Naked in the garden - what to do?

[Deleted User]

Personally I'd love the idea of giving my children the idea of personal freedom as a possibility.., obviously as long as no risky behaviour involved but it really doesn't sound like it is.

Perhaps it might be time to examine your own attitudes?

moneyistooshorttomention

onamissionEU wrote: »

Normally I would have no issue with this at all and it is certainly possible to "avoid" that area, there is no need to go around that corner unless wanting to go into the flat, BUT we have 2 small kids (4 and 6) and the makes me feel a little uncomfortable (not suggesting anything inappropriate). And it is my property at the end of the day!

Sounds like a good lead-in way to explain to the children that the "way of life" can be a bit different in different countries (even ones that we think of as "like us" - eg Germany) and one adapts accordingly.

Voice of experience time - when I lived abroad for a while (as an adult) - it was in one of the Scandinavian countries. Cue for the Scandinavian family I was with carrying on as per normal - ie wandering around in the nude if they felt like it and naive young (at the time) British me having a bit of an initial shock when I realised this. But they obviously regarded this as "everyday conduct"/nothing salacious about it - so I had to learn to do so too.

You explain this in a suitable way to your children and you equip them to explain to any children they encounter coming to our country from one with a "different way of life" as to why "This is our normal way of living - which we will be carrying on with" in suitably matter-of-fact way and being able to encourage these children to adapt accordingly.

societys_child

We're so repressed, us Brits.

Once upon a time, dining table legs were covered, to avoid 'embarrassment'

:rotfl:

fed_up_and_stressed

Funnily enough there was a recent german court case I read about a few weeks ago regards the rights of germans to get naked

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/07/06/german-man-wins-right-to-walk-naked-in-his-garden/

stator

societys_child wrote: »

We're so repressed, us Brits.

Once upon a time, dining table legs were covered, to avoid 'embarrassment'

:rotfl:

Not according to QI

Starbrite

I'd strip of and join in! nothing better than a naked sauna or hot tub or swimming pool....

Shame us English are so anti being naked in Finland it is common to have grandparents children and the grandkids all sharing a sauna naked...

societys_child

stator wrote: »

Not according to QI

I did say "once upon a time" - all good stories begin like that . . .

silverwhistle

Some years ago on a university exchange in Germany the group of English students woke up after an all night party on a Baltic beach. There were _lots_ of naked bodies about the following morning: I was going to say all shapes and sizes but more accurately they seemed mainly old and um.. healthy eaters..

As a veteran footballer I have a shower after away matches (home ones I nip home for a deep bath) but am the only one. The younger girls don't bother - although facilities often leave a lot to be desired. This is in complete contrast to the lack of embarassment in the football team changing rooms I frequented a few years ago when I played in another continental country. There, funnily enough, the only shy lass was a Brazilian exchange student, so it's best not to generalise too much!

[Deleted User]

onamissionEU wrote: »

BUT we have 2 small kids (4 and 6) and the makes me feel a little uncomfortable (not suggesting anything inappropriate).

I would say that since Germany is your kid's home (for now), it could actually be good for your kids to get used to the norms of nudity in a non-sexual, family context.

Otherwise they'll be the odd ones out among their peers!

always_sunny

onamissionEU wrote: »

Now I am unsure what to do or say - they are technically on "rented" property and not harming anyone, but I do feel rather akward. Any ideas? It is all rather embarrassing!

So you bought a property in Germany and wondering what to do about a behaviour that is typically German (i.e. being naked)?
If you feel awkward, that is your problem, maybe you should adapt to the country given you bought a property? Will you ask them to speak English amongst themselves too?