Recently, my father has become ill and he has come to stay with me and my family. I have a wife and a five year old daughter who also live with me. Yesterday, my father was getting out of the shower and my daughter ran into the bathroom because she needed to use the restroom and 'couldn't wait.' When she got into the bathroom, my father had appearantly been out of the shower for a couple of minutes. This is very awkward for me. My daughter later asked what that thing was that Grandpa was shaking between his legs. I asked my father what happened and he told me. How do explain what my father was doing to my daughter?
2007-12-07 08:04:02 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Family & Relationships ➔ Family
Reading some of the answers, it seems that some of these people are ready to label your father a pedophile and have him locked up. You yourself state that your father has become ill and he may not be as alert. When your daughter walked in on him she probably didn't react as fast and so your daughter ended up seeing his penis. I suggest telling her that what she saw was a penis and all boys have one and that's where they pee from. Also teach her that she should knock on the bathroom if the door is closed so that she doesn't walk in on someone. This is to reinforce good habits and not to make her feel guilty - so be sure to use a teaching tone. Good luck and don't lose sleep over this.
2007-12-07 08:24:39 · answer #1 · answered by Michael K 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it were my five-year-old child I'd just tell her the name of the body part and, other than that, I'd say, "I don't know what he was doing. People take showers, get clean, shave, take care of skin conditions, clip toe nails.......". I'd be very matter-of-fact about the answer, and if she kept asking more questions I'd just kind of dismiss them with, "I don't know what he was doing, but what people do in the bathroom really isn't our business."
Your daughter may forget about it completely. She may accept your answer without further thinking about it. She may not be quite satisfied with your answer but stop asking questions. She may even have her suspicions, but planting the idea that he could have been doing any number of things could help ease her curiosity and spare him a little dignity.
If your daughter has said nothing else about it - let it go.
2007-12-07 16:14:02 · answer #2 · answered by WhiteLilac1 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Grandpa was taking a shower and you came in when he was drying his private parts. From now on you need to knock before you enter the bathroom. Everybody deserves privacy. (When it comes to these kind of questions, give as little info as possible. If they need more they will ask for it, but probably they will have already moved on to something else.)
2007-12-07 16:09:45 · answer #3 · answered by notmuchofacook 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure I understand. What exactly was he doing? If it was just an innocent case of him getting caught unawares, then there's not much to explain. A quick simple anatomy lesson and some privacy advice should be enough, especially for a 5 year old.
2007-12-07 16:10:48 · answer #4 · answered by meg 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
time for a trip to the library for the boy/girl differences book. Really you are doing her a disservice by not giving her this information at an early age and continue to progress these discussions as she gets older. Just tell her the truth not too much but let her ask questions and answer truthfully.
2007-12-07 16:08:44 · answer #5 · answered by frogbfound 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
sorry. I know this is uncomfortable. First daughter needs to learn to knock. not her fault though, these things happen and she is so young. best advice explain we have different types of body parts. I have a 7 year old daughter,question has not been asked and i am dreading it.
2007-12-07 16:10:01 · answer #6 · answered by Trisha heart 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
just tell her the truth. if you ignore her, or become embarassed you will give her the wrong impression. Just tell her simply that men like gramps and you are built differently from girls and women and that what she saw was simply a part of the man's body that women don't have. That will probably satisfy her five year old mind just fine.
2007-12-07 16:08:59 · answer #7 · answered by essentiallysolo 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
at 6 it is about time to explain the difference between men and women and that it is normal, as for the (shaking) he was just drying himself just like any person after a bath
2007-12-07 16:14:01 · answer #8 · answered by sleepy forrest 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Omg... I am not sure what your suggesting. From the scenerio i laid out, it was a honest mistake. I dont think she meant anything by it, nor did he. I know its hard but I would ask what she meant, I mean it is a penis.. so maybe he was drying off and it moved. Or if he held it to show her... we have a big problem!!
2007-12-07 16:10:06 · answer #9 · answered by S4tisf4ctionz 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You must explain to your daughter that he was just drying his penis and that all boys and men have penis. Then tell that dirty old man to keep the door locked and if there are any more sightings by your daughter of this kind then he will have to go.
2007-12-07 16:09:56 · answer #10 · answered by backtothepast 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋