14 y/o DS worried about shower situation at camp

[Anonymous]

Does your son never swim? i.e. has he never worn a bathing suit? Because wearing a large towel on his lower half would cover more than many bathing suits for boys.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do gym suits exist in middle school and high school? Don't you have to change into them for phys ed?

Honest question: what is a gym suit? I don’t think I had one as a kid or that my kid does. Do you mean like a gym uniform?

My kids public school issues a gym shirt and then they are supposed to wear their own gym appropriate bottoms (sweats, shorts, leggings, their choice) but while there are showers I don’t think anyone uses them. There really isn’t time but they do change at least. The kids that do the 630am sports at school might use them.

[Anonymous]

He should get use to it. Better to get use to it and not carry this phobia forward. Phobia is too strong a word. Everyone finds is awkward, everyone. It's initial awkwardness and then it's no big deal.

[Anonymous]

Buy him a bathrobe and some Gucci flip flops

[Anonymous]

Robe. Agree with prior poster that this is something he should try to conquer. Lots of good advice here. Common concern that camp director should be able to field.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:He will have to get over. This is part of camp life. Especially for boys.

-1

He doesn't have to get over anything. Every problem has a solution.

At least the showers are separate. Just send him with a terrycloth robe. Not hard

Did you read the OP? She specifically said she suggested that to him and he said he was uncomfortable even with that

I did read and just reread the OP.
She didn't mention a robe, just a towel which even I would be uncomfortable with.

You’d be uncomfortable walking to the shower with a towel wrapped totally around you?

Yes, it doesn't feel as secure. Maybe because it isn't

Wow, life must be hard for you

It really isn't

I ask for what I want and make accommodation for my comfort.

And no way am I going to be naked around strangers or allow my kids to be in this age if cell phone cameras and kids not being taught basic civility to others by there parents

And most parents I know feel the same.

Most sleep away camps don't allow phones. A really crucial part of problem solving is identifying what is actually a problem and what is fear/anxiety.

[Anonymous]

Swim trunks in the shower. Was not my idea, kids learned it there and said everyone did that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I honestly cannot believe this is even something to crowd source. He is 14! The showers are in the cabin. The bathroom stalls are in the cabin. Those details right there tell you some element of privacy, all within his cabin is available. He is old enough to figure out how to walk the few feet to his cabin shower or bathroom stall without exposing himself more than he is comfortable with.

This is not about you. Good for you that you don't mind being nude in front of complete strangers. Many of us are uncomfortable with that, including me (50 year old woman) and OP's son. And MS boys can be awful with this sort of thing.

OP: Just have your kid go to the shower room wearing whatever clothes he has on at the end of the day - shorts and t-shirt presumably. He can carry his sleep gear in whatever bag he has for toiletries. Walk in the shower with the clothes on, close the curtain, remove clothes, shower, put on sleep clothes.

We used to go camping a lot, and I did this for years in those campground communal bathroom/shower spaces.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I honestly cannot believe this is even something to crowd source. He is 14! The showers are in the cabin. The bathroom stalls are in the cabin. Those details right there tell you some element of privacy, all within his cabin is available. He is old enough to figure out how to walk the few feet to his cabin shower or bathroom stall without exposing himself more than he is comfortable with.

This is not about you. Good for you that you don't mind being nude in front of complete strangers. Many of us are uncomfortable with that, including me (50 year old woman) and OP's son. And MS boys can be awful with this sort of thing.

OP: Just have your kid go to the shower room wearing whatever clothes he has on at the end of the day - shorts and t-shirt presumably. He can carry his sleep gear in whatever bag he has for toiletries. Walk in the shower with the clothes on, close the curtain, remove clothes, shower, put on sleep clothes.

We used to go camping a lot, and I did this for years in those campground communal bathroom/shower spaces.

No one is saying he has to be nude. With bathroom stalls and individual showers within the cabin, he should be able to figure this out for himself. This is a teenager. Not hard

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He will have to get over. This is part of camp life. Especially for boys.

-1

He doesn't have to get over anything. Every problem has a solution.

At least the showers are separate. Just send him with a terrycloth robe. Not hard

Did you read the OP? She specifically said she suggested that to him and he said he was uncomfortable even with that

I did read and just reread the OP.
She didn't mention a robe, just a towel which even I would be uncomfortable with.

You’d be uncomfortable walking to the shower with a towel wrapped totally around you?

Yes, it doesn't feel as secure. Maybe because it isn't

Wow, life must be hard for you

It really isn't

I ask for what I want and make accommodation for my comfort.

And no way am I going to be naked around strangers or allow my kids to be in this age if cell phone cameras and kids not being taught basic civility to others by there parents

And most parents I know feel the same.

Such unfortunate main character energy. 99.99% of humans do not care about other people’s naked bodies in a showering situation. Teaching your kids otherwise is harmful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He will have to get over. This is part of camp life. Especially for boys.

-1

He doesn't have to get over anything. Every problem has a solution.

At least the showers are separate. Just send him with a terrycloth robe. Not hard

Did you read the OP? She specifically said she suggested that to him and he said he was uncomfortable even with that

I did read and just reread the OP.
She didn't mention a robe, just a towel which even I would be uncomfortable with.

You’d be uncomfortable walking to the shower with a towel wrapped totally around you?

Yes, it doesn't feel as secure. Maybe because it isn't

Wow, life must be hard for you

It really isn't

I ask for what I want and make accommodation for my comfort.

And no way am I going to be naked around strangers or allow my kids to be in this age if cell phone cameras and kids not being taught basic civility to others by there parents

And most parents I know feel the same.

Such unfortunate main character energy. 99.99% of humans do not care about other people’s naked bodies in a showering situation. Teaching your kids otherwise is harmful.

Ha!

Most of the people on this forum thunk they are the main character. Asking fir what you want is important

And you end on a hyperbole

[Anonymous]

This a 14 year old boy. Of course it’s uncomfortable and awkward and completely unwanted. PPs shouldn’t sweep that under the rug and pretend it’s ridiculous to worry about it. It’s age appropriate to worry about it.

BUT, this is his worry to handle. Definitely listen. Don’t solve. He can solve it his way.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I talked to DS about the robe idea, and he definitely seemed interested in that, so I got one. However, he's still worried about changing. He's decided to change from shower clothes to sleep clothes in the shower stall, but isn't sure where to change from sleep clothes to day clothes or in/out of swimsuits. Does anyone have any suggestions for that? Also, he's worried that the shower curtain will be too small and leave a gap; does anyone have thoughts/advice on this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I talked to DS about the robe idea, and he definitely seemed interested in that, so I got one. However, he's still worried about changing. He's decided to change from shower clothes to sleep clothes in the shower stall, but isn't sure where to change from sleep clothes to day clothes or in/out of swimsuits. Does anyone have any suggestions for that? Also, he's worried that the shower curtain will be too small and leave a gap; does anyone have thoughts/advice on this?

If this is going to cause him so much anguish, he might be better off not going to this camp.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I talked to DS about the robe idea, and he definitely seemed interested in that, so I got one. However, he's still worried about changing. He's decided to change from shower clothes to sleep clothes in the shower stall, but isn't sure where to change from sleep clothes to day clothes or in/out of swimsuits. Does anyone have any suggestions for that? Also, he's worried that the shower curtain will be too small and leave a gap; does anyone have thoughts/advice on this?

My kid went into the toilet stall and changed for the day in there. Also, he learned to be a really early riser. He saw that most of the kids weren't, so if he timed it right he'd have the whole bathroom to himself for an hour before the other kids woke up. As for the gap, go early and shower quickly. Maybe that would help