I am so embarassed: my child mooned the neighborhood!

I think all kids go through this at least once.

When we first moved into our new house, I was inside and my DS who was about 2.5 at the time was outside drawing on the sidewalk with chalk.  I could see him from the window...a car starts coming up the driveway, DS pulls his pants down and pees.  Not behind a tree, doesn't turn around...in full view of the car.  I was mortified.  I think it it funny now.

Quoting maidjillian:

Seriously?  You were embarrassed?  Okay....

1. 3 yr olds LACK common sense

2. By teaching her about modesty at 3, you are teaching her that her body is shameful because she will not be able to grasp this concept yet (modesty).  To a 3 yr old, it's no big deal.

My son took his clothes off all the time until he was almost 4!  Didn't matter who was at the house.  We never shamed him.  But, on his own, he developed his own sense of modesty and started wearing clothes more often. The summers when he was 2 and 3 he went completely naked in our back yard (where neighbors could see) to swim in his little pool.  Actually, having him naked helped with potty training.

It's not like she's a fully developed woman walking outside naked for the neighbors to see. 

Thanks for your perspective. I would never want her to be ashamed of her body- just want to talk to her about when it is and isn't appropriate to have her clothes off.

Quoting 3lilpunk1ns:

I think all kids go through this at least once.

When we first moved into our new house, I was inside and my DS who was about 2.5 at the time was outside drawing on the sidewalk with chalk.  I could see him from the window...a car starts coming up the driveway, DS pulls his pants down and pees.  Not behind a tree, doesn't turn around...in full view of the car.  I was mortified.  I think it it funny now.

LOL! I'll be glad when I can look back and laugh about it too.

You are making too big a deal about this. It's something that a lot of kids do at least a few times early in life. I am one that let my naked son run around the front yard a few evenings in a row while we were potty training... Naked toddlers are cute and funny. Not something to be embarassed about.

lol Sorry its funny. And yes my kids have done it, I didnt make a big deal about it, just sent them back inside for clothes.

Thanks for all the comments! I realize now that I was over reacting a little! I think a big part of it that upset me was that she was out there like that without me. We will continue to enforce the rule that she doesn't go out without an adult! LIke I said in an earlier reply, we are new here and my husband is kind of a public person in the community so that makes me sensitive about what people think. It really helps me to know it's more common than I thought so I'm definitely less stressed about it now. Thanks, everyone!

I read in a Hallmark book about parenting that you shouldn't worry about your child running around naked as long as they outgrow it by age 16. ;)

Quoting Paperfishies:

I would be more worrief about the fact that your 3 year old manage to go outside alone (with a pool in the vicinity none the less) Being naked isn't a big deal or embarrassing.

My thoughts exactly...

My son will occasionally come outside naked, for various reasons, when I'm doing something in the yard. I simply send him back into the house. It's really not the end of the world.

my 3 yr old stripped in the yard. she hated clothes at the time