Johanna1

While traveling this weekend, I was somewhat surprised to see a 6, most likely 7-year old boy come out of a stall in a VERY crowded fast food restaurant restroom. He then remained in the restroom, along with his mother and three sisters, until all had finished their business. The weird thing is that the father was outside at a table the whole time.

Isn't that a little old for boy to still be taken into the ladies' room by his mother? He didn't need or receive any help from his mother with his needs. He also seemed uncomfortable just being in there, as were several women who came in after me. One woman even asked the mother if the boy was a girl, to which she replied "of course not," but she didn't seem to get the underlying message. My husband thinks I should have refused to use the restroom with the boy in there, and let the mother know the reason. I chose to say nothing, but still find it odd. What do the well-traveled and wise posters here at Fodor's think?

seetheworld

Are you sure the father was there? If so, perhaps the problem lies with the father. There are stalls in the bathroom - it's not like you are *going* right in front of the child.

Would you feel comfortable sending your 6 or 7 year old son to the mens room by himself? I think all the options needs to be considered.

If the mother is alone with the child, what would you like the mother to do, go to the mens room with her son, let him pee on the floor, or take him to the ladies room? The choice is clear to me

cigalechanta

It's dangerous to send a boy that young alone to the men's room. IMHO.

Anonymous

When sending a young boy alone into the men's restroom, his ability to use the facilities unaided is not the only factor that must be considered. Presumably , the ladies are getting just as much privacy from this kid as they are from one another, and I don't have any objection to his presence, myself; in fact, I'm not quite sure what it would be about his presence that would make the women uncomfortable.

However, if his father is available to escort him then IMHO he should be in the men's room.

Johanna1

The father, or another male relative that sure acted like the father, was absolutely there. He waited at a table for the group of 5 to exit the bathroom, then they all left together.

OO

I doubt it has anything to do with his needing help. His family, like many, doesn't feel their kids are safe alone in a men's or women's room. Everyone is more cautious these days.

Traditionally the job of taking kids to the bathroom has fallen to Mom. Dad might have helped in this case, however, 6 is still pretty young...I don't think I'd have blinked an eye.

sahara102

If the father was in fact there, he should have taken the boy to the men's room. However, if the father was not present, the mother has every right to take the boy into the ladies room. As a single parent I can tell you that I would never let my son go into the men's room by himself at that age. It's just not safe. I encountered the same situation when my son was probably about the same age. A lady told me that my son did not belong in the ladies room. I very politely enquired if she was willing to take him into the men's room since he wasn't old enough to go alone.

Johanna1

Also, while the boy was visibly uncomfortable standing around waiting for his mother and siblings, it didn't seem to stop him from indulging his curiosity a bit. While washing my hands, I noticed him peering through the stall cracks at one of his sisters, and so did another woman, which is what prompted her question about whether he was a boy or a girl. It made me wonder if he did the same while I was in there before.

This leads to another question. Dads - do you take your 6 or 7 year old daughter in the men's room with you?

patg

At some point the little boy will decide he's ready to use the men's room alone. Until then, he'll do what he's always done - visit the restroom with his mother. Some children are more fearful than others, and pushing them before they're ready is counter-productive.

LoveItaly

Well, when my grandsons were that age I took them into the ladies room with me. I was not going to have him go alone into the mens room. The first time they did I stood outside the men's room door counting the seconds and felt worried. But in that the father (uncle, boyfriend of the mother?) was with the group it seems to me he should have taken the boy to the mens room. Buuuut, maybe there was a "reason" the mother didn't want that???? Who knows. But I have never felt uncomfortable with a young man in the ladies room with his mother.

seetheworld

It seems to me that you are making the bodily function of urinating into a topic of sexuality. If you are so uncomfortable with children in the restroom, go somewhere else. It is more important that we protect our sons and daughters from preditors.