A Nudist's Diary

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Sun-bathing naked in the presence of a family member

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My 53-year-old son has recently come to live with me. He is terminally ill, but that does not necessarily mean he will not outlive me. It is not his choice to live with me, but he has no other base in the UK. I previously lived alone and was accustomed to being naked when temperatures permitted.

He has once seen me move from the bathroom to my bedroom while getting up in a morning. He averted his eyes, because I was naked (I possess neither pyjamas nor dressing gown, and previously felt no need for them). Yesterday, I had some free time in the afternoon and the sun was shining. I had to decide whether to sunbathe as usual (naked), despite his presence in the house, or to ask his permission or to refrain. I suppose I could have compromised by wearing shorts, but I think he would have been equally offended by my being topless. I decided to sunbathe. Our paths crossed in the kitchen 2 or 3 times. He averted his eyes and grimaced, but did not say anything. I think he finds the sight of a naked overweight old man to be repulsive, but he has not said so.

I think I am within my rights to be naked in my own house, but I am aware that I would have probably taken a different attitude if he had been female.

I wonder what other naturists think about this dilemma?

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RE:Sun-bathing naked in the presence of a family member

[quote/] I'm sorry that your boy is in the situation where he is in bad shape and also not able to make his own living arrangement choices. He's lucky to have a dad who is still around and able to help him out, so it seems appropriate that he wouldn't complain much or at all about your choice to be natural around your own home. Some kids would still complain - I think that tells us you raised him up right, to be respectful of his elders.

The point of how it may have been different if you'd had a female instead of a male child doesn't seem to me to be overly pertinent here, especially if you had raised them from birth as a nudist - something not too likely depending on the family dynamic. With a man your age that is very unlikely, being from the forties when nudism was essentially non-existent (though maybe more tolerated in the UK than my country), and that's too bad because of how naturally children want to be nude with the good weather (another thing the UK doesn't have in abundance, so I hear). Girl or guy, being raised nude would make this new chapter in your lives so much easier. If your baby had instead been a girl, the hang up with being around her nude at the stage in her later life is really your personal issue, not hers, as long as you can still discuss touchy subjects. Clothes are an unnatural addition, and there are many more important subjects to be dealt with concerning your child right now than them.

It might do you both a lot of good to quit having these momentary bare interactions, Colin. He's uncomfortable seeing you; his averting eyes say so much. So rather than making him any more uncomfortable, something better for him - and he's dealing with so much right now - would be to sit down and have a frank discussion with him, ask him if he feels like your nudism is confronting his sensibilities enough that his stress levels are actually worsening his condition.

I have no blood-related children, so I cannot speak from personal knowledge, but I feel as though his comfort in these waning moments of life are more important than what comfort you get from being bare at home. With the lifting of the veil from the topic of clothing choice around the home, it could be you have a chance to bond with him in a new way, something that may help him stick around a little longer, or at the very least, deepen the love that may be allowed to grow between you at this late a stage to become the most wonderful gift you can give him now. With the clearing of the air surrounding your choice of dress could come a new connection, maybe even a chance to invite him to disrobe. It is never too early or too late to become a nudist.

Take care of yourself and thank you for being the best dad you can be.

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RE:Sun-bathing naked in the presence of a family member

I totally agree with the author of that. Personally, I spoke with all of my neighbours, and told them that I am a nudist and that they might see something. I also emailed all my living kids and told them, asking them to knock first before coming in or they may see something.

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RE:Sun-bathing naked in the presence of a family member

yes my nephew would often come home with his girlfriend and i would be sunbathing naked, mind you we all saw each other naked when in the hot tub.

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