imagined this as a possibility anyway. The rules were: "Sit up straight", "No elbows on the table". Never "Put that shirt back on"!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Our only requirement is underwear.



+1

Our house rule is "must wear underwear". Of course if guests are over, must wear clothes.

Another one here.

Us, too.

The rule is that if you are in the living room or gaming room or the table for a meal, you must have underwear on. If you want to hang out naked in your room, so be it.

+1 for us as well, and only for hygienic reasons really.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Wow, you Americans are so relaxed.

I spent my childhood in different Western European countries and cannot recall any child even thinking about taking their clothes off (boy or girl). There were no house rules about it, because no one imagined this as a possibility anyway. The rules were: "Sit up straight", "No elbows on the table". Never "Put that shirt back on"!

Yeah, until you get to the beach and apparently everyone forgets their bathing suits, or men wear tiny bottoms that leave very little to the imagination.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Shirt on at all times. I think men/boys walking around shirtless is crude.

Ditto. It never occurred to me that anyone other than the dog would go shirtless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shirt on at all times. I think men/boys walking around shirtless is crude.

Ditto. It never occurred to me that anyone other than the dog would go shirtless.

You clearly have de-clawed your cat. I made that mistake just once.