Young Boys in Women's Restrooms: How Old is Too Old?

A recent debate on an on-line board I frequent has me pondering this very question. As a mother of two young boys myself the restroom "issue" is unavoidable, I'm sure. So how old is too old? At what point does a women who feels the need to use the restroom while out and about have her son stand outside the restroom and wait for her to finish?

In my personal opinion, the vast majority of young boys are just not sexual beings. Any time I've been in a public restroom and have seen a boy aged 6-10 in there with his mother or another female caregiver he appeared as if he'd rather be just about anywhere else in the world. He's uisually staring down at his feet and avoids eye contact at all costs. I've yet to see a boy excited to be in a female restroom, and especially gawking and "checking out" the women in there. Let's face it...there is just absolutely nothing sexual about a woman hovering over a public toilet.

Is this to say that I've never been "peeked" on? Of course not. I have. But every child that has "peeked" on me has been a toddler aged child, not an "older" boy, and was no doubt peeping out of curiosity, not sexual interest.

In the world we live in today, the sad truth is that it just isn't safe to leave a young child (boy OR girl) waiting outside of a public restroom to wait for his mother to finish and come out. There are risks. He could be kidnapped, molested, attacked...the list goes on. And while we cannot totally eliminate that risk by bringing him inside the women's restroom (because women can be predators, as well) a woman has a much better chance of protecting her child if she can see his feet from under her stall door, or call out to him and wait for a reply. By bringing him inside the restroom with me, I have certainly reduced the risk of something happening to him.

There are always going to be "those women" who give mothers of boys the evil eye for bringing our sons into the public restroom. If you are one of those mothers, stare on...I can take it. But for me, it comes down to my childrens' safety. The small risk that my son may be "miniature pervert" who's soul reason for living is to peek at you in your bathroom stall is far less important than my child's safety.